Her mouth twisted in jagged lines, chin and cheeks fractured in the reflection.
Seven years bad luck. It’s already been eight.
Elaine raised her glass to her lips. Ice cubes rattled against the crystal and rainbows glinted off the beveled squares that wrapped around the tumbler. She drew in a mouthful of bitter, honey-colored liquid.
The last dregs drained, she swiveled on her stool and marched across the dim room. Stale air swirled around her and dust particles danced away.
Yellow light streamed through the open door. She pulled it shut behind her, sealing memories with the darkness.
***
Photo prompt & featured image: © Liz Young
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The above is my 98-word fictional story. Each week, writers are offered a photo prompt, from which we are challenged to write a complete story, in 100 words or less. Then we post, share, comment and critique with dozens of other writers. Click the blue frog button to find more stories, and join in!
The Mom Who Runs: 
Lovely writing!
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Nicely descriptive narrative ….
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Thanks, Justjoyfulness!
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Dear Sara,
Vivid descriptions put a clear picture in my head and left me curious to know what memories she sealed in the darkness. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi, Rochelle!
Thanks so much! That was precisely my goal with this piece. I’m glad it worked !
Sara
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Seven years of bad luck are enough, I’m glad she left the bad memories behind. Great descriptions, they almost distracted me from the story. I like when I can ‘see’ what the characters see.
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Hi, gahlearner! Thanks for reading and your comment. Glad I didn’t distract too much; for this flash I felt like the surroundings and memories they conjured were most of the story!
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Great imagery here, you really paint a picture with your words 😀
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Thanks, jdwrites, for your comment and reading! I’m glad you enjoyed the imagery!
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“Seven years bad luck. It’s already been eight.” This line did it for me. Sometimes it seems it’ll never get better.
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Thanks so much, Kecia, for reading and your comment! It does indeed seem that way sometimes.
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Your description conjured up that glass perfectly – I have some exactly the same in my cupboard.
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Thanks, Liz! Awesome!! 😄
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The walk onto the sunlight is hopefully a sign that her luck is going to change with the help of a change in attitude to leave the past behind. Nicely written.
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Seconded, some great descriptions
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Thanks so much! Sorry for the slow response! 😄
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There’s some lovely description in this – the jagged reflections, the stale air swirling
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Thanks, Neil! Appreciate you reading and your comment! 🙂
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