First impression of Sonya’s photo prompt this week was that it wasn’t going to be an easy one to write.
Photo©Alex Hockett
She sat hunched over her pain in a doorway, so small and fragile-looking, not caring who saw her in such a state, not that anybody did care enough to stop and ask what was the matter.
He threw away his cigarette and approached, slowly, cautiously, wanting to offer his help, wanting with all his heart to be the one to stop her crying.
She raised her head, and in the frozen horror and fear of her stare, he saw himself how others saw him, and for the first time wished he could burn the stupid fucking tattoos from his skin.
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I like your take. I went in a different direction and that’s what I love about prompts–reading what other people see in the picture.
This was a difficult one because I have a natural antipathy for men with masses of tattoos and lots of rings. And a Harley. A fantastical take didn’t occur to me for this one.
I read a lot of fantasy and the tail end of the novel I finished last night was stuck in my mind. In it, the lead character’s best friend is possessed by a demon and he’d trying to get the creature out. The demon is also trying to get free. So I had demons on my mind and 3LT mixed in ink, rings and a biker 🙂
Must have been a good story!
It was! The Naming of Beasts, Book 5 of Mike Carey’s Felix Castor series and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A series to note tbr 🙂
He ended its run after 5 books but they were well written and I enjoyed the audiobooks even though they switched narrators In book 3. If you ever need a book recommendation, just ask. I work a lot and so I listen to a lot of audiobooks.
I’ll bear you in mind 🙂
☺
The sheer emotion in the last line can be felt by every person that reads it, his hesitation Burns across from the words. Amazing!
Thank you! I tried hard to fight against my own prejudices there 🙂
The fight comes across in your writing beautifully!
Thanks 🙂
There’s a very old saying that would serve well, don’t judge a book by the cover..that’s my take.
That is very appropriate in this context 🙂
Fantastic, Jane, a brilliant response!
Thanks Ali 🙂 I wasn’t sure I was going to get this one right.
But you did.
Just trying to give the bloke a chance. I have an a priori against the tattooed biker types.
Somethings you just can’t take back easily.
That first impression will always be there, no matter how she feels later.
Very true.
We all have our own prejudices. Sometimes we find it hard to overcome our prejudices.
My prejudice was similar but slightly different without the final twist of remorse. Alas! the pingback did not work, so here is the shortlink: http://wp.me/p73yZZ-2jK
Ow. This one was really powerful. Most spoke of the beauty of such marks (including myself) but your take was great. Regret is a terrible thing.
I realised when I read some of the other stories that tattoos are not generally considered intimidating. I see more and more people with massive tattoos up their legs or round their necks and just think, My God but that’s ugly. But when the tattoos are worn by a man in biker leathers wearing big rings and probably a wild hair style, I think, I don’t want to know you. My prejudice. We shouldn’t have them.