You know how it is. Nothing makes sense until it’s connected to everything else. This raindrop, glimmering on the Swiss Cheese plant, could mean anything: the first spatter of a coming flood; the tending of a careful gardener; a tear shed by a sad hero.
Thus is how my understanding of you grew: assembled patiently, slice by chunk, in a thousand days and nights. When did everything change? When did we start taking turns to remove a piece? Now the whole edifice tremors, like a Jenga tower. One day soon, it will topple.
.
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 
I want to change understand to understanding, but you might want to leave it. Regardless, this is absolutely lovely lyrical writing, graphically illustrating the agony of dashed hope following a failure of some kind. Beautiful piece that hits the spot.
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Thanks so much, Jilly. And thanks for the correction
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Deep and introspective…
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Thanks so much
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Your first two sentences set the stage for this contemplative piece. This is a thinking man’s write …. not one to be taken lightly on an early NY morning.
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I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you
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A solid reflection on a failing relationship (or world), Neil.
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Thanks so much, Trish
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We have to understand something in order to change it—or destroy it. There’s a peace beyond all understanding, maybe! I love this, Neil!
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Thanks so much, Paula
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People change, our experience of them changes. It’s not always a positive outcome. Good one, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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It is like traveling on a train that splits at some distant station. Each part then go in different directions, so either get on the correct half first or else don’t fall asleep on the wrong half. Like all relationships, stay ahead of on coming changes.
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And hang on tight on the corners
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Neil, such lovely prose! This piece made me think. Lyrical and thought-provoking! Doesn’t get better than that.
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Thanks so much
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Neil, good illustration of individualized logic that helps one make sense of things. It feels like intuition swirling around there also. Helps unwelcome surprises hurt a little less when you can sense they are coming.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You’re very welcome.
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Dear Neil,
Indeed we are watching it topple.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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This is a beautiful write, Neil. I enjoyed it immensely.
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Thanks so much, Dale
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A lyrical and thought-provoking piece, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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A situation too many experience, sadly. Excellent, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Heck, what everyone else already said. I delightful, melancholy piece. (I needed to look up Swiss Cheese plant.)
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Thanks so much, Alicia
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A thoughtful piece,… and yes it is all to easy to remove good links
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Thanks so much. Michael
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You’ve explained so many relationships. It could be months or decades, it is the same. I really like this one.
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‘Edifice’ moves this story beyond a tale of two people and the building up and tearing down of their relationship, and there certainly are some supposedly indestructible edifices being torn down at this moment in history. I do like how you began with the reminder of how important context is to meaning. Fascinating.
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This is beautifully done. Such a sense of sadness, regret, hopelessness. Makes the problem-solver in me want to fix it.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Wow. Powerful. Nicely done.
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Thanks so much, Fleur
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You are welcome 😊
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