Genre: Fiction
Word count: 99
Loss
It has always been my biggest fear. Rob me, flood me, I care not; but fire?
Sitting on the curb, arms wrapped around each son, ever thankful our smoke detectors were properly serviced, we watched in horror as our home burned, along with everything we owned. We watched in gratitude as the firemen did their job to stop it and prevent it from spreading to the neighbours.
I watched as everything I had to remind me of my first-born and husband disappeared. I held on to my living boys but only my memories would remain of Austin and Mick.
Friday Fictioneers: 100-word Stories
Photo Prompt: Copyright © Roger Bultot
A Dalectable Life 
….Thank God hahah … before I read the title I was so sad for you!! Happy its Fiction …nicely done!
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Thank you! It is based on my biggest fear!
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Another well-done Friday Fictioneers. If I didn’t know better I’d say you have a knack for this. But thank goodness I know better… you’re an expert at it! ;O)
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You are way too kind. But I’ll take it!
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LOL Good. ;O)
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🙂
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I was worried that this was real Dale – even when I saw the title I was worrying it was real, so good job!
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I have to say, of anything that could happen, fire is the one that scares me to no end. I truly know exactly where my one little album of Austin is and well, the family ones are a little all over the place. Would I be able to grab them? Probably not and deep down, is that what is truly important? Still.
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It scares me too and the end was heartbreaking. Nice job once again.
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Thank you, George!
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Fire is a scary thing, Dale. I can see why it is one of your worst fears. Tragic story here. Let’s make our smoke detectors work. Well done.
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Thank you, Amy. Hmmm… now I have to think when is the last time I changed my batteries!
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Eerily real. I’m glad it’s fiction. I have a friend who lost all her family papers and beyond-price memories. Not by fire but it was devastating to her.
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I’m glad too!! It must have been totally devastating. We hang on to things and they say it’s not important. But we know it is. Those minimalists out there who don’t need souvenirs, kudos to them. Not my case, though!
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You have written about one of my worst nightmsres
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Sorry, I’m trying to type on my tablet here, Dale, and hit send too soon (hence my previous rubbish comment!) What I’m trying to say, is that fire is my worst dread and so your story scared me. Well written, Dale.
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Ha ha! I hear ya..gotta love our electronic devices sometimes…
Thank you, Sarah. Didn’t want to scare you but am kind of chuffed I managed to at the same time!
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Oh my, for a second I thought this was real. Then, you know, somebody flipped the switch in my head. I know your story. Oh my. Well done. You had me hooked.
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Excellent ! I’m trying this Fiction thing… 😉
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fiction comes in many forms. Are you liking the shortened version?
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I’m surprised that I am. It’s quite the challenge!
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Some writers do well with the short form, some excel at lang form. always good to know where your heart lies. I wonder how many can actually do both?
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I’m hoping I can do both!
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Hope you can too.
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Dear Dale,
Such a sad tale and every mother/wife’s worst nightmare. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Deat Rochelled,
I think I am far from alone with this fear indeed!
Thank you,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I don’t mind flooding either…it puts out the fires. Great story.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Having lived through two floods, I can tell you, I don’t mind either! Thank you.
Date
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Fortunately its just fiction because the fear and the sadness conveyed well here.
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Thank you so much!
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This is one of my greatest fears, too. Very realistic, great story. I’ve read that things kept in the fridge can withstand most fires.
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Good to know! Then again…couldn’t imagine putting all my photo albums in the fridge though!
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No, but luckily old pictures can be scanned and uploaded to flickr, of photobucket, or the like.
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True… as long at it’s done before the fire! Hmmm… now I feel the urge to start on my old albums!
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My heart sank when I started reading this post, then I realised it was fiction and was very relieved to hear it. Sent shivers down my spine.
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Absolutely fiction (that scares me to death!)
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Worrying piece but then read the comments, so just really gripping fiction. Good reminders re batteries.
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Thank you, Patrick!
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Well done, Dale. At least the smoke detectors worked, and she and her two boys were safe. I can only imagine how devastating a fire can be. Hopefully someone she knows can replace some of the photos of her husband and first child. Very good story. — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. Yes one would hope others would jelp her rebuild at least some of her albums…
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Sad. Tragic. Nicely written.
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Thank you Caerlynn!
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This is so well-written. I like how it is about the loss from the fire and then at the end you bring in another loss – the husband and first son – adding a whole other layer of depth to the story. Well done 🙂
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Thank you, Amie!
I can’t seem to help to bring in a little bit of me in each story…the story is fiction, losing my son and husband is true…
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Oh, Dale, I am so sorry 😦
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Thank you. Part of life’s challenges. That old “what doesn’t kill you…”
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You wrote a lovely story. 🙂 You have a wonderful blog. Thanks for stopping by mine. 🙂
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Well thank you, Silverstein! This Friday Fictioneers thing has introduced me to wonderful bloggers out there, such as you! 🙂
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What a bitter loss – a loss on top of an even greater loss.
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Indeed! Adding insult to injury
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It’s a terrible thing to be robbed of the reminders of those lost. At least she’s left with her memories (and it’s a good thing her smoke detectors were working!).
Nice story 🙂
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Indeed. We do get attached to material things, don’t we? Thanks Draliman!
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I share your great fear of fire. It can take everything so remorselessly. Like other commenters, I was relieved that the story was fiction, but also saddened to read that you had actually lost your husband and son. You have written this so well and with real feeling. 🙂
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Thank you, Millie.
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