Challenge accepted by Erika M Szabo
Erika's challenge was to write a flash fiction story of less than 500 words, based on this picture:
One Small Step at a Time
By Erika M Szabo
After thirty-five years of a blissful marriage, Michael's
heart was broken when he lost his beloved wife. They didn’t have children, and their
relatives lived in different states. For two years, Michael felt lost and lonely
without her. But then, he met Sara, a widow close to his age. He thought that
maybe, just maybe, he had found someone to spend the rest of his life with.
The first few months after Sara moved in were like a trial
period for their relationship. They both made small compromises and got used to
living together. One thing Michael had always disliked was handling paperwork
and bills, so he was relieved when Sara offered to take care of all their finances.
Then one day, after a daylong medical appointment, Michael
found the house empty. Sara’s clothes, personal items, and all his valuable
possessions were gone. All she left behind was her passport, driver’s license,
and a short note: I can't live with you any longer, I'm moving to Europe.
The next day he found out his bank account had been emptied. Michael felt
devastated. He had lost everything, including his sense of self, which hurt the
most. The police discovered that the woman he trusted had used a fake identity,
the real Sara Gutfield passed away in 1902.
Then he went through the heart surgery that was already
scheduled. It took a toll on his already shattered spirit. The recovery process
was long and difficult, but amid his darkest moments, he found solace in
something unexpected: gardening.
As he planted each seed and saw the first signs of green
emerging, Michael felt a sense of rejuvenation, as if a flame inside him had
been reignited. He dedicated countless hours to nurturing his small garden,
meticulously watering and trimming each plant, finding solace in routine and tranquil
isolation.
As he worked, Michael found himself lost in thought, his
mind wandering to happier times. Memories of his childhood in the countryside,
of long afternoons spent playing in the fields, flooded back to him. The
memories brought tears in his eyes when he thought about the happy years he
spent with his beloved wife.
In the garden, he found a connection to his past and a sense of purpose in the present. Even as his strength slowly returned, Michael continued to find refuge in his garden. He nursed a sickly-looking cherry tree back to health, and as he watched it bloom for the first time in years, he realized that not only the sickly tree, but he too was also healing. He was finding his way back to himself one small step at a time.
Erika M Szabo
Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.