The moon rose and a nightingale sang. She gave him her love, its raw vulnerability a box of knives.
He offered her, in return, his secret shame. I will never hurt you, he promised with the careless fervour of new lovers.
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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 
Short, brutal and poetic.
Powerful writing, Neil
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Thanks so much. One of the few stories that I felt didn’t need a single word more.
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You were quite correct.
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Says it all about that trust that we so easily give, only to later regret. Expertly done.
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Thanks so much, Iain
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Such is love and war.
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Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference
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Lovely vignette.
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Thanks so much, Joshua
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So much said in so few words.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Short and so often true.
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And it’s never like in the movies
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Ain’t that the truth!
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That one cuts to the heart, Neil. A fine piece of flash fiction.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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The thorns of love. Good one!
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Thanks so much, Susan
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Only time will tell if the love of two such damaged people can survive.
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I’m not sure they’re any more damaged than average.
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Succinct; yet, it says so much.
Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much, Isadora
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Neil, this reads like poetry. Nicely done.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You are very welcome.
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Gosh, I don’t see a happy future for these two. You have packed a lot of punch into those few words and I love the box of knives metaphor.
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I guess they’ll do as well as most.
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Sinister and short and sweet, great stuff
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Thanks so much
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Very well penned, Neil!
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Thanks so much
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Oh, geez.
It takes great talent to tell such a big story in so few words.
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Gorgeous, brutal, poetic prose. I salute you!
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Thanks so much, Anne
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Such a beautiful and poetic response to the prompt. Loved it.
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Thanks so much
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Beautiful.
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Thanks so much, Alicia
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Ah, the pointed edges of love’s casual cruelties, how sharply they pierce!
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Sometimes inadvertently
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Such is life, love mixed together with pain.
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Thanks for reading, Michael
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Yes, those early days when trust its very self over extends the promise – dangerous and emotionally fragile,
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Thanks so much, James
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it looks like they’re equally matched. let the battle begin. 🙂
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Perhaps it won’t be a battle, but there’s always that danger
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When it’s unconditional love, we bring our wounded parts along with our strengths to the relationship. Both are accepted freely creating the strongest of bonds. I love this, Neil. Very moving.
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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Beautiful and fragile, Neil. Like life!
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Thanks so much, Jenne
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Oh dear, i fear there is much heartache to come after such a promise. Well done in so few words.
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Thanks so much. Laurie
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I love that line, “vulnerability like a box of knives”. There is a lot of imagery packed in there. Great job.
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Thanks so much, David
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Brilliantly concise and all the more powerful for it, Neil
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Thanks so much, Michael
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