In the old schoolhouse, Karen trembled as memories washed over her like waves of a Tsunami. She gasped for air. Her chest tightened. The pictures that flashed through her mind were not the memories sheโd expected nor wanted. Where was the laughter of friends and good times? Ghosts mocked her from the darkened rooms as they moved amid the broken glass and thick dust of the past.
Reunions, even small ones with old flames sounded romantic. Sheโd been foolish, agreeing to meet Carter here of all places for one last trip down memory lane. Iโd be fun heโd said. But thereโd been a reason sheโd avoided them all these years. Nothing fun about the bullies sheโd dealt with every day. How had she forgotten what really happened? By replacing the ugly truth with a lovely lie, that was how.
Something skittered from the door on her left. She jumped out of its way and stumbled back almost landing on her ass. Mice, ghosts, and broken glass were all that remained of her shattered childhood. Karen spun around, turned her back on the old classrooms and hurried toward the entrance. Her heels clicked against the old speckled tile, the echo reminded her of Mrs. Marshallโs typing class. She took a deep breath, slowed her steps and the hammering in her chest eased. A glance at her watch brought tears to her eyes.
Or maybe Carter hadnโt changed. Older didnโt always mean better. The fading afternoon light brightened the front entrance and she let out a sigh of relief. Just a few more feet and sheโd be outside within reach of her car.
A metal latch clanged in the distance as a door slammed. She stopped and listened. Footsteps, she heard footsteps. Karen looked over her shoulder but saw nothing in the dim distance of the dark hallway. She raced toward the front door and stepped into the fading evening light. She refused to be the subject of one more joke. Not here in this damned house of horrors.#amwriting
Describli Writing Prompts
In the old schoolhouse
I hope you enjoyed my effort at a writing prompt. Haven’t done one in a while, felt a bit rusty. I can’t tell y’all how much it means to have the encouragement of this community. Thanks everyone.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Hah! Too quick on the click. Forgot to say how much I enjoyed YOUR piece. ๐
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Thank you John!
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I live by writing prompts–most much longer than the one you used here. I meet 3-5 or six others in a local writing group where we do four of them over the course of 2 hours. While it works great for short pieces written in 10-15 minutes, they’re like this, scenes. Which can be difficult to make into something more. But it sharpens the mental part of the writing skill. Look for one tomorrow on my writing blog after a 3-week hiatus from the writing group.
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I’ll watch for it John. That’s why I do prompts, to shake off some mental dust.
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Vey nicely done!!!
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Thanks.
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A fabulous read, Jean. I’m sure more than one adult may have such memories.
A chilling experience but a fabulous read. Glad she ran OUT. ๐ โค
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Thank you, trying to flex my fiction muscles.
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Nice to see you try out Describli. Good for you. @sheilagood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
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I play with their prompts some but just not lately.
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Nice…. nice writing..
Do you think first-person would have been better? Ok, just thinking.. not a criticism… nice writing though.. the tenses are a little off… could have been off I mean, to give it a more immediate feel…
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Most of my writing is done in first-person but I’m trying to expand a bit. You may be right about a tense here or there, tenses are my weakness. This piece only received one edit run through before I hit post, most get at least 5 but I was short on time. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Jean, I sincerely hope that my comment did not seem unduly critical for no reason. I know that I do post twisted comments most times and mostly contrary to what people are saying, but it was not my intention at all ๐
Heck, this could even turn out to be the beginning of a darn good story in itself, I mean not just a short one, but an expanded story. You are a good writer and I did not mean any disrespect here, while commenting. Of course, if it is permitted then I have no problems disrespecting you either ๐ Just kidding…
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LOL, I learned early on a writer must have a thick skin. That said, no you did not offend me. I appreciate that you take the time to follow and comment on my posts. ๐
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๐ Thanks.. I am relieved ๐
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