.
‘
.
A match and a can of fuel. That’s all it took. As the ribbon of flame snaked across the floor, she took one last look around the room in which her life had fallen apart. No more to be hit, bruised. Never again to be threatened. No more.
The room she’d loved before he took control would be reduced to a pile of ashes, her recent painful moments burned and gone. A small price to pay.
She gently closed the door, turned the key on her past and walked away dragging a bulging leather case behind her.

Atop a hill she stands, gazing at a distant column of smoke as it curls and twists its way up into a blanket of leaden cloud. She shoves the case from the cliff’s edge and watches it tumbling and bouncing from rock from rock, then disappearing beneath the crashing waves of the angry ocean below.
A golden shaft of sunlight embraces her, and she smiles for the first time in many a long day.
She’ll be fine now.
She will, I’m sure.

.
Thank you, Sadje, for hosting What Do You See?

Image credit; Michael Dziedzic @ Unsplash

Hmmm. Was he in the house?
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That’s one possibility! She’s saying nothing.
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I have an evil mind. I read too many murder mysteries.
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A fabulous write, dear Keith!
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That’s most kind of you, Nancy, thank you.
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Wowwwwww. I used to have fantasies…but didn’t think prison would suit me. Great story, Keith.
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Best they remain just fantasies! Thanks, V.
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Oh yes. And, you’re most welcome.
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A powerful story. And an excellent thought provoking take on the prompt Keith. Well done.
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So kind of you, Suzette, thank you!
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Hi Keith – I hope she’ll be fine … and can hide away from all and sundry … cheers Hilary
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I’m sure she’s fine, Hilary!
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I hope, if he wasn’t in the house, that he is fooled by the evidence left (hopefully!) of her smashed case at the bottom of cliff.
Excellent story, Keith.
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I’m pretty sure it went to plan! Cheers, Dale!
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Excellent 🙂
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a terrific ending
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Thanks, Beth!
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Good story Keith
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I hope she will, but these things tend to haunt us…
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A suspenseful tale indeed! I’ve my suspicions about that suitcase…
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Not in the leather case or in the house. They’ll never find him or her. Hope she gets a better life.
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She made her escape for a better life! Good for her. 🙂
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