Photo © J. S. Brand
Haruk used to enjoy her gathering walks. Learning these woods and fields, planning her garden, deliberating on children’s names. She was firm on the first four by now. He could name the rest.
She swallowed, clearing the foul-breath aftertaste of those dreams. At least she was out, free from the servants’ pitying eyes. Her husband couldn’t ignore her if she wasn’t even home.
The stone steps interrupted her thoughts. Had she gotten lost? Impossible: these paths were drawn onto her feet.
The steps were grown over, yet Haruk was sure they hadn’t been there before. The hill, neither. Nor the sign post, with the strange writing.
Could she have died, and this path led to Sambar? No. Surely she would have noticed dying.
Magic, it had to be. All the stories about magic ended badly. Lured by fairies, kidnapped by witchers, turned into a snake.
Haruk touched the first step with her toe. It felt solid – more solid than anything she’d felt all day. She set her basket down before walking up. Let them wonder.
Word count: 175. Written for this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers photo prompt challenge. Big thanks to Priceless Joy for hosting! Click here to read the other stories, or to submit your own.
Tales from Eneana 
Amazing story. I hope the stairs led to a better place.
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I think Haruk is to a point where any place sounds better than where she is now (although she may not have thought this through all the way). Thanks for reading, Joshua!
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Great story, Joy. I like Haruk’s attitude – “Let them wonder.” I’m curious to know where those steps lead… 🙂
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Somewhere better than she is currently, I hope! I like her attitude too. I wonder what they’ll think when they find her basket there on the path (and no hill or steps or signpost). Thanks for reading, Sammi!
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I do admire you talent for flash fiction. And those steps, with the way-post, drew me in, so familiar from my own walks. Also familiar, the idea of maybe I’m being fairy-led!
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Good point — your photos of your own “gathering walks” are very reminiscent of this tale. Hopefully if you follow an unknown flight of steps up a hill, the fairies you meet will be kindly ones, and not the type who live in Eneana. 😉 Thanks for commenting, Crispina!
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Great story Joy! Very mysterious! I wonder what she will find at the top of the steps? I love the way it ended!
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The ending is definitely a mystery, even from me — I don’t know what she finds either, it could be anything! I’m glad you liked the ending. Thanks for reading, PJ!
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I loved how she took the first step away from her life. Great story Joy!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for saying so!
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Lovely. She should get up those steps asap, anything sounds better than what is waiting for her back home.
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I’m glad that came across; that’s definitely what she has in mind. Thanks for commenting!
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Great story Joy. I like that she is still willing to risk taking that first step even though she knows it may end badly for her. Brave woman.
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It does take bravery, I agree, even if you’re in a horrible situation, to try to break out and try something new to change it. Especially here, where she really has no idea what the option is — just “anything other than this”, wow! Thanks for reading, Iain!
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Gorgeous writing, Joy. Not sure where she’s going, but I think she needs to go. Love the spell you weave with your world – makes me sink into the place with your characters
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Kind of you to say so, Lynn, I really appreciate the support. I agree, she needs to go — before she loses the courage to ever leave. Glad you enjoyed it!
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My pleasure. Gorgeous writing, Joy, as always 🙂
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I wish her well. Maybe she’s better off finding a new adventure.
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She seems to feel anything would be better than her current situation, but I hope she’s not walking out of the frying pan and into the fire. Thanks for stopping by, Jacqueline!
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