Thank you as always to Rochelle for providing Friday Fictioneers!
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Townhouse 104
We knew her barely, the woman who died in townhouse 104.
People spread rumors, gossip. Even if you’re not a part of it, you hear.
She was a lesbian, a mother who aborted, a drug user, an alcoholic, a tattooed artist. She was abused. She abused. She was loved. She was hated. She had lovers. She was alone.
What the gossips never discerned is how she fell through the glass, her death.
How the neighbors waited, bated breath for her toxicology. Negative on all counts.
You could see them sputter, saliva splashing with reactive jowls.
Cries spilled, disregarded. Someone cared.
end
Sascha Darlington
Categories: Flash Fiction, FRIDAY FICTIONEERS
Despite the powerful subject matter, the line that sticks with me is “Even if you’re not a part of it, you hear”
A tragic life and a tragic end it seems.
Tough life the woman lived! Glad someone cared for her at the end!
The salacious gossip churners of our judgemental society. Poor lady
At least there was someone more interested in her than in all the rumours and gossip.
Brilliant! So close to reality about the nasty gossipers when a woman is not quite the subdued angel they expect. Thanks.
Thought provoking tale about poisoness gossip-mongering. Nicely done, Sascha.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
They didn’t want to know her, they only wanted to gossip. I’m glad someone cared. This feels real and is very moving.
Bystanders… what more is there to say. I liked this piece, it was kind of detached but involved at the same moment. Well done.
“Saliva splashing with reactive jowls”. I love how, in the end, it is the ones expressing their disgust of her, who provoke the most disgust in the reader. I also like the added meaning of “reactive,” as if they sputter automatically, as an unavoidable chemical reaction, to their lies being uncovered.
Horrible people and their gossip based probably on nothing but lies. Like Neil, the sentence that screamed at me was “Even if you’re not a part of it, you hear.”
Very well done, Sascha.
Phew, Sascha, I am exhausted after reading this.
Potent stuff indeed, superbly executed.
Thank you so much, CE! 🙂
this reminds me of a quote from the movie, it’s a wonderful life. to paraphrase, nobody is a complete failure who has a friend.
I like the way you’ve looked at the story. Thank you! 🙂
This is sad. it is tough for that lady and she is not around to debunk the rumours.
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Everyone was against her and she died alone horrifically. So sad but you feel it all could have been avoided if only someone cared enough to get to know her
Good story and great hook!
Thank you so much, Jennifer!
The way you wrote this made me feel like we all knew this woman. I wonder what was the truth about her life and her death.
Thank you so much, Jade.
Nature or Nurture, what is it that makes us prey on the bad? Excellent write!
Very powerful.
Dear Sascha,
So much said in few words. A lifetime of backstabbers and tongue-waggers. Brilliantly told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A powerful picture of loneliness and the destructive power of gossip.
An interesting snapshot of reality. Well done.
The woman didn’t live the scandalous life they imagined after all. Love the way you ended the story.
As an introvert, I completely understand the woman in townhouse 104. That’s the high price of privacy. Nicely done, Sascha, as always.
What we perceive about others, is usually far from the truth.
So sad… rumors building up something false… l think of Boo Radley in “to kill a mockingbird” and all the stories they told about him…
In the end we are all the same.