Organising it took ages. The same corner table in Marcel’s; the red dress; the precise day. A cloudless sky with hunter’s moon. But love finds a way.
My woman sits by the window, half illuminated by the restaurant’s discreet lamps, but already silvered by the moon outside. She is becoming one with the night. On the beach beyond, some creature cries, stitching the present to a timeless past.
“Did you bring her here?” she asks. “Your ex, Louise. Before she …”
Everything is the same. Now I will ask her the question. By her answer she will merge with Louise.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
A hunter with a dangerous obsession. Put me in mind of Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ian
LikeLike
Yikes! This one says a lot within 100 words. Creepily brilliant, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. It was tough to convey in 100 words
LikeLike
I enjoyed this as an epitome of how we try to move on in our lives, but remain locked to our past by our emotional memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, James
LikeLike
Dear Neil,
Sounds a bit ominous. Scene well set.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Distincly ominous. Thanks, Rochelle
LikeLike
Very cleverly done, Neil. The unnamed woman who is to become Louise – or is she? You hint that maybe she is realising just how pathological the relationship is becoming when she asks whether he had brought Louise to Marcel’s. I hope she leaves quickly, because a disappointed obsessive is likely to be very, very nasty…
Super writing, and a delight to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Penny. I think she may already be trapped in the pentangle. All she can do is not say the right words
LikeLiked by 1 person
He sounds like a dangerous man. Well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Violet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Decidedly macabre piece, Neil, nicely balanced
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. I enjoyed writing him
LikeLike
Ooo-errr – this is all a bit creepy. I hope this really is fiction!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everything is fiction
LikeLiked by 1 person
She should have known better the moment he insisted on the red dress.
LikeLike
She didn’t know. She thought he was just being a generous suitor
LikeLike
Intriguing. Is it a spirit meld, or something more sinister?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obsessive compulsion I think
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brrrrrr. Gives me the shivers, and makes me glad I’m not the woman waiting at the table. Beautifully written. “Stitching the present with the past.” Really good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Linda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite the menacing tale. Hopefully, she’ll get the answer “wrong.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully. Thanks, Brenda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully descriptive, Neil. I cannot help but wonder just how many “Louises” are out there…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
At times the past pounces on even when one has left it behind. good read.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-wigwam.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLike
Before she what? Such a mystery!
LikeLiked by 1 person
smiles mysteriously
LikeLike
Creepy. Sounds like a spell will be enacted, as she merges with the night and the essence of his lost love. I like creepy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Stu. No spells. I don’t do spells
LikeLike
Loved the descriptive writing – and what a potentially chilling ending!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Susan
LikeLike
Oh the story is full of such men… wonder what happened to Louise… maybe the new lady will run off just like her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It all depends what she answers now
LikeLike
Nice – made me think – wonder what she’ll say?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s hope it’s the wrong thing
LikeLike
Uh-oh. Distinctly ominous and creepy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She may still escape
LikeLike
Ex girl friend Louise is casting a shadow on the present. It is unfortunate but happens.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading
LikeLike
Before Louise had her unfortunate “accident” perhaps? Ominous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could well be
LikeLiked by 1 person
stitching the present to a timeless past…Great line.And the story, decidedly sinister.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Neel
LikeLike
Wow… there is a real undercurrent of creepiness in this. I’m sure Louise shouldn’t go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She definitely should run and not look back
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christ. this one is a belter! Scary stuff, ominous as you like!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A belter! Thanks so much!
LikeLike
So creepy! Great descriptive piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so miuch, Lisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Fabulous story. ‘My woman’ takes on a new meaning when you know … All that merging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Margaret. I’m glad you spotted the “my woman”, It’s significant that he doesn’t give her a name
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful scene setting, exquisitely chilling. Good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Sandra
LikeLike
There is a difference between love and obsession. I hope he realizes some day.
Good one, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he’s too set on his course
LikeLike
Beautiful description – stitching the present to a timeless past. Hope she isn’t metted the same fate as Louise. Something’s not quite right, hope the woman realises this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Anshu
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Stitching the present to a timeless past..” love that. And it’s a bit creepy. What’s going to happen?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It all depends on how she answers. One way, she becomes Louise. The other way she returns to her life
LikeLike
Skilful writing Neil – I felt quite uneasy by the end of the story….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. Uneasy was what I was aiming for
LikeLike
Wonderfully set up scene. All that planning, maybe this one will say yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She may regret it if she does (assuming she still remembers who she was)
LikeLike
I love the intimacy and beauty you paint in the first few lines; it’s very atmospheric and romantic. I know your likely to go dark, and that last line doesn’t leave us hanging too far from that. Nice job, Neil!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
something ominous could happen
LikeLiked by 1 person
or not, depending on her answer
LikeLike
Eeeh–before she… what? What happened to Louise? I guess the title tells us… Very scary, great stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such an atmospheric piece. Great descriptions, especially “silvered by the moon outside”. The ending was shocking… gave me the chills!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Magarisa. That’s high praise
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow, this was really good. At first I thought he was trying to recreate a special memory, and he was! Just in a creepy way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Fatima. Yes, he’s not your average date
LikeLike
Now, he’s a big worry, that one. And dammit, was going to mention Vertigo when I saw Iain had already done it! Well crafted and creepy tale Neil
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Lynn
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure Neil
LikeLike
Oh my … this needs unfolding. I want to know more. It had a suspense to it as I read the details. Great one, Neil.
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Isadora. There’s only so much story you can tell in 100 words
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree 100 words requires tight writing.
You did a great 👍 job. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I appreciate the compliment
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, delightfully dark and so well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Susie
LikeLike
Cool story! Glad I read it.
Ronda
LikeLike
Thanks for reading
LikeLike
Wow, that was creepy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person