This week’s photo prompt is provided by Louise with The Storyteller’s Abode.
I noticed them at the station a day earlier. Now, I had the good fortune of sitting across from them in the dining car. A Jewish star dangled from the delicate gold chain around her neck. His tattoo was covered by his shirt sleeve.
“It must feel strange,” I said.
The old man shrugged. “They must not think they won.”
“They all died here,” she said. “Except for dziadek and me!”
He patted her hand. “They must never forget!”
The train slowed. Ahead was the camp, now the Auschwitz-Birkenhau State Museum. Tears came to her eyes. The old man stood.
~~~~~0~~~~~
The above work is exactly 100 words and is my submission to Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, where we are given a photo prompt and approximately 100-175 words with which to build our stories. The challenge is open to everyone who would like to participate. It’s fun and addicting. If you wish more information, please click here. And, to read the stories from great writers, click here.
Thinking Through My Fingers 
Excellent but so heart wrenching. I really like the last two lines in the first paragraph – those say so much. Wonderful story and thank you for participating in the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers Challenge.
It was even more heart wrenching in its original form. But I wanted to stay to 100 words! Thank you!
Gosh, more heart wrenching? I don’t know if my heart could take it. lol
An incredibly powerful story, Emilio. I love the line ‘“They must not think they won.”’ Welcome to the challenge. 🙂
Thank you, Louise. Your photo spoke volumes to me. I wanted to stay at exactly 100 words and had to cut all character. You and Priceless Joy (I couldn’t find her name) are my first followers. Congratulations to me! 🙂
I’m glad you liked the picture! I was going to save it for the one-four challenge but then decided it would be a good one to send to PJ (which is what everyone tends to call her) for FFfAW. It was nice to see your picture on the InLinkz page. 🙂
Well written, Emilio. I’ve already heard so much about your photography blog from my lovely daughter, Louise. And now I see that you write as well! I’ve taught about the Holocaust so many times, and found it all totally heart-wrenching. Are you intending to limit your stories to 100 words? This challenge allows up to 175. Well done, Emilio! 🙂
Thanks, Millie. I do intend to limit myself to 100 words. I like the challenge. And now, having said that, my next one will probably use all 175.
At first, with this challenge, I was very strict, and limited myself to the 150 words. I soon realised that I could make so much more of the story with that extra 25 words. Now, both Lou and I tend to use the whole 175!. If you do the ‘Friday Fictioneers’, the word limit is 100. I did that challenge for a long time, and loved it. But I’ve dropped a lot in recent months whilst I finish my third book! Hope your writing goes really well, Emilio. 🙂
Thank you. I did do the Friday Fictioneers and might follow your lead, who knows. See you next week?
A poignant tale Emilio, well done. I think limiting the word count is what made it even more heart wrenching.
And more difficult! thank you, Yolanda!