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A Picture Paints A Hundred Words, by Allison Symes

24/6/2022

8 Comments

 
Gemma had to possess the portrait. The old lady wouldn’t miss it, given she owned hundreds, as she told her carer.

A week later, the old lady died. The family never demanded the picture back. Gemma knew they knew only she could’ve taken it.

The landscape, those brilliant blues of sky and sea, strayed into Gemma’s mind and stayed put. If only she lived there…

Gemma screamed on realising her wish had come true. She screamed again on realising nobody could hear her.

All they would see was a girl with a peculiar expression staring out of the mahogany-framed picture.

8 Comments
Pamela Kennedy
24/6/2022 10:59:44 am

I sense a gothic novel in the making...nicely done, Allison.

Reply
Allison Symes link
24/6/2022 11:43:19 am

Thanks, Pamela.

Reply
Sue Clayton
25/6/2022 07:29:26 am

Her only hope is for someone else to steal it, because they wish they could live there, then at least she'd have company.

Reply
Allison Symes link
25/6/2022 11:12:49 am

Thanks, Sue. Or she could be set free the moment someone else takes it. That would give added reason for the family not to want to track the picture down!

Reply
Mimi Grouse
26/6/2022 04:32:53 am

A sense of Poe...
Nice one, Allison!

Reply
Allison Symes link
27/6/2022 08:37:20 am

Many thanks, Mimi. I must admit I was thinking more along the lines of Oscar Wilde for this one.

Reply
Tom Baldwin
27/6/2022 04:08:01 am

I'll never look at a portrait again without thinking of this!

Reply
Allison Symes link
27/6/2022 08:38:03 am

Thanks, Tom. I'll be wary when I next go to a gallery!

Reply



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