PHOTO PROMPT © Mikhael Sublett
Ralph stood at the door, staring. His entire life was in the house, and yet it was almost unrecognizable. He took a few tentative steps in, then a large one over the heap of rubble.
He shook his head.
In the movies, this is where the end credits would start. The hero, perhaps The Rock, would say, “And now we rebuild.” The camera would pan out showing the endless destruction and the credits would come up.
But this wasn’t the movies, this was life. And it wasn’t the end, only the beginning.
And Ralph knew that it would get worse.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Mikhael Sublett. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“
Trent's World (the Blog) 
This made me feel sad for those who have come home to find this. Good job.
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You always have to feel bad for the victims of natural disasters. Even if they do get assistance, life can never be the same. Thanks.
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So, the end is just the beginning. An intriguing tale indeed.
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When the exiting part that people want to see in the movies is over, well, that is just the very beginning of the real trials and tribulations… Thanks.
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I’m sure anyone who has experience with a disaster zone will connect with your story, Trent. So draining to be in such a place.
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I can imagine. The disaster is soon finished while the can stretch on for years….
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ouch! harsh but true, no sugar-coating here. Liked the Rock reference!
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The “rebuilding” is never as easy as they make it sound in the movies… Somebody had recently had a post about the Rock and the line “Now we rebuild” so I had to use it ;)
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Oh well done, Trent. We went sorta down similar roads… I loved the movie credit reference.
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Thanks, Dale. Often the end of one thing is just the beginning of something else… Funny thing, although we went down similar roads, I think it was your story that triggered my idea for my second story, which is far different… I think it was just the way you worded things.
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Cool… So I “influenced” you 😉
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Yes, not this story, but the second one I posted, “The Androids”. I’m not sure why, but when I read your story I thought “kipple” and wrote a story based on that word, yet the first paragraph includes “detritus”, which I must have unconsciously stolen from you…
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Hah!
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It is that stage where commitment and the urge to run away are on a knife edge.
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Yes. Perhaps it is best to just start over again someplace safe. If there really is “someplace safe”…
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Wow, that’s a strong narrative, Trent. Your opening image is most striking – cinematic, indeed!
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Thanks!
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An ominous last line. I guess there’s going to be a sequel and he’s going to have to live through it.
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The coast is toast one more time? Perhaps he’ll be forced to live through a sequel, but the picking up the pieces and starting over again will be enough of a horror story for Ralph…
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Well done. The ending is just the beginning :)
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Thanks. Yes, after the curtain goes down and last credit leaves the screen is when the real drama begins…
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I often think that about “happy endings” in movies. “What about the city that was destroyed?” “What about the 13 kids who died before they caught the killer?” Yay! They saved one. One for 14 is not very good. “What about the villain who was only trying to take over the world?” It’s not a happy ending for him.
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Happy endings are overrated. And really, all he wanted was the world and such a sad fate…
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Oh! That’s a depressing end 💜
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Yeah, a bit too much realism…. But perhaps his house will turn out better than his wildest dreams ;)
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It is, indeed, often the beginning, and sometimes the end, too. Well done!
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Our work has just begun… Thanks!
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Indeed … :) And, you are welcome!
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Oh crumbs, poor Ralph. Sad story, vividly told, Trent.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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I don’t envy Ralph… Thanks.
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How true and I gather that governments and insurance companies etc don’t help you rebuild.
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They might help rebuild, but I believe it would still be a very long, painful process. And if the damage is widespread (I was thinking major earthquake), it would make it even worse.
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Dear Trent,
I loved the comparison to the end of a movie. You left me wondering what’s going to happen to him next. Perhaps the beginning of a larger work?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, the beginning of a longer, more difficult work. Thanks, Rochelle.
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If only life were more like the endings in the movies…
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Yes. Sometimes we need out “happily ever afters”…
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