Time for another entry in Friday Fictioneers challenge, courtesy of Rochelle Wissof-Fields. If you want to give it a try, check the info on her blog. 100 words more or less, inspired by a photo, here we go….
Copyright – Janet Webb
As the sound of his steps bounce off the cracked walls, he says: “I wonder how many times in history people believed the future tales would paint a different picture about their present.”
“You are there to observe, not to ponder.”, a reply comes over the comm.
He studies his reflection, the old mirror distorting his already distorted frame. “Do you think we will find the cure in this timeline?”
Silence that greets him offers the truth too close for comfort.
“Oh my, they had flowers here.”, his heartbreaking whisper travels into a distant future. “Always wondered how they smell.”
Snow's Fissures and Fractures 
An interesting SF twist on this. The flowers comment lends a sense of hopelessness.
LikeLike
I hoped to paint a picture of a bleak future with those withered flowers and the missed opportunity to experience the smell. Thank you for recognizing that.
LikeLike
Such a great take on the prompt. Well done.
LikeLike
Thank you, Sandra. This means a lot to me.
LikeLike
I’ll allow you to malign my fragrant dried lavender for the lovely story you wrote. 🙂 My big question is how could you not ponder? Good one,
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
My apologies for maligning your lavender, it was not my intention.:D Thank you for stopping by.
LikeLike
I really want more of this story!! Very interesting, well done!
LikeLike
Thank you, Rachel. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
How could you not ponder without roses to smell?
A very thought provoking piece.
LikeLike
I am happy people recognized all the layers in this short story. Thank you so much for your words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a bleak and flowerless future you paint (and a possibility I fear), and some sort of contagion on top of that. Nice bit of sci-fi!
LikeLike
Maybe one day I’ll manage to write a sci-fi where people visit us from a distant perfect future to record our mistakes for the posterity. Thank you for your kind words.
LikeLike
A story where the future lack flowers.. that would be sad indeed.. the cure might be difficult to find though… as usual the disease is probably humanity…
LikeLike
You are probably right, it seems we scorch everything we touch. Tnx for stopping by.
LikeLike
What a nice wiggeldy-woggeldy, timey-wimey tale. A wonderful way to address the prompt!
LikeLike
Oh, thank you for your kind words. And I like that “wiggeldy-woggeldy” expression, might steal it for a future story. 😀
LikeLike
I sto….er….borrowed it from Dr. Who 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are there to observe, not to ponder – the heck with them I say! Ponder away. Especially liked the wistful moment with the flowers.
LikeLike
Yes, imagine that. To finally stumble upon some flowers, but alas can’t experience the smell of it. What a tragedy on so many different levels. Thank you!
LikeLike
Very fresh and original. Top drawer stuff. Way to go, Lore!
LikeLike
Good thing I checked that top drawer. Found some crackers, the old crossword puzzle and this story. 😀 Thank you so much.
LikeLike
Dear Loré,
A world without flowers? Sounds bleak and dull. You set the tone well.
shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thank you. I hope the future is not that hopeless.
LikeLike
Dear Lore,
This was an excellent story. So much going on behind the scene and all around just in that timeline and you’ve left the door open to many… Very well done.
Aloha,
Doug
LikeLike
Thank you, Doug. That was my intention, to put as many layers to 100 words without losing myself.
LikeLike
Very cool time travel tale. I guess the moral is “take time to smell the flowers now… unless we’re talking those ones that kind of smell like vomit!”
LikeLike
Thankfully never smelled those kinds of flowers! Ewwww…
Thank you Perry for always making me laugh. 😉
LikeLike
The mention of the flowers grabbed me, yes, a sad day.
LikeLike
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
Lore, It makes me glad I won’t live to see a future like that. How barren it must be. I hope it doesn’t come true. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
LikeLike
Thank you, Susan. I hope that future never comes.
LikeLike
Those last two lines totally grabbed me. A really interesting take on the photo, wonderful!
LikeLike
Thank you, it’s always nice to know my words touched someone.
LikeLike
Dear Lore, Love the story! Too bad there are no more fragrant flowers to smell. I wonder if the cure- Good golly, hope they find it soon. Great story!’
Nan 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Nan! I agree, it seems flowers don’t have the same fragrance as they used to. Everything is pale in today’s world.
LikeLike
I like the Sci-Fi futuristic feel of this. It would be a sad day to not have beautiful flowers, and to never had the opportunity to smell one. Great take!
LikeLike
Thank you, I am a great fan of SF, both in reading and writing.
LikeLike
That was one hell of a story! The time-travel element, the heartbreaking fact about a lack of flowers in the distant future, the time-traveller’s need to tell a story or make a comment being squashed by the omniscient voice telling him to observe and not to ponder, and the bleakness of that distant future were powerfully conveyed — and in 100 words? How DID you manage that?
LikeLike
Why, thank you! You made me blush. 😀 I don’t know, it wasn’t intentional, it just happened. I am so happy you liked it so much, thank you for all the kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take on the prompt Lore, it had an almost mystical fell to it. Well done
LikeLike
Thank you, Dee.
LikeLike