A Survivor’s Tale
Words 98
It was dark and the weight crushing.
Life oozed out bit by bit.
I struggled to survive, one breath at a time.
Loneliness engulfed me.
Oh the pain the anguish the isolation – all for what?
Doubts racked me.
Why struggle so much?
Who cared whether I lived or died?
Why not just give up?
Give in.
I tried.
Believe me, I tried hard to give up.
But I didn’t know how.
I only knew one thing.
My time would come.
And it did.
That’s my story. What’s yours?
She swayed and dipped, offering me yet another luscious mango.
***
Written (after eons) for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
Oh it was a mango! I was actually wondering how a dead person could write – even if it was a time traveller .
LikeLiked by 1 person
More like a mango tree – thank you Sunita for reading 🙂
LikeLike
what a wonderful tale ….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sharu!
LikeLike
The life of a tree. I suppose they can get lonely sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The tree was describing its days as a seed. I personally like to think of trees as self-sufficient and not the kinds to get lonely 😀 Thanks Iain for visiting
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was worth the struggle in the end!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Struggles are mostly successful especially since if it isnt – it isnt the end 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
sneaky you, i didn’t expect that twist in the end. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Hope it worked!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life and time of a Mango tree. Thank you for an unusual post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ferdi 🙂
LikeLike
The great mango metaphor. Nice twist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Dahlia, this works on so many levels. Until I read the comments, I didn’t realize it was the birth of a tree. When I reread, I could see that. But it also works as the tale of a woman in despair who has survived and shares the fruit of her experience and knowledge. The words are beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sascha for the lovely comment. I did indeed begin to write it as a woman’s struggle for survival but then it ended up as that of the tree so I am glad it worked both ways 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely… especially once I read the comments and then went and re-read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dale😊
LikeLike
Why was she feeding a mango instead of rescuing?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“She” is the mango tree who was narrating her journey from a seed to an independent giver.
LikeLike
From darkness to light…. there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. “My time would come”, “And it did”, can go either ways, but “But I didn’t know how” preceding them gave away the answer!! How hard we try to survive all odds, and the success that comes out of it is always fruitful.
Such a positive take on this pic…. Our Earth will survive!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it will – and therein lies our hope (and mine – that you would come 😀
LikeLike
Beautiful…. Tree may symbolize with human life also
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Gayathri – I did start off writing about the human life struggle and ended up as that of the tree 🙂
LikeLike
It took me a while to realize where you were going with this – very clever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Liz 🙂
LikeLike
Well, you’re back with a bang, Dahlia! That’s a story that it was worth waiting for. Endurance of difficulties can indeed bring sweet fruit, whether literally for a tree or metaphorically for a person.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Penny for such a wonderful insightful comment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating … and it has delivered a great line from pennygadd “endurance of difficulties can indeed bring sweet fruit”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Mike, Penny’s comment is awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, these were the feelings of Mango?? Wow, thought it was a dying person.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mango tree actually (narrating its journey as a seed to now) Thanks for visiting Anshu
LikeLike
I love the idea of a tree offering its fruit.
LikeLike
OMG, D, you know how to reel the reader in. That last line was epic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thanks so much P 🙂
LikeLike
😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the googly at the end….came in as a wonderful surprise Dahlia 💖🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so caught up in the lovely imagery that I had to go back and read it again to make sure I understood 🙂 Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so very much Linda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The climax was totally unexpected. Read again after knowing who the narrator was. well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Priya!
LikeLike
Dear Dahlia,
I wasn’t sure who ‘she’ was until I read in the comments that she was the mango tree. Interesting POV. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rochelle 🙂
LikeLike
A mango tree, she should be proud. They are the best kind, the fruit the sweetest. I dearly miss the mangoes we had while living in India. A very poetic take on the prompt, I really enjoyed it, Dahlia. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Brenda😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting perspective from the pov of a tree. But it can also be extended as a metaphor for the struggle that a person goes through before succeeding in life. Nice one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Subroto I was hoping one could see it that way too
LikeLike
I love the way that the blessing of a mango was offered…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Bjorn!
LikeLike
Lovely poetic feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
The twist at the end caught me completely off guard. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Magarisa 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Dahlia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wah kya “Aam” baat hai.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Par kya khas comment hai – wah wah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahhahahaha. have a great day Dahlia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did not guess a mango tree.
How delightful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely ! though i had caught on the twist and i knew it….Metaphor! very well written… true back with a bang!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah thank you so much!
LikeLike