See The Dawn

The stories continue. L.C. Schäfer started this! She is to blame. You can find out about this here:

Prompt number twenty-two:

The picture is the prompt.

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"You have to get up, Maddie!"

Maddie heard her friend's pleading in the muffled cocoon of her duvet and dismissed it. Why? Why did she have to get up? What was there for her out there?

"Maddie! Come on! Get up!"

She was a good friend, Sylvia, Maddie thought. Every day, she tried. Every day, she failed, that was true but she never gave up on her. Never.

She felt the pressure of Sylvia sitting on the bed. Maddie stiffened expecting some sort of pep talk but instead, Sylvia just sat there in silence with her. This made Maddie feel guilty for demonstrating unresponsiveness towards her friend, but still, she did not stir.

Eventually, Maddie felt the weight shift on the bed again and heard a sigh. Light was starting to seep into the room and Maddie willed it away but she knew it would stay and be a reminder of another day without Will. Darkness would be more fitting for her mood and her life now. Dark, dark days.

She stifled a sob and turned her face to the pillow.

"I'm going now, Maddie." Sylvia sighed again. "I'm not here tomorrow. Mum is going into the hospice and I'm staying with Dad. I'm sorry. But I'll see you on Wednesday. I'll call you or drop you a text."

Maddie heard her footsteps as she went to the door and it closed behind her and she fought back her tears again. Guilt. She was a crap friend.

Her phone dinged. Will? Maddie hoped but knew it wouldn't be. He hadn't contacted her since he had left almost two weeks ago to be with her.

She picked up her phone. Sylvia.

- luv you. Open your curtains.

Her initial reaction: no open curtains. Leave out the light.

But her shame at her treatment of her friend led her to the window. Gingerly, she pulled the curtain to one side. The street was empty. Shadows were being eaten by the dawn.

Another ding.

-Look at the sky.

And she was glad she did as it was a truly glorious dawn and she marvelled at the beauty of pinkness suffusing the pale blue. Finally, she felt a stirring, a stirring towards hope.

***

366 words

I like writing stories where people get inspiration from the beautiful world around us. Because it is a beautiful world and it does offer hope and solace and joy if we let it in.

Those of you who read my stuff may have read a story that I wrote about my son and the dawn, link at the end. I love the dawn - so symbolic and on the morning of the 16th, when I wrote this story, there was a particularly lovely dawn and so, I wrote a story to go with it and I wanted it to reflect the optimism that this symbolically represents: new beginnings, light, fresh starts. Clichéd but true nonetheless.

If you liked this, then there is a good chance that you will like yesterday's effort:

Also this one, which was written for an unofficial challenge by Mackenzie Davis:

Thanks for stopping by. If you've read this story, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.

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