The Persistence of Memory – S. Dali
The attic is hot, dust motes knife-sharp and glittering in dim light through a window that wouldn’t budge in the humidity. She had to find that old photo, and prove her point. This rewriting of history to benefit Joseph had gone on far too long.
Sweating and breathless, she finds the box, the yearbook, and the incriminating photo. Lifting it to the window she stares hard at the image, the caption written beside it. Suddenly dizzy, she sinks to the floor.
Of course she was right. But she was also wrong. Dementia is an argument neither one could win.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2021)
Carrot Ranch Prompt (07/01/2021): In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the old photograph.” What is captivating about it? Where did it come from? How does it incite a story? Go where the prompt leads!
Valley of the Trolls 
Your story’s ending was powerful, Liz.
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Sometimes our experiences move on from that moment and it no longer matters what the photograph reveals.
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Nailed it!
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Yep, ouch, no winners, pointless to argue.
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Why Phenomenology & Unconditional Positive Regard were invented. Thanks, Carl Rogers.
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That is so true…and so sad.
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I agree. Beautiful and harsh.
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Thanks! Yeah, that’s life these days, for so many.
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Oh no. How heart-wrenching. You pulled me right in with the determination of the main character, her insistence and stubborn nature were relatable and felt real. That ending though, a battle of another kind. Powerful piece Liz.
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Thank you, Rebecca!
It’s a battle too many fruitlessly fight…
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