Image courtesy of Sarah Potter
When I was 6, Papa gave me a snow globe and I longed to be the princess inside, adored by my forever prince.
Be careful what you wish for Mama used to say.
From the outside looking in my life is perfect but I’m lost. Alone. Afraid. I rest my bruised face against the window, wondering what mood my husband will be in tonight, wondering where it all went wrong. What I did wrong.
I could leave. Be free. But where would I go?
Be careful what you wish for.
Instead, I paint a smile onto my lips.
I can’t believe it has been a year since I signed my book deal! I wrote a post you can read here on whether the reality has lived up to the dream.
‘Be careful what you wish for,’ was written for Friday Fictioneers. A weekly 100 word story challenge inspired by a photo prompt. You can read the other entries, or join in, over at host Rochelle’s blog here.
fabricating fiction 
I like that you took wishing as your theme, And I like that you poisoned it
Thanks Neil.
Dear Louise,
Be careful what you wish for indeed. I hope she’ll garner the strength and courage to leave before it’s too late. Well done as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I’m totally engaged in The Sister.
Oh so pleased/honoured/scared you’re reading The Sister! Thank you!
A scary way to live. I hope she can break free.
Me too 😃
Really liked that one. I think she should leave before he gets home. It would serve him right.
One day she will 😃
I loved the comparison of being trapped in a snowglobe and being trapped in her life looking out the glass window. Well done.
Thanks very much Iain.
The story of many women, taking the blame on herself, afraid to break out. Great writing.
Thank you!
Yes, what Iain said! Trapped withing a globe or within four walls, is trapped. I hope she sees the light and hightails it out of there!
I think she will!
I liked what everyone liked already! Great writing.
Thanks 😃
This is truly exceptional. Strikingly intimate look into the world of coping for survival.
Thanks very much Honie.
Wishes are dangerous things, especially when we don’t quite understand what we are asking for. Be careful, indeed…
Indeed. Thanks for reading.
I really enjoyed the snow globe idea inspired by the photo prompt, and the shift in perspectives. How true it is to see things from the outside, and you don’t realize the whole story. You only have a glimpse at the world painted by the person projecting the image.
Thanks Mandie. It’s easy to think everyone else’s life is perfect.
Tragic tale, Louise – lives can look like fairy tales from the outside, but you never know what’s happening within. Thanks for the link to your previous post – I was worried when you linked it to ‘Careful what you wish for’! Loving your success and wish you so much more 🙂
Haha I didn’t think of the title in that respect!
I was worried there for a second … 🙂
A sad, haunting, and nicely executed metaphor. Her resignation to paint her lips at the end is poignant and speaks volumes.
Thanks very much David.
There I was, dreaming of my own book deal one day – I’m not so sure I want it now!
The highs definitely outweigh the lows Liz.
Great writing which makes your character feel to be so alone, well done
Thank you Michael.
This is why wishes should be reviewed thoroughly by a qualified attorney.
Not a bad idea!
I like that you wrote a version of a bird in a gilded cage. Nicely done.
Thank you.
Great Story. 🙂
Thanks 😃
I nearly wrote about a snow globe. They are such beautiful, innocent treasures. Such a shame that this woman had her girlhood dreams so brutally shattered by a bully.
Thanks Sarah. I still find snow globes enthralling.
I think the gilded cage is the one that’s the most difficult to leave…. great use of repetition … the snow globe always reminds me of citizen cane.
Kane
Thanks. Very much a gilded cage.
As Patricia Ryan Madson once said, “If something is not to your liking, change your liking.” 🙂
I’d not heard that! Thanks.
Very well done.
Thank you!
A snow globe was my first inspiration 🙂 Hopefully she wishes for freedom and self-empowerment now.
I think she’ll get there. Thanks for reading 😃
Love it. Chilling!
Thanks Luccia!
What an ominous feeling, right from the title. Trapped is right. Great story.
-David
Thanks very much David.
Be careful of what…is something I have always followed and you just firmed that belief. An outstanding piece.
Thank you Dahlia.
Very well written Louise. The phrase “From the outside looking in my life is perfect” sums up a feeling that is more widespread than we realise.
I think it most likely is. The grass is always greener (except it isn’t)!
I want to scream at her!
Me too!
Wow. Truly hoping this was based on fiction. Heart wrenching. Well written. I love the snow globe angle.
Thank you! Yes very much fiction.
Congrats on the book deal! I published in short horror fiction. I enjoyed the story here. I missed the deadline. Here is what I would have done: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/you-dont-know-jack/
Scott
Thanks Scott – I’ll have a look.
Looking forward to hearing from you!