PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
The painting caught her eye on her first day of work at the museum. Art always spoke to some part of her, but this was different. The sinking ship was vivid and disturbingly familiar, although it was hundreds of years old.
That sense of familiarity stayed with her long after she left work at closing time. Following her into her dreams, where people beside her leapt off the sides of the sinking ship into icy waters. A little boy cried as she tried to soothe him in a language she shouldn’t have known, while icy fear turned her skin pale.
100 words
I’m not a believer in past lives or reincarnation. They make for interesting stories though, don’t they?
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less.
Click the blue frog to read more flash fiction by other authors, or to submit you own.
Fajr, Books & That First Cuppa 
Interesting. I did notice the paintings of the ships around the skylight, but the funny thing is that my first thought on seeing this photo was the skylight in the Titanic, at least as shown in the movie.
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It is more of a nightmare. Sad!
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Or she may just have an active and suggestible imagination. Nicely done, Fatima
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That would be a scary thought…
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You have a good eye for detail, Fatima, and the ideas so well set out in your story are fascinating.
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Nicely done! 🙂
Reincarnation makes for a really interesting topic to write and read about!!
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I can also imagine this… some of those paintings are very very vivid…
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Good take Fatima. I feel the same, don’t believe in reincarnation but it does make for intriguing drama.
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Oh wow! That is a terrific story. And what a final sentence “A little boy cried as she tried to soothe him in a language she shouldn’t have known, while icy fear turned her skin pale.” It makes my hair stand on end every time I read it!
Kudos, Fatima!
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I wonder if she believed that she was reliving a past life? Well written tale, Fatima.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Fear, sinking ship, little boy, unknown language—perfect! This is really good 🙂
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Dear Fatima,
Reincarnation does make for interesting stories. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not reincarnation but just maybe she experiencing someone else’s life..
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