PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Butolt
Mud oozed between Macy’s toes, soothing the thorn-pierced skin on her bare feet. The sun blazed through parting rain clouds. Shining its light on the thorny bushes and flat earth that spread out in all directions towards the horizon. Behind her, beyond that last hill was her boyfriend, James. The ants and maggots probably got to him now. Joining the vultures that pecked at his dehydrated corpse.
Tears pushed under her eyelids, but never fell. Something roared in the distance, growing louder. Flying against the sun, a chopper droned towards her. Those tears swelled and streamed down her dirt-stained cheeks.
100 words
What a beautiful image by Roger Butolt! My mind immediately went to a story of a woman who survived getting lost in the wilderness. Hope you enjoy it.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. The challenge is to write a full story in 100 words or less.
Click here to read more flash fiction.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
I’m afraid I thought the helicopter might be coming to strafe her until I read your explanation
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Was it the dead boyfriend that made her appear as a murderer maybe? He died of dehydration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I thought they’d killed him earlier and were coming for her
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dang! Poor boyfriend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dehydration is a terrible way to go!
LikeLike
Poor James. Macy is going to need a lot of time to get over this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good case of potential PTSD maybe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Fatima,
You captured her plight well. I felt her sadness, terror and relief. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Rochelle. I appreciate the positive feedback.
LikeLike
Friend or foe, I wonder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Helicopter is a search and rescue operation. So definitely friend. But too late for the boyfriend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, were they lost in the wilderness and he died right before the rescue helicopter came, or did the kill him (and if the latter, there is certainly a lot of murder being inspired by the prompt)?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were lost and the helicopter was part of a search and rescue operation. Been watching a lot of survivor reality lately… But it is funny how such a serene image inspires murderous fiction? 🤔😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
With a limited amount of information, the imagination goes in many directions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tragic scene sensitively described. Excellent.
Click to read my FriFic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Macy! You’ve done a great job of showing her struggle and sorrow over the loss of her boyfriend.
LikeLike
A terrible experience. I’m just glad she didn’t kill him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. 😊 Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very vivid writing. Well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLike
Nicely written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Some lovely turns of phrase in your, story, Fatima. I felt your heroine’s relief at being rescued…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kelvin. 😊
LikeLike
So I’m thinking, is it a police helicopter coming to arrest her, or a rescue one? I’m hoping it’s the latter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re not the first to think she was going to be arrested for murdering her boyfriend. But in this case, she’s being rescued. Her boyfriend didn’t survive getting lost in the wilderness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my gosh! What wasn’t to love?!
My kind of story…let’s here the rest, shall we?
Reminded me of S.King’s “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon”. Great Story and not like most of his works.
Scott
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/reckoning-friday-fictioneers/
LikeLiked by 1 person