Thursday, May 10, 2007

the witch of blackberry hill

here's a piece of flash fiction I couldn't resist writing for Jason's wonderful contest at The Clarity of Night.


THE WITCH OF BLACKBERRY HILL

When the snow melts, they come.

Curiosity seekers searching for my house, looking for a thrill and maybe a bit of immortality. They bring cameras and equipment meant to find me, meant to capture my shadow or the whisper of my feet against the stairs. Some of them have been here before. Some have been here many times.

But they don’t know me. None of them know me.

There is no one left to tell of the rivers I swam, the sandcastles I built, or the hearts I broke. They will never know of the man I loved and the children I never had. It doesn’t bother me. I look forward to the spring when the snow melts. Occasionally I will caress a cheek or the back of a neck. The curious will turn and almost see me, the fear and life in their eyes a reminder that I was once more than this.

I can hear them now, their voices echoing through the woods.

They come.

by Anne Frasier

8 comments:

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

Very nice, Anne!!

Stephen Blackmoore said...

Nicely done. You'd think you knew how to write, or something.

Dee said...

I was hooked as soon as I saw the dirty dishes! I need a distraction! I've turned into a babbling idiot! Oh, well...

Anonymous said...

thanks, kelly and heather!

stephen -- haha!


dee, and you were just telling me about your messy house. too funny!

Jeff said...

I really like this, Anne.

anne frasier said...

thanks, jeff!
i really wasn't sure if it was anything.

Anonymous said...

thanks, daniel!

Mary Louisa said...

That IS nice, Anne. Spooky and nice.