PHOTO PROMPT © Marie Gail Stratford
Zahra leaned towards the mirror, dabbing eye cream around her eyes hoping to see those dreaded fine lines vanish. She turned her face in the dim light, trying to catch a glimpse of the smooth-faced beauty that once won her pageant titles.
Her husband appeared behind her reflection. “Still as beautiful as ever!”
She smiled softly. She never noticed just how grey his hair had become. Were those wrinkles on his face from years of laughter, or from sadness? Guilt pinched her heart.
She took his face in her hands and planted a kiss on his eager lips.
98 words
The image made me think of a flower that has lost its bloom, and that led to thoughts of ageing beauties. Zahra, in arabic, means flower.
This story was in part inspired by a poem I once read about an ageing couple, (the title and poet eludes me, sorry). The husband looked at the lines on his wife’s face and found beauty in them, because they were borne from the history of their lives together.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by, Rochelle Wiesoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a full story in 100 words or less. Click the blue frog to read more flash fiction from other writers.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
I like the idea in this. An unmarked face can be pretty, but it takes marks to make it beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the little imperfections that give character and beauty. Thank you, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely tale. A lifetime of events and a relationship summed up in a look and a gesture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Iain. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Fatima,
As the old saying goes, beauty is skin deep. Perfect tale for the prompt. Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its certainly skin deep and in the eye of the beholder. Thank you, Rochelle!
LikeLike
Years of living together can sometimes make us take each other for granted.
I am glad she noticed now. Is that why she is thinking that he could have been sad?
It must be amazing to have a husband who is all- admiration for her, despite the wrinkles and years.
Beautiful and beautifully written story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually there is a hint in her guilt that she has caused him some pain in the past. You kind of picked up on that 😊
LikeLike
How often we see ourselves as less only to have our significant others bring us back to reality. That time has not changed how they feel about us. Beautifully done, Fatima.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our partner, friends and loved ones reflect our true selves in some way. They see what we don’t see in ourselves, as you mentioned. Thank you, Dale. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful and touching tale, Fatima. Well done.
xx Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rowena. I’m glad you connected with the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice one for those of us who are getting older.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are all heading that way. The upside to the loss of youth is the self knowledge and wisdom we gain. Ironically, just the stuff we needed in younger years 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very sweet story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and for commenting. 😊👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely story. It is all to easy to forget that the facial lines that denote maturity, can also denote beauty and wisdom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, Michael. And ageing is what makes life meaningful.
LikeLike
I like the idea that the withering flower is a woman. Great take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked It! Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment 😁
LikeLike
I love this. Eyes of love see the character lines, not the wrinkles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My thoughts exactly, Granonine 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely story, Fatima. In truth, the lines and blemishes on our loved ones are the story of their love for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do tell a story of love. That is almost exactly like a verse out of that poem I read. Wish I could remember it. Oh well. If I ever do, I’ll update this post with it. Read it in my teens and made a lasting impression on me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wrote a poem along similar lines last year. If you’re interested, it’s at https://pennygadd51.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/poem-persistence-of-vision/
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Love it.. in his face she saw a possibility to love herself. That’s why it works with happy ever after.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a really nice interpretation, Björn. 😊 it could be. When I wrote it I was hinting through her guilt of some pain she has caused him in the past. So she wonders if the lines on his face tell a story of joy or sadness of his life with her. Glad you liked It!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwe, how sweet and touching. Love, like wine, becomes so much finer as it grows older.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It becomes refined. 😊 thank you for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly beautiful and sentimentally satisfying!
Beauty obviously lies in the beholder. I guess he sees the maturity of the years in the lines, just like in a tree.
Goes with your title!
LikeLike
Lovely. Yes, as you live with someone you are so used to how they are that sometimes you don’t LOOK. This felt just right to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad it connected with you, Sascha. Thanks for reading and for your kind feedback.
LikeLike