Julia has chosen this picture for her challenge this week. A photo I have seen before and wondered, whatever would make someone walk to the edge, never mind sit there? How would you get back up again?
So I think it would have to be a very desperate reason.
Long Drop
That morning he’d found her cowering in the barn, her face turned eggplant purple, and an ugly gash to the back of her head. His brother-in-law had stirred when Ray took the gun from his belt, and pulled a blade, as he used the hay bales to push himself up. He crumpled instantly, blood sprayed from his mouth, it took just one of his own bullets, shot from Ray’s steady hand.
He listened until he had heard both a heavy thud and an empty metallic clatter. That’s taken care of it. I’ve covered my tracks and she’ll come to no harm again.
Very effective! I had to read the story twice to realize where he was when he heard the thud and clatter…now that I’ve figured that out, there’s even room for a happy ending of sorts (allowing for all kinds of long, painful recovery), isn’t there? I think?
Um, my friend has just told me it doesn’t make sense! May have to write it again tomorrow!
Well…I thought it made sense…but I certainly don’t want to stop you from making it even better!
Yikes, Gilly!! 🙂
Some people go to the edge for fun…
But I am in your camp. It’d have to be something pretty desperate.
I felt for Ray, an ordinary man driven to extremes and then driven to the edge to…what? I also had trouble following all the he and his references – whose belt, who was shot. It took a bit of working out.
Nothing in this world could get me to that edge…nothing
Oh and i got it and loved it Gilly
Some people live on the edge but see what happens? Ahh!
That is edgy.
Very powerful indeed
That is one of the most edgy, grizzly things I have read by you – so many facets to your imagination. I liked the description if her face turning egg plant purple!
That is a sad story. All of us have experienced tragedy and how we face them and who we face it with makes a difference. I agree, desperation can lead us to the edge. I just hope that when it happens someone is there to tell us, “Stop, there’s hope. I’m here.”
I enjoyed this one, Gilly, but – I, too, had to read it twice. I thought it was one thing then realized it wasn’t. It must be the he and the him that made it confusing and not your accent. LOL
These 100 Word challenges can kick b-tt sometimes. Keep on keepin’ on.
Hugs,
Issy
stunning image!
Great story, though I was confused with the references.