That Same Forest, That Same Fire #BlogchatterBloghop

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Marc was looking at the remnants of what used to be his vast villa once. He could see clouds of smoke forming in certain places. It was still hot out there, with fire fragments flowing all over. In front of the gate was a huge pile of broken items- some turned to ashes and some half-broken. He could see something shining through the pile. He approached near to find a partially broken framed photograph. He picked it up to find one half of a picture of a beautiful 25-year-old woman with wavy blond hair and dreamy hazel eyes- his Lucy. 

Fire - devastating, damaging & destructive! It has taken away all he has lived with for the last 5 years. Every object, every article, and every piece had been restoring Lucy's touch, her memories, and the feeling of her presence that brought life to all things inanimate. The garden where she grew her roses, the pool where she used to swim like a swan, all gulped by the deadly hunger of the forest fire!! 

Tears rolled down the 55-year-old's ageing cheeks as he fondly wiped the ashes from his wife's half-broken picture. He remembered the night the photo was taken, 30 years back, when they were freshly wed. It was inside this forest, this very forest, that they went camping. His eyes glistened as he travelled back to that night of warmth, love and togetherness. He remembered their dance and frolics around the fire, the taste of champagne and cheese, her hearty laughter and soft caress on his hair- that unforgettable night around the fire in the forest. The soft fire glow made him fall in love with her more every moment inside the calm forest.

Fate took her away from him 5 years back when she died of cancer. And today, that same fire and forest have taken everything he was left with - Lucy's memories.


This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop 

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla

Comments

  1. marietta pereiraJanuary 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM

    So poignant!

    ReplyDelete
  2. GeethicaJanuary 21, 2025 at 11:33 PM

    That's emotional and deep. Nice take on the prompt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pinkii BakshiFebruary 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM

    Oh, that hit me deeply! I felt a lump in my throat as I reached the end. Very well-written and conveyed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aditya SatheFebruary 14, 2025 at 11:36 PM

    What a fantastic story. Losing what you charished the most always hits me hard!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Preeti ChauhanFebruary 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM

    Fate can be so cruel! This story was heart rendering and very well written Reubenna. It is tough to put in so much raw emotion in such a short space.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SakshiFebruary 16, 2025 at 1:16 AM

    Very nicely written - I could visualise the whole scene... felt a tug at my heart in the end - but I decided that Marc takes the fire as a message from his wife Lucy, that it was time now to rebuild his life - like a phoenix that emerges from its ashes and he keeps his wife's picture as a reminder of the happy times and then with a determination he starts afresh :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. RomilaFebruary 16, 2025 at 11:34 PM

    The way you wrote the essence of life’s cyclical nature is so raw and real. Loved how it all connected—feels like it’s speaking directly to me!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AkkieFebruary 17, 2025 at 4:34 AM

    This is such a powerful and emotional piece dear. The way you connected the fire that took everything with the fire that once brought them closer was so impactful. It’s heartbreaking but beautifully written, especially when Marc remembers those moments with her. You really brought his grief to life in such a raw and moving way. Very ell penned

    ReplyDelete
  9. A Rustic MindFebruary 17, 2025 at 5:10 AM

    Oh dear... that's such a tragic read.. he had to suffer the same loss twice it seems like .. may him and all those that lost lives and property in that fire have strength to get through the difficult times

    ReplyDelete
  10. indiacafe24February 17, 2025 at 5:42 AM

    A very painful read... I really dont know what to say to Marc ... Fire scares me too. But I should appreciate the way you used the given theme to pen a heart touching story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Janaki/Ishaan SaiFebruary 17, 2025 at 6:07 AM

    A very touching tale of love--nothing is permanent.

    ReplyDelete
  12. NehaFebruary 17, 2025 at 7:01 AM

    This was such an emotional read! The way you captured love, loss, and memories through fire and the forest is so powerful. My heart ached for Marc, losing Lucy once was painful, but losing her memories too is just heartbreaking. Beautifully written!

    ReplyDelete
  13. RatnaFebruary 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM

    So sad! But that half-photo still remains, and that gives me hope! Lovely story.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Harjeet KaurFebruary 18, 2025 at 9:28 PM

    I could relate to your story very well. It's been almost 21 years since my husband passed, yet I feel the pain is still raw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reubenna DuttaFebruary 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM

      Sorry for your loss. I lost my mother 5 years ago and still cannot cope with it.

      Delete
  15. K's Train of thoughtsFebruary 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM

    Readig this one is like a delightful mix of raw emotions, sharp wit, and engaging storytelling. Loved your writing

    ReplyDelete
  16. VarshFebruary 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM

    Such a sad thing to lose precious memories to something we have no control upon. Good story, and could very well be real.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reubenna DuttaFebruary 26, 2025 at 6:32 AM

      Often natural calamities take from us a lot more than seen

      Delete
  17. Chandrika R KrishnanFebruary 19, 2025 at 7:40 AM

    Sad story. Well-penned

    ReplyDelete
  18. docdivatravellerFebruary 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM

    That was a sad story. I wasn't prepared for it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. SindhuFebruary 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM

    This is so heartbreaking. Taking away the memories of loved one with nothing to hold on is painful

    ReplyDelete
  20. sivaranjiniFebruary 21, 2025 at 3:11 AM

    Nice story of companionship. Beautifully articulated and full of emotions.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Shifali February 27, 2025 at 6:16 AM

    You have well penned the emotional touch of the story and how they are corelated.

    ReplyDelete

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