Luke and the Photo
A Story Every Day in 2024 Sept 24th 268/366
My hands are shaking as I hold the photo. I don't need to be reminded of this. I sit with it every day, its toad-like presence: dark, watching, ready to leap, blinking stoically day-in day-out. I can feel it getting twitchy now. I want to squash it.
Who? Who has sent this? How? How did they get it? Why? Why now?
My palms are sweating. Calm, Luke. Calm.
I look at the envelope. It is blank which means that someone came and put it through the door. I wish I had one of those doorbells now, one of those "Ring"s. Mystery solved in an instant.
I look at the photo. Printed on quality photographic paper, not plain. No mark to say where, just plain white on the reverse.
I sit. Put the photo on the table. Think.
It's inevitable that my thoughts are going to take me back to that day. That's pretty much how it always goes.
I take deep breaths, pick up the photo again. I see the back of my head as I run carefree. Carefree! I wasn't to know that hours later my life would change irrevocably. God, to be that boy again. I'd turn and run home.
Reluctantly, I pan through my head, reliving, starting where the day began. I didn't want to go. Laney persuaded me. I remember a camera. She had it on a strap round her wrist. She said she wanted to be a photographer when she grew up; was fascinated by pictures of war zones and other lands. She'd have made it too, I reckon.
Oh God, Laney! I'm sorry! I wish we'd never gone there that day! Fuck! Why did you have to fall?
I breathe deeply as I've been taught when panic threatens me and the wave subsides.
She took her camera off, I'm sure of it, because she didn't want to damage it. Irony not lost.
I don't remember where she put it. Did Mark or Matt pick it up? I don't know. But why the photos? They wouldn't send them, would they?
Matt. I need to talk to him.
I go to pick up my phone and it "dings" with a new message.
***
366 words
A continuation of an idea spawned by two stories I decided to link below:
Yesterday's story was Bethan. Vocal won't let me put the link. Sorry.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
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Bethan
I try not to relive that day but it's difficult not to when the anniversary of it comes around year after year. The loss comes rushing in like water through a weakened crack in a pipe. Most days, I manage to hold it back, although it's pressure is always there, pushing at me.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Comments (17)
‘its toad-like presence’ you really went all out with bringing something different each time in your description. I love it, it gave me a good idea of how this feels for him and my skin is crawling. It’s all consuming, I feel like can’t get away from it. The way the questions were written gives me a real sense of panic Luke’s personality came through nicely in this one. I love how you always end these on a cliff hanger. Who the hell is messaging him… 👏🏽👌🏽♥️
👍 I can’t remember the first entry very well, but I’m assuming Luke is much older here..
I can feel how this has eaten at him and rubbed his nerves raw. You did a great job conveying that anxiety.
I love the way you just slowly start cranking up the tension with each new episode!!! Great work Rachel!!
Ongoing anxiousness and fear....who knows the truth?
Excellent continuation 😁
I feel that this could be a whole novel, or television series! A terrible, secret moment, arcing through people's lives, coming back to the haunt them in new and intriguing ways...it's just so compelling.
As DK said, talented, you indeed are, Rachel. This little section is a wonderful, sad and bitter read, but feels real. Authenticity. I fellt his pain, his anguish and his distrress. I am desperateto know who has been sending the photographs though! Well done, chum!
Love the way you can mine the depths of a story to explore characters and motivations in such a gripping way! You are so talented, Rachel!
I'm seriously hooked on this. You're such an amazing writer. Ah, I'm on the edge of my seat! Developing this in snippets is brilliant too, by the way.
Now I really hope it’s Laney and she’s come back to teach them a lesson! Next level writing - love this series Rachel.
I want to see what "develops."
So it’s not Luke. One of the other two boys? Or someone completely strange, outside of their circle just stumbled upon the camera?
Yeah, he need to talk to the others. And I wonder who else was there. Hmmm. 🤔
I love your slow build of suspense in this Rachel!
Ah, the perils of not keeping up... I knew I was right to be anxious about it!
Oh I wonder who texted him. Maybe someone who wants to blackmail him