She was a goddess, a liminal deity of boundaries and of spaces in-between.
“Give me wine, men, and song,” she would say. Sometimes she would grin and say “Wine, women, and song would do just as well.”
Of course, she inducted me into the ways of love and, of course, I became wholly her creature. Her touch thrilled and, yet, drenched me in a frenzy of self-loathing.
When at last it ended, as it had to, and she cast me into the darkness, she gifted me a fine St. Emilion and a song I could sing forever.
.
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 
Femme fatale. Poor trapped soul.
And once one is smitten and completely surrenders to her charm,
one knows nothing- neither abandonment or harm!
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Thanks for reading, Anita
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I love this story; there’s so much to admire. She was ‘a liminal deity of boundaries and of spaces in-between’. Wow – gorgeous writing! And ‘she gifted me a fine St. Emilion and a song I could sing forever.’ Either of the gifts on its own would have made a good conclusion to your story. The fact that they are so different from each other (material as against intellectual or spiritual; sense of taste as against sense of hearing; transient as against eternal) makes their combination a real piece of art. Kudos!
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What a lovely comment. Thanks so much, Penny
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Some things aren’t meant to last. At least he has a song he can sing forever. Enjoyed the story N.
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Thanks so much, Tannille
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Beautifully written. I mistakenly thought for a moment it was written by a femal FF’er, and that seemed to lend the story even more dramatic effect.
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That mistake is a high compliment. I was deliberately ambigious about the sex of the narrator
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This is so good Neil, even when the bottle’s gone the memory will live on through song.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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A very atmospheric tale, well done, Neil,
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Thanks, Mason
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Great line: “Her touch thrilled and, yet, drenched me in a frenzy of self-loathing.”
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On reflection, I think I could have improved that line. But thanks so much, Jade
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The polishing never ends, does it. You’re very welcome.
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Haha! No regrets then! Very well scribed…..
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Thanks so much, Ain. I would have responded to yours (with the comment he should have trusted Bart more) but the site you’re using was insisting I had to subscribe to something
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Oh no…I keel trying to find easier sites….
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Great storytelling, Neil. Those goddesses can be so flighty!
Pax,
Dora
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Thanks so much, Dora
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I must echo everyone and say what lovely writing. Man or woman, it works perfectly. And hey, he/she did not leave empty-handed, so there is that…
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Thanks so much, Dale
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Ooooo I’m immediately picturing an succubus or other dark demon like figure taking their soul. Fabulous descriptions here!
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Thanks so much, Laurie. I didn’t picture her as anything other than human, but you may be right
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The seduction into a world of no return is so typical of voluptuous women who know their wine.
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Thanks so much, James. I’ll drink to that
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Dear Neil,
This is definitely one of your best. I loved, “men, wine and song.” Why not?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Such an intense protagonist – he’ll learn. And she did give him a decent bottle of wine.
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She’s not all bad
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Such a poetic, multi-layered story that drew me in and, yes, made me look up Saint Emilion wine. A triumph in 100 words, Neil.
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Wow! Thanks, indeed, Anne
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Neil, this is poetic in its words and structure. I think you get better every week, with your vivid yet concise descriptions. Amazing.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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I want to write this well when I grow up. Poetic prose.
I so enjoyed this story and how you crafted it, Neil. I was just reading about ‘romantic obsession.’ What fantastic stories it gives us!
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What a great compliment, Bill. Thank you
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one of your best. i want to read more. 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Memories memories, if only 🙂
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And, of course, I wish I hadn’t
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At least he has some memories to relive while he’s polishing off his wine.
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He does, indeed
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A very good little story there. Enjoyed reading that one. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Bear
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I hope the St Emilion – and the song – were worth the heartache!
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St Emilion banishes many regrets
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Beautifully written Neil.. “she gifted me a fine St. Emilion and a song I could sing forever.” Nice lines
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Thanks so much, Vartika
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Evocative prose — what a lady! Like everyone else, I especially love the last line.
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Thanks so much, Eugenia
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Ah, le ambiguous! Nicely done, Neil!
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Thanks so much
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Easy come; easy go. At least he was left with something. Well, maybe I could get a bit less realistic and say “Better to have love and lost than never to have loved at all.” 😀
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It wasn’t altogether easy for him. He did weep a lot
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I liked her from the start. She’s doing what men have seen as their privilege for ages. But where men would be seen as virile and lusty, she’s seen as a dark, life-draining creature by some. Too bad that the narrator feels self-loathing but s/hes probably a product of the morals of her/his culture and time. The ending is perfect though, and so is your writing.
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Thanks so much
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Excellent and poetic piece of writing. It seemed the story was much more than 100 words. There were so many layers.
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Thanks so much, Brenda. I’m glad it seemed fatter than it is.
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not a bad bargain; you got rid of her-that’s the bonus
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I’m not sure he thinks so
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At least there’s the severance package. This has poetry engrained in it. Beautifully written.
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Thanks so much
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There are songs it might be better not to know. The wine sounds good though!
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The wine was excellent
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I love the swashbuckling style, wonderful.
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Thanks so much
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