Flowering terrible against the dark sky, a new star that wasn’t there a moment ago, bright and keen. Perhaps it’s a wonder, or maybe an omen. All I know for sure is a profound sense of disquiet. Keep your Second Comings!—I’m not abandoning my sheep to go off in search of mangers. The world can change, yes. But not the heavens. Not in my lifetime.
I stand and howl at the night.
.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 
Poignant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Reena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Neil,
That last line prompts all sorts of questions as to the identity of the narrator. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Rochelle
LikeLike
Love it, Neil! Favorite lines: “The world can change, yes. But not the heavens. Not in my lifetime.” Well, not that we know of.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be a wonder or an omen- super-brilliant or fake or bloody or foul…
Figuring out such & often- life goes on while we stand & stare & perhaps howl.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anita
LikeLike
Today’s shepherd is a wise man, not to be drawn into a notion of omens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, James
LikeLiked by 1 person
i admire his courage to stand his ground. for how long, i don’t want to speculate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story. Star of wonder? I won’t follow it and you can’t make me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jilly
LikeLike
He will not be moved. I admire his attitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A man set in his ways, definitely
LikeLike
Beautiful imaginings of what went through the shepherd’s mind back then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jade. I hadn’t actually imagined him as a Biblical shepherd, merely as referrring to the myth, but I’m tickled that you read it that way
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Neil.
LikeLike
Ooooooo
Lovely. Creepy and perhaps warning of things to come. An omen perhaps or something worse
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Laurie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aroooo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like that
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like howling at the heavens from time to time, refusing to be moved even when everything around me tells me to. A new star? Hmm. I really enjoyed this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Brenda
LikeLike
The wisest of the four wise men.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or, at least, the most averse to change
LikeLiked by 1 person