Photo Copyright Janet Webb
I stroke her fragile hand in the pale light of the moon, her skin now as dry and papery as a wasp’s nest.
“Remember that poem you wrote to your puppy? I thought it was for me; you stole my heart way back in third grade.”
Softly I recite the four lines memorized nearly 78 years ago.
All can see our friendship is strong;
No doubt, by my side you belong.
Brown-eyed scamp, your kiss I adore.
I’ll love you forever…or more.
This is the final verse of our love story; I draw my last breath and reach for forever.
I missed last week’s Friday Fictioneers since I was out of town, but I’m back on board this week, submitting my 100 words inspired by the photograph selected by the Fictioneers’ fearless leader Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and guided by the letter Q of April’s A to Z Challenge!
Things I See and Know 
Lily Mugford
April 19, 2013 at 8:23 PM
beautiful… I have a tear.
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 8:01 PM
Aww, thank you!
The Bumble Files
April 19, 2013 at 8:28 PM
Oh, that’s cool how you have yet another prompt with the letter. “Q.” I found it very clever how you wove this into this story, and also “her skin now as dry and papery as a wasp’s nest.” Well done!
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 8:01 PM
I really enjoy trying to weave different challenges together…some days it’s easier than others!
sustainabilitea
April 19, 2013 at 11:41 PM
Awww, nice. Welcome back. I thought she was the one dying but you fooled me.
janet
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 7:59 PM
I hope I fooled a lot of people! I figured even if she was the one who survived, her skin at that age would probably still be thin and papery (my grandmother’s was), so it wasn’t too much of a reach.
kdillmanjones
April 20, 2013 at 2:35 AM
The last line is very moving.
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 7:59 PM
I’m glad I could capture some emotion in so few words.
Sandra
April 20, 2013 at 7:21 AM
You turned that nicely, well done.
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 7:59 PM
Thank you…I did that in one of my many rewrites, hoping the ending would not be what the first line led you to believe.
rochellewisoff
April 20, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Dear Michelle,
A lovely piece. Full of pathos and telling visuals. Papery and thin…nice.
shalom,
Rochelle
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 7:57 PM
Thank you Rochelle. I ran out of words to work in the shiny pebbles as well. 🙂
elappleby
April 20, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Lovely story. I really enjoyed this.
(Pssst – The second word – is that ‘stoke’ or ‘stroke’?)
dreaminofobx
April 20, 2013 at 7:20 PM
It was supposed to be stroke–thanks for catching that!
helen jameson
April 20, 2013 at 9:04 PM
Loverly! The descriptions are so beautiful…especially this, “her skin now as dry and papery as a wasp’s nest.” I had a tear, too.
glossarch
April 21, 2013 at 4:10 AM
Well written, tight and evocative.
Lyn
April 21, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Oh, that was lovely. I watched “Last Tango in Halifax” last night, and it reminded me of that…sweet and wonderful.
dreaminofobx
April 21, 2013 at 3:18 PM
I missed “Last Tango in Halifax,” but I just Googled it and it looks like a series I’d enjoy. Guess I’ll be spending my next rainy day in front of the AppleTV! 🙂
Sarah Ann
April 22, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Beautiful and poignant.
Joe Owens
April 23, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Such a touching little piece. Love can come in so many forms.
lingeringvisions
April 24, 2013 at 4:06 AM
Awwww..warm fuzzies