I rise early and go down through the forest to your grave. Moss has grown over the stone I placed there and a snail has left a map of its convoluted journey as if it, alone, plans to return.
I sit on the ground, soft and damp with the autumn’s leaves and eat sandwiches. Egg and cress; your favourite. I tell you everything: who she is, how much I love her, why I must leave.
I listen for your arguments and tears, but for the first time I hear nothing, just the mist condensing and dripping from the trees.
***
Finally this week I’m two words under my 100-word allowance (that should make up a little from last week’s over-spend). Friday Fictioneers is brought to us by the wonderful writer Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, and the picture this week is supplied by the lovely writer, Rachel Bjerke. Click here to join in with Friday Fictioneers, or here to read other people’s.
***
On Tuesday my novel, Our Endless Numbered Days, was officially published in the US by Tin House.
Dear Claire,
Your title misleads us just a little. Instead of the zombie story I was hoping wasn’t going to happen, you shared a poignant story full of pathos and heartache. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Sometimes misleading readers can be a good thing 😉
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So much evocative, informative detail has been packed into such a small space; it moves us and leaves us wanting more, yet tells us everything we need to know at the same time. A beautiful tale, skilfully told.
Many congratulations on the US publication of Our Endless Numbered Days, Claire… you must be almost breathless with excitement!
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Thanks, Jane. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the congratulations. All of it is crazy exciting!
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What a beautifully sad story. I love the detail of the snail trail. 🙂
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Thanks, glad you liked it.
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What a lovely story, Claire. We’ve had many deaths in the family over the past two years, and this sweet story about moving on holds within it my hopes and dreams for all the spouses who have lost their life partners too early. Thanks for sharing this gem.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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I’m sorry to hear that Marie Gail, but I’m glad my story resonated.
Claire
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Very beautiful. Sad and reflective as always. I too love the snail image and I’m so glad that the main character gets to carry on living and loving. What else is there? Thank you for your Friday flash fiction treasures. Hope “My Endless Numbered Days” is off to a great start. I’ve just enjoyed the first two chapters. The father is a complicated and horribly delusional figure. Great stuff!!! Best wishes Jax
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Thanks, Jax. Really pleased you enjoyed the story, and glad you’re liking Our Endless Numbered Days so far. Let me know when you finish.
Claire
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The image of a snail leaving its own map is a wonderful one in a sad but hopeful story. Well done on the word count, though you might consider inserting ‘time’ as you have two spares. 🙂 I can’t imagine your excitement on having your book published – congratulations yet again.
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Thanks, Liz. Well spotted! And thanks for the congratulations.
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Congrats on the US publishing. That’s so exciting!
Oh..liked your 98 words here too 🙂
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Thanks, Dawn!
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Love your descriptives! Brings tears to my eyes.
Lily
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Ahh, I hope that’s a good thing. Thanks for reading.
Claire
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Yes, a good thing absolutely
Lily
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What a poignant piece, Claire. I like it. It has a similar feel as your novel, although I guess that makes sense. 🙂
-David
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Thanks David. And thanks for leaving such a lovely review on Amazon. It’s much appreciated!
Claire
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My pleasure! I was quite impressed by the book. Looking forward to the next one. 😉
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A very sweet and touching story. It has the feel (as I’m sure it is suppose to) of the struggle of letting go of someone you love and going on with life. A difficult but necessasary part of life. Absolutely beautiful. And.. congratulations!!
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Yes, that was what I was trying to get across. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Claire
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“how much I love her, why I must leave”.
This snippet tells so much. – why the visit, the feeling of loss, Lovely, my dear.
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Thanks, Alicia. Glad you liked it.
Claire
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Lovely. Life is full of moving on moments, isn’t it?
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Yes, we all have to do that sometime, otherwise there is no life.
Claire
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last sentence is just beautiful, wish i could write something like it
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Ahh, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Claire
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Lovely story. Very sad.
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Thanks, Sandra. I don’t seem to be able to do happy (although I am a very happy person!)
Claire
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Dear Claire,
Lovely, Claire. Quiet as a graveyard and as sad, but lovely.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks Doug. Your praise is always appreciated.
Claire
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That’s really bitter-sweet; especially ‘for the first time’.
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Thanks, Patrick. Glad you enjoyed.
Claire
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Quite sad, but it’s time for the living to move on. Nice story!
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Yes, definitely time. Thanks!
Claire
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You have such a knack of twitting the heartstrings.
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Hah! Thanks Hilary.
Claire
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Somehow I see both sadness, but also a new story of moving on.. the description of the snail is just perfection in this story.,, wonderful (and congratulations for your success in the US … those reviews are just great)
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Yes, sadness and hope. And thanks for the congratulations!
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I love the snail trail and how ‘as if it, alone, plans to return’ may well mirror the fears of the narrator. Beautiful story.
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Yes, only the snail might return – not the narrator. Glad you liked it.
Claire
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Really liked it, great job!
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Thank you!
Claire
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I enjoyed tenderness of this sad write … a dead lover … obviously gone for qite a while but never released until this encounter … when he’s finally ready to move on. A beautiful and very effectively write.
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Thank you. A good precis!
Claire
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Beautifully done, you just raised the bar again. And the first paragraph snailed it.
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Ha ha! Thanks!
Claire
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Really touching. I loved how you created this character, and the details of setting that symbolise so much.
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Thanks, Margaret. It was a very atmospheric photograph wasn’t it?
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I enjoyed the moment…. And relate to it as well.
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Thank you!
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This week’s photo prompt brought out a lot of grief. Your story is lovely. Congratulations . I saw you on GoodReads.
Tracey
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Thanks Tracey. It’s a sad looking photo. Yes, lots of GoodReads coverage and reviews, which is great!
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Claire, this is just beautiful… you’ve created a sensory piece, with a full and touching story within it. Love it!
I am LOVING Our Endless Numbered Days! Like your story here, you are really gifted at creating a lush atmosphere– so important to that story! Love it!
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Thanks, Dawn. Glad you liked it. And so pleased that you’re getting on well with Our Endless Numbered Days.
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Awesome story Claire. I loved all the descriptions, detail and emotions. Congrats on having your book published!
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As with everything you write, there is a perception that is yours and yours alone: “… a snail has left a map of its convoluted journey as if it, alone, plans to return.” Does the snail personify your character’s motivation? I wonder if there is obsession in his returning – to the scene of his crime, it seems. If obsession is part of his flaw. I don’t care if that’s not what you intended. I will steal this device, even if it’s my own! 🙂
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Congratulations again, Claire, on the publishing of your book in the U.S. I liked this story. It seems he feels a bit guilty about moving on with his life and imagines his deceased wife is protesting. Well done as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Claire, this is a beautifully told story of love and moving on. To me, the little details make the story, the things that people notice at times like this. And congratulations on the book. Hopefully I’ll be reading it soon.
janet
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