A brief intro this week – I think I may have mistaken the picture (courtesy of long-term fictioneer, fascinating writer and kind critiquer, Marie Gail Stratford) when viewing it on the small screen of the phone, but as Rochelle says, it’s what you see not what you look at. Enjoy! I welcome your feedback.
Sparks Fly
In the early days, sparks flew – when they touched, even when he smiled – and she knew it was love. As the years went on, different sparks kindled a different temper – muddy boots on the carpet and that bulb in the bathroom he never changed.
Then an old flame flared out of the darkness and the fire blazed in her heart once more, but she couldn’t help feeling this was a fire that would burn and scar. So she turned from its brightness and whispered gentle breaths on the fading embers of marriage, praying sparks would burst again from the hearth.
elmowrites 
A whole trajectory of a marriage in a mere 100 words. These stories collectively and individually amaze me!
I hope he has the grace and good sense to respond…
Thanks MJL, I’m always pleased to amaze.
Seriously, this brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful story, Jen.
Aww, thank you. Everything makes me cry at the moment, but from a non-pregnant reader, I’ll take it as a compliment!
It was indeed meant as a compliment! It gets me in the gut when I hear of (real-life) marriages ending – or even just struggling – so reading of this woman her marriage was worth fighting for… I just loved it.
Great stuff, Jen.
As it turns out, I actually took this photo to send to my wife while I was on a trip to Houston without her this past summer. She spent her week alone catching up on Game of Thrones, and the mineral/rock thingy in the photo reminded me of the Iron Throne. Actually, I never got the shot I was going for, but it seems to be sparking some great stories this week–with a lot of variety.
As to your story, I enjoyed the sparks as they flew.
All my best,
Marie Gail
When I looked on a bigger screen, I got the impression the sparks were a figment of my imagination, so I’m glad the love story element is more true-to-life. I hope though that you and your wife don’t need too many whispering breaths to keep the embers glowing!
Not these days, and I doubt that we ever will. This is a first marriage for both of us but we were 38 when we married. There’s something about waiting until middle age that makes the sparks quite different. They are still there, but they tend to burn low and slow instead of hot and fast.
a fire that would burn and scar – luckily she saw that before it was too late. Wonderful trajectory of a marriage.
Temptation comes to us all, I suspect; the trick is not to avoid it altogether, but to see it for the false idol it is.
Indeed!
Wonderful take on the prompt, Jen. I love the twist at the end.
Thanks, Lyn.
Rich stuff. So many meanings to the word “temper.” Happy for her she tempered her feelings for the old flame. I hope they work it out.
I find it interesting that sparks fly can mean romance or arguments, so those multiple meanings are definitely where I was going with this. Glad you liked it.
Very beautiful! Lovely sentiment. I hope many people listen to this message.
Sometimes it’s right to move on, but I think oftentimes there’s a lot left to fight for. (and the other grass isn’t so much greener as out of focus)
Dear Jen, I love your story and I think that with years passing the sparks morph into something even more beautiful. Very touching! Nan 🙂
I agree, Nan. The sparks can be fun, but there are other things that I’d say are worth more (and last longer)
Dear Jennifer,
Close enough to the photo for me. 😉 Keeping those embers from going out sometimes takes work. You’ve penned the perfect descriptions of marriage and temptation. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle! This isn’t a true story, but I’ve experienced a little bit of both and hope for a lot more of the former.
I can’t find anything to criticise. I love how the theme of sparks and flames holds the story together. As long as there are live embers under the ashes, a gentle breath can bring the flame back.
Thank you, gah; and welcome to the crew!
Jen, I saw the photo very differently when I wrote my story and then later, saw it differently. But that’s fine. I loved what you did with what you saw! “Temptation comes to us all, I suspect; the trick is not to avoid it altogether, but to see it for the false idol it is.” This is so true and just as good as the story. Even a banked fire provides warmth.
janet
This is definitely one of those photos that looks completely different under different lights, as it were. Should make for a nice variety of stories (I haven’t done much reading yet this week).
Thank you for your kind words about my story and about my reply to Alicia – it’s what I truly believe.
I believe it too.
Funnily enough, I didn’t see a lump of crystal either, but a fire with metallic sparks. Nicely written.
Hurrah! Glad I’m not the only one!
I’ve been there! You summed it up just perfectly.
Thanks Keith!
i wonder if anybody can say it any better in 100 words. certainly, you have the gift.
Wow. Thank you so much, plaridel
I love how you managed to twist it so well back and away and then back again with that spark of imagination.. I really saw it as sparks as well (but I focused on the Exxon sign)
Exxon seems to have been a popular topic; funnily I didn’t see it in the pic until I read a few stories!
I really enjoyed reading this. I love the way you manage to describe the whole course of their marriage in the 100 word limit. Beautifully written. 🙂
Thank you, fairymind!
That was excellent and yes, what afairymind said. I absolutely loved the ending. (Trying to rekindle the romance of her marriage).
Would have been too easy (for me,but maybe also for her) to go the other way. Thanks Joy
I certainly understand that!
This was a beautiful story, Jennifer, and a wonderful example of what a 100-word micro flash story can (and should?) be. Unfortunately, it made me feel sad, but that’s OK because it also made me smile because I was thinking just this morning that I really need to change the lightbulb in the bathroom…
You are very kind, Michael. I’m sorry it made you sad; now go and change that bulb!
(I hate to admit it, but it’s bulbs!)
I think you have captured the story of many relationships with this well written piece, Jen.
It’s funny how we all saw different images, I focussed on the bright lights.
That’s one of my favourite things about these prompts – same picture, a hundred different details or interpretations. As for relationships, they are hard to build and easy to break, likeso many fo the best things in life.
very soft, poetic, the words tender and soft like breath on the page. Sparks need to be rekindled all the time. Hopefully the kindling will catch… Randy
You were closer than I was. You saw sparks and I saw blood. It’s seems like everyone felt some energy from this photo.
Haha, blood works too!
Very poetic Jennifer.
This was fantastic! Above all, I love that she turned away from the infidelity and worked on fixing her marriage. I hope all turns out well for her.
I love how you’ve used the fire images here. Very effective.
A beautiful story, Jenn. I like the circle effect of this romance and rekindling the spark. Like they say, “The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to mow it.”
Someone should turn that phrase into a billboard and advertise it profusely, Russell – so true and not just in terms of relationships either. Thank you for your kind words and the wisdom too!