Time for Friday Fictioneers again. Thanks as always to Rochelle for keeping us all together (see what I’ve done there?) and thanks for the photo prompt this week to Sean Fallon, what an intriguing photo it is too.
My story this week, follows on from the one I wrote last week. A few of you Fictioneers kindly asked what was going to happen to ‘Tom’ and I have to admit I wasn’t sure. A few people were very annoyed at his attitude to Maggie, I thought I would revisit them this week.
Copyright Sean Fallon
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
Falling Apart
Tom can’t understand why friends ask, ‘everything OK now?’
The attack on his wife was an attack on him too. Why can’t they see that?
The thoughts about what happened replay over and over. Maggie tries to reassure him that the attack, though violent, was brief, but his imagination runs riot.
He watches every man he sees, ‘Is it him?’ ‘Did he do it?’
Waiting, for the police to make an arrest; waiting, for THAT phone call; if they don’t charge someone soon he fears he will fall apart.
And it’s still affecting Maggie. Her behaviour has been odd lately.
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40again's Blog 
wow this was a truly powerful story about how the horror of that one brief moment just never ends and how loved ones and relationships, and not just the actual victim, are affected by crimes like this
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Thank you kz. I suppose, in cases like this, that is all to easy to support the victim whilst forgetting that other family members need support too.
Thank you for reading
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I’ve thankfully neither had an experience like this or known anyone personally who has, but I imagine it would impact both partners and that there are a myriad of responses. It would be difficult to work, through, I’d imagine.
janet
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Thankfully the same goes for me too. It must be an horrific thing to go through and a terrible thing for family members to try and come up terms with.
Thanks for reading.
Loved Rochelle’s post on the FF meet up, must have been great
Enjoy your weekend
See
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Enjoy your weekend, too, Dee. I’m doing a post on the meeting, too, but Rochelle sneaked in front of me. AND she has the forum to get to all the FF!! 😦
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Very sneaky!! Can’t wait to read your post 🙂
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Falling to pieces – I see where you are coming from. Too bad you could not have more words to continue what is obviously a very true to life tale.
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I did struggle a bit I must be honest, hopefully the story stood up.
Thank you for reading
Dee
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I love that you share the flip side of the coin with Tom’s emotions. These two have been altered, changed. Hope they find healing and connection once again. Well written.
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Thank you. I felt I owed it to Tom to attempt to show how he was feeling.
Thanks for reading, so pleased you liked it
Dee
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A woman’s nightmare…along with her family’s. hugs for expressing it so well…
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Thank you Millie always appreciate your comments 🙂
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Glad to oblige, Dee. You’re one of my favorite people.
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You’re too kind
🙂 🙂
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hugs…
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Dear Dee,
Powerful piece! Unfortunately that type of crime victimizes more than the recipient of the violent act. Tom’s reaction is a perfect illustration of this. Perfect title.
Don’t know how well I do keeping it all together but I appreciated your play on words in your intro.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you. I wanted to try something from his POV and I’m pleased that it worked.
Can’t imagine FF without you at the helm!
Enjoy your weekend
Dee
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You are developing interesting characters here, darling… I’m glad you decided to explore Tom and Maggie more..
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Thought I’d try to see things from Tom’s POV pleased that it worked.
Thank you for reading
Have a great weekend
Dee
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I like your take on the picture, as falling apart. It would be hard to hold everything together after something like that.
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Thank you David 🙂
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Interesting story this Dee; the victim of an attack is not just the person who suffers the actual assault, and you’re illustrating this very well. Well done.
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Really neat idea to continue the story and flip the perspective, to show Tom’s side of things. And what a vivid reaction he’s having — but it’s a shame he can’t be more supportive to Maggie.
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Perhaps I should continue their story a little longer? …
Thank you for reading, delighted that you like both parts one and two
Dee
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This was a hard, sad story to convey in just 100 words but you did an amazing job of bringing across those raw emotions. Great Write!
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Thank you for your kind comments, they’re much appreciated. Pleased you liked the story 🙂
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Intriguing twist on how a traumatic event affects those around the “victim” sometimes as much as the victim. Well done!
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Thanks Perry 🙂
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A quick note to let you know that there will not be a challenge next Monday due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Hope to see you on 02 December for the next challenge: Nature.
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Thank you 🙂
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Nice work, Dee, seeing both sides.
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Thank you Patti, pleased you liked the stories.
Dee
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this reiteration this horror.. yes I can imagine it makes you fall apart.. very clever use of the picture…
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Thank you Bjorn, good to hear from you
Dee
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What a great job of lifting the story out of the “expected” range. You tell a whole lot of story in these few words, Dee.
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Thank you kindly ma’am.
Good to hear from you Sandra and thanks for reading, pleased you liked the story.
Dee
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