I have recounted this story many times before. Each time I add bits and pieces to the story to tweak it and spice it up, making it sound unbelievable, yet captivating. Without fail, my audience devoured the unbelievable story marveling at my storytelling abilities. 

But, I never dared to tell a soul the truth. How will tell anyone that it wasn’t a story? Will anyone believe me that in fact, it was not a story, but an incident that I experienced in reality?

Being a follower of my heart, I hardly listened to my parents or anyone else. So during that camping trip in the fall, when I wandered off from where we camped, I did that knowing that I was expected to do so. The path I followed took me to an unexpected turn of events. 

Was it smoke or fog, I didn’t care. I was swallowed by the haze and could hardly see what lay ahead. The 14-year-old I was almost certain that this was a mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t have explored the uncharted territory all by myself. But it was too late to have a change of heart. I knew my eyes were welling up, but strangely tears didn’t touch my cheeks. To be honest, I had a feeling I was not visible in that weird place. I couldn’t touch my hands or body. I couldn’t see my own hands or legs. Even if my family came looking for me, how would have they spotted me if I was invisible? My heart let out a gasp and I screamed my lungs out. Did my terrifying voice cut through that thick haze of fog? I was not sure. 

Then, it appeared – a tiny flicker of light moved toward me as if it was held by someone. But there was no one carrying the lantern. I could see the lantern hanging in front of me nothing holding it or even touching it, but staying there supported by nothing but the haze. It moved slightly to my right and I took it as an indication to follow the lamp. The lantern moved again to my right and I followed the light, hoping that I would get out of that scary place. 

After walking for what seemed like hours, I saw familiar trees standing tall and leaves on the ground. At a distance, I could hear my elder brother calling out my name. I called back with great joy, tears rolling down my cheeks. I ran toward Steve calling out his name. Then I stopped to say thanks to the person carrying the lantern. But to my disappointment there was no person or lamp. 

Was it magic? Was it something evil? Who will believe my story? Unbelievable, isn’t it? 

© Vinitha Dileep

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This “fictional” piece is written in response to the one hundred and third edition of Fiction Monday for the word prompt ‘MAGIC’ and the above picture prompt hosted at Reflections by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell.

She woke up with a throbbing headache that morning. What kind of a dream was that! She wondered.

To be honest it was a good one. She was happy in her dream. Laughing a lot. Bubbling with energy. She radiated joy.

But she never imagined her to become one of those shimmering stars.

Maybe the headache was a reminder to choose her path carefully. Loving something dearly doesn’t mean that you have to be lost in that something. As this thought emerged she sensed her headache fading slowly. She felt happy and alive again.

This time it wasn’t a dream.

© Vinitha 2021

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This fictional piece is written in response to the sixtieth edition of Fiction Monday for the word prompt ‘SHIMMER’ hosted at Reflections by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell. 

*Photo by Yusuf Evli on Unsplash

“It is fascinating to think that not so long ago you were the queen of my heart. How I loved you like there was no else in this world! I never thought I could fall in love with someone else like that.

Things changed now. Well, I love you still. But this new girl has stolen my heart mercilessly. I am head over heels with this beauty.”

Shekhar said passionately.

Akhila looked at him pretending to be hurt and replied. “I feel the same you know. I love her more every day like that’s possible.”

Their little baby gave a toothless smile listening to her parents’ chatter.

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This fictional piece is written in response to the fifty-sixth edition of Fiction Monday for the word prompt ‘PASSION’ hosted at Reflections by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell. 

This journey reminded him of the last one he had. He was very excited that day. Finally finding a home to live with forever! That’s the dream, isn’t it! And he was going to live that dream.

But that excitement didn’t last longer.

There was nothing homey about the home he went to live in. The couple who lived there always fought with each other. Instead of taking care of the new addition to their family, they used him to win their arguments. And he always ended up getting hurt in their quarrel and they were least bothered about it.

The abuse reached its height and one day two people from the shelter came and took him back. He came back to shelter more depressed.

Last week, another family came and they loved him. But he wasn’t hopeful. He didn’t try to impress them either. Though, he liked the two kids with the couple. Today the man came and took him.

He is going to live with them. But he isn’t sure how long this will last. Because who knows how these people would turn out to be!

His mind was full of questions. But he didn’t know that his life is going to be changed forever. The nice people took him home because they loved him. He was finally going home, his forever home.

© Vinitha 2021

_{Photo by Charles Roth on Pexels.com}

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This fictional piece is written in response to the fiftieth edition of Fiction Monday for the above picture prompt hosted at Reflections by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell.