Let’s go up to the lake today, Frankie!
Come on, it’s such a beautiful day. You can do a spot of fishing.
Maybe you’ll catch something and I can cook it for us later.
Wouldn’t that be nice, Frankie?
You’ll have to help me down those rickety steps, mind.
I can’t quite manage them on my own.
Not like the way I used to.
We’ll walk along the shore, dipping our toes in the water and picking up pretty pebbles. Remember the tiger eye you found that time?
Where is it now, I wonder?
And then we can sit on our bench and watch the pretty boats.
And listen to the sound of the water lapping.
Just the two of us.
*
Frankie?
Where are you, Frankie?
Frankie?
*
Tell her he’s just popped out for a minute. It’s better that way.
Otherwise it’ll be like she’s lost him.
All over again.
Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #24
The challenge this week was lake.
luna's on line 
Oh, Chris, this is wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time. Great work! Again, thanks for taking part 😊
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Thanks, Susan! Once again, it was my pleasure 🙂
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Best thing I’ve read on WordPress today Chris. Beautifully sad.
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Thanks, Matthew 🙂 what a lovely compliment!
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Heartbreaking story. 😞
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At least she had some wonderful memories.
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That’s so true. 👍🙏
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[…] had some excellent responses to last week’s prompt. If you have a chance, give Violet, Chris, and Gordon’s posts a read—you won’t regret […]
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Wow, this is beautiful. Subtle but poignant. Just lovely. Particularly like the closing sentence, from another voice. Clever.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Gutwrenching story, with a powerful shift between peaceful daydreaming, vivid panic and gentle reassurance at the end. Brilliant piece!
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Thanks Tom 🙂 I’m pleased this grabbed you!
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Just heartbreaking. But so often what happens when we deal with dementia. I have to wonder if it is truly kinder, or just easier. You told it with perfection….
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Thanks Violet 🙂
You’re right. How can we know what’s best? (Best for whom?)
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Um, there seems to be something about the name Frankie, I wonder how many writers have never used it or thought of using it 🤔🤔😙 Beautiful peace 👏 👏
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Thanks Joesph 🙂
You pose an interesting question… but this is one of my favourite songs: https://youtu.be/Gym83qsM6cE – so the name resonates with me!
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Um, it’s a nice one 😋😊
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Oh my word, Chris, I love this!!! And I can SO relate!! Great work!
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Thank you so much, Debra 🙂 How nice of you to say!
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Oh, what an ending. Beautifully done, Chris
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Thanks, Cath 🙂
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Oh 😦 Utterly heartbreaking!
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Indeed better. My girlfriend’s grandma is in a home for elders, and last time we were there she said she was feeling better, and they probably send her home any moment. Nothing to do but say yes, that’s good to hear.
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Sorry to hear that, but hopefully she’s getting the care she needs. it’s so hard to see it happen though.
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