Thomas Charles Henry

The place where my writing lives.

Escape – Friday Fictioneers

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Thomas Charles Henry

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It’s Friday Fictioneers time! The challenge is to write 100 words based on a weekly photo prompt chosen by our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Check out her blog for more information by clicking here. Thank you to all who take the time to read, like or comment.

This week’s photo is great. It reminds me of two amazing holidays I had in Cyprus. Yet somehow my story is another glum one – default setting I’m afraid. I’m much more fun than my writing suggests. Promise.

2016 07 08

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Marler Morrill

Escape

I left a month after the funeral. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going. I sold the house. I severed all ties with work. I changed my email address, mobile number and deleted my Facebook account. This was an opportunity – a chance to start again, to be anonymous, free.

Standing in an empty street in a town I couldn’t pronounce, I realised I had achieved everything I wanted. I searched for the peace I thought I would feel but found only unrest and fear. Icy fingers gripped my heart as the sun burnt my brow.

You can’t escape yourself.

31 responses to “Escape – Friday Fictioneers”

  1. Joy Pixley Avatar
    Joy Pixley

    Ah, that last line is all too true. Although that sounds like as thorough an attempt as I’ve seen. Feels a bit tempting…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Joy! I’m always tempted but I have a nasty feeling I’d end up in the same situation as my character!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. spicedmullings Avatar
    spicedmullings

    Absolutely true!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Closing the door on past events does not it seem guarantee happiness. Well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Mike

      Like

      Reply
  4. Dreamer of Dreams Avatar
    Dreamer of Dreams

    Yes, you cannot escape yourself.
    You captured the feeling of icy dread perfectly.
    And again, I LOVE reading your writing. When are you going to publish a book?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks! You’re so kind! Publishing a book is definitely the dream but right now I’ve only got a few half-baked ideas and a Master’s dissertation to write. Hopefully in the future though!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dreamer of Dreams Avatar
        Dreamer of Dreams

        🙂 You’re most welcome!

        Like

  5. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    When all your friends have been removed from facebook, you’re still stuck with the worst of them all… alas too true.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Very true Björn. I can’t count the number of times I’ve deleted my Facebook account only to go crawling back! Thanks for commenting.

      Like

      Reply
  6. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Thom,

    This touched me deeply. The last line is stunning. There’s the one person you can’t escape. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Rochelle. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for another stimulating photo prompt!

      Like

      Reply
  7. TraceyDelaplainMD.com Avatar
    TraceyDelaplainMD.com

    Great work. You really can’t run away from yourself.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Tracey!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    Great piece, very true.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    So very true. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Sandra

      Like

      Reply
  10. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar
    Snow’s Fissures and Fractures

    What a great piece. I remember reading an interview with a student who went to Africa to volunteer. She said one should never run away from problems, because they follow you everywhere you go and it gets even harder when they catch up. You managed to capture that same idea excellently.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thank you very much. Exactly what I was trying to convey!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. rgayer55 Avatar
    rgayer55

    Wow! Outstanding piece. Truer words were never spoken.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thank you very much!

      Like

      Reply
  12. wmqcolby Avatar
    wmqcolby

    True as true is true, Thom! Well done!
    There’s a poem by Edgar Guest called Myself and part of it reads —

    I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf
    A lot of secrets about myself,
    And fool myself as I come and go
    Into thinking that nobody else will know
    The kind of man I really am;

    This was a poem that inspired me as a teenager and I still, to this day, think about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks for the feedback and for the poem! It works well with what I was trying to achieve this week.

      Like

      Reply
      1. wmqcolby Avatar
        wmqcolby

        You’re welcome. It’s a great poem. Not an American classic in literary terms, mind you, but a popular favorite of the past.

        Like

  13. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar
    The Reclining Gentleman

    well written Thomas, and a very true last line

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. joseph elon lillie Avatar
    joseph elon lillie

    Oh this is a hard lesson. Contentment never comes by changing the outside.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      You’re right Joseph. Thanks for the comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. patriciaruthsusan Avatar
    patriciaruthsusan

    Good story, Thom. People don’t realize they can be their own worst enemies. I hope your character learns to live with himself and what really matters. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Like

    Reply
    1. Thom Carswell Avatar
      Thom Carswell

      Thanks Suzanne!

      Like

      Reply

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