Bridges should unite not part, they should be more beginnings than an end. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, just like it did the day they called:
“Is this Joanne Wilkinson?”, an unfamiliar voice
“Yes”
“The wife of Terence Wilkinson?”
She still recalled how concrete clouds had settled, how in an instant glass can shatter and metal crumble. How a bridge can sometimes be an end.
She bent down and added yet another rose, the last of summer, to the wayside altar she had built..
“Terence, I am coming”, and jumping she felt him calling from the water deep below.
This week I took another melancholy route, to walk along a bridge is sometimes for the sole purpose of committing suicide. Very often it can be prevented if we just take better care of those around us likely to have suicide thoughts.
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly writing challenge run by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and many talented writer join every week to write 100 words on the same picture.
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September 23, 2015
Dear Björn,
A very sad story. My favorite part of it, though, is the way you nailed that feeling of shock when she received the call. Very well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Flashbacks can be so very effective.. I did not read yours before, but there were some similarities there.
Tragic.
Good piece.
Indeed.
So very sad. Graphic descriptions too.
Thank you.. yes I think those clouds really look heavy.. I’m curious where such a dismal place could be located.
Oh my heart, but what a beautiful story you weaved. The concrete clouds was a fantastic description.
Thank you.. yes those clouds can feel heavy sometimes..
Oh no, I wasn’t expecting that at the end. Tragic, and so well written.
Thank you.. I saw suicide immediately in that picture.. so it had to be that.
And so the bridge, for her, does again become a means for uniting with her loved one, rather than parting. Very poetic.
an end and a new beginning.
Sad, Bjorn, but great description of thoughts leading up to suicide. This picture seems to lead to melancholy thoughts. Well done. —- Suzanne
I expect a lot of suicides this week.. A bridge with heavy clouds..
Beautifully written, but so tragic. Funny how bridges can be the beginning and the end, but most people jump of at the middle.
I hope most people still decide not to jump
not at all predictable – felt the shock of the call and the cold water – so astutely observed, right down to how we we observe the insignificant details at times of import
Maybe for her, the call was could stop her pain,
Very well done.
The bridge certainly united those two. So sad.
What a tragic but well told story!
Beautifully written and so sad.
Excellent piece of writing, Bjorn, yet again.
You made us feel for Joanne, and empathise with her solution.
A great story though tragic. You made me understand her feelings.
A sad and yet beautiful story. I like your line about the bridge being an end and the irony in that.
Bjorn,
Two tragic stories and a poignant note. Suicide hurts so many more than one realizes. Thanks for sharing.
TMWR
This bridge reminded me of a bridge in Ireland where young people swarmed to commit suicide. I almost wrote about that, Glad I didn’t and you did. Beautiful work.
I do not condone suicide (ironically it is suicide prevention month) but still feel for her
I really like the way your built up to the end. It is true we need to check in with people who are grieving to make sure they are really ok.
the bridge filling the gap. great metaphor.
Evocative descriptions and details. Such a sad ending for her.
United again – a powerful story, as always.
So the bridge did unite. Finally! Very powerful!
Poor woman, the grief was just too much. Great story.
Yikes! Another tragedy. She should have talked to the woman in my story. LOL. Well done!
Chillingly good. Sad that two lives were lost in the same way in the same place.
Goodepimples! Very sad: very well done!
Grief from an unexpected death can be devastating. You expressed those feelings perfectly in so few words. Bjorn, this is very sad but well-written. Thank you.
Isadora 😎
Very sad. When you don’t have time to say good-bye it is so hard. Pity someone didn’t realise that she wasn’t coping at all. Grief can be really hard. Loved the “concrete clouds”
Beautifully written. Sadness compounded!
Alas, the 4th suicide story today. Bridges are going to get a bad reputation if people keep jumping. Very well written, Bjorn.
Sad story but beautifully written. Yes, bridges should unite and not part.
Lily
So tragic. I don’t even like to think about but we should because there are a lot people hurting in the world. Nice tie with the phone and the flash back for a powerful story, Bjorn. Well done.
“Bridges should unite, not part…”, beautiful words, and while they mean an end for Joanne, they also unite her with Terence. The inner logic and consistency of the story is impressive. I didn’t know a bridge could have so many meanings.
I don’t normally form a mental association between bridges and suicide. I get the feeling I’m an exception.
Tragic yet beautiful and very poetic….
Concrete clouds, instant glass shattering… gorgeous.
KT
A young man in our community killed himself last week; so many are asking “why?”
How tragic. Well done!
Very well written Bjorn, the opening paragraph was excellent, and the overall tragedy of the whole story was captured perfectly
A very well crafted, though sad, story.
Methinks that bridge and leaden sky have a Nordic look about them that invites melancholy and tragedy. Perhaps I’ve been watching too many Nordic crime series on TV. It is the perfect setting for the story you tell so well. I feel the chill, first of bad news, then of the watery grave.
Concrete clouds and crumbling metal …what a tragic scene yet painted eloquently with words. Nicely done.
“concrete clouds” expresses the feeling of despair very well. Sad story.
The call to join ….
Awesomely written. Why is that when we see bridges we ponder who has jumped or attempted from them? My character was saved by the grace of a passing stranger 🙂
Another beautiful piece, Björn, “melancholy” or not! This is reality for so many, and a bridge does indeed conjure that reality. You’ve really captured all of the emotion and struggle of that.