A Moment in Time

Daily Flash Fiction Entry 7 June 2024 ▼

This entry for 7 JUNE 2024. The prompt is to use the following words: wind, photo, band. Word count is 300 words or less.

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+) Enter your story of 300 words or less. #896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon

Winner in the Daily Flash Fiction Contest for 7 June 2024

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+) Enter your story of 300 words or less. #896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon

Word Count: 299

Josie took the rubber band and snapped it off the stack of photos. It had been a while since she had looked at these. Years, in fact. She wrapped them all up when she moved, placed them in the chest, and didn’t think about them until recently.

“Mom, did you find that photo you were looking for?” asked Emma.

Josie turned and looked at her daughter. Emma had the world before her. She’d recently graduated from Sonoma State and was dating. Josie thought it might be serious. She hoped so. Josie was older now, her body more fragile.

“I think it’s in this pile.” She started looking at the pictures, squinting her eyes a bit.

Emma sat down next to her and placed her hand on Josie’s upper arm.

“Ah!” Josie handed the photo to Emma.

The picture depicted a young couple, arm in arm, smiling. The clothes were dated, flowery and wide, and the in the background was a wooden area, with big green bushes and tall cedar trees. A wind chime hung from the overhead slated covering. The wind chime appeared as if it was moving in the breeze.

“You and Dad?” asked Emma.

Josie nodded. “Yes, we couldn’t afford much then.” She handed Emma the photo. “I want you to have it.”

“That’s sweet, Mom. Whatever happened to that wind chime? Did it mean something to you?”

“We bought it when we went antiquing.” Josie paused and rubbed her thin finger across her chin. “We liked to go antiquing. I think it’s in one of these old boxes.”

Emma started poking around and moving items in the dust covered boxes.

“Emma, there’s something you should know…”

“Mom, look, I found it!” She held up the old chime.

Josie paused and smiled, delighting in her daughter’s discovery.