The lights have all gone out. Mist closes in, swallowing up the moonlight. Darkness prevails. She throws another log on the fire, flares a match and lights a candle. At least the woodshed is full, the larder too. Her eyes flit about the room: every technological trapping is now defunct. Useless.
She’s more resilient than most, living alone in her little lodge on the lake. She’s just put new batteries in the radio, but no-one’s broadcasting. Empty airwaves.
Cut off. Cut adrift.
She takes up her pen and pulls her notebook towards her. All she can do now is write.
Written in response to a prompt new to me from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #23
The challenge this week was communication.
Ooh, I like this, Chris. Very atmospheric… and writing certainly helps with any situation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tom. So it does 🙂
LikeLike
Good stuff, Chris! The isolation is tangible. I get a sense that there’s been a pulse event (think Dark Angel) to knock out all tech. Bravo! 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Susan 🙂 Certainly something dark and dramatic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The art of written communication. What a great take. Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Violet 🙂 I’m very pleased to have come across this challenge via your super cautionary tale!
LikeLike
[…] like to open this week’s post with a huge thanks to Chris and Violet for their excellent responses to last week’s […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! I really like the way you ended this one too! The perfect story for that photo!😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Debra:) There will always be stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very eerie scene-setting about going ‘back to basics’ – pulls the reader right in with a uplifting twist ending! Technology’s limited, but writing’s timeless 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! We’ll always have our writing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, those are great conditions for writing
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to confess I’m wedded to my keyboard 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You deftly placed the reader within the moment and I find myself strangely envious of that solitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The perfect writing space, for a while at least.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Somehow, I find this reassuring. Beautifully done, Chris.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cath 🙂 When all else fails… write!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When all else is lost… write on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And so we will…
LikeLike
Sounds blissful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A place and space in which to give oneself up to the flow of words…
LikeLike
Chris, sorry for the somewhat belated lines. This definitely is one of the best ‘terribly short shorts’ I’ve read in a long time. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 thanks so much… and so pleased to have connected with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Blackout […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rory! I appreciate the compliment 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a nice start, I was quite absorbed into being in your story, thanks for dropping by my blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great metaphor for great life of a writer. I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much, Chris!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLike