Copyright Sandra Crook
He’s returned from the sea, as he’d always sworn he would.
“There is no ocean” he’d once said grimly, “that can separate us.”
Bleached by sun, sea and salt, he is scarcely recognisable, apart from his faded denim jeans and a now-tattered tee shirt.
She lays her forehead in the hollow of his cheek, after drinking in every detail of his body.
“I’m sorry” she whispers, before sitting back on her heels and reaching for her phone.
Now that she is sure the sea, her willing accomplice, has removed all evidence of that night, it’s time to call the coastguard.
Been missing in action for a couple of weeks, revisiting old haunts and meeting up with old friends and neighbours in Spain. The final days of our visit coincided with the worst April floods (La Gota Fria) for 50 years, but that was a mere blip on a very happy experience. Happier still, to be back on Friday Fictioneers with one of my own photos taken in my new home town. Thank you, Rochelle. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
Dark, rich, and strong, Sandra
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Thanks, Neil.
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I wonder what her motive was. Poetic justice of sorts, after all, no ocean could keep them apart.
Great work!
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Thanks for reading, Tannille.
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Treachery or duty?
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Could be either, I guess.
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Guess the ocean went behind his back then. Great twist at the end, Sandra.
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Thank you, Varad.
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Pingback: Some Dare, Some Dare Not – Friday Fictioneers | A Dalectable Life
So well done, Sandra. Leading us one way only to bring us up short!
Wonderful how the sea helped her out…leaving us to wonder what the hell actually went on.
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The sea and maybe the fishes too. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Dale.
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Scheming lady indeed!
Some people will go to any lengths to do & get what they want.
Pretty Sunrise Partners – Anita
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They will indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Wonderful view to have on your doorstep. Let’s hope you’re not disposing of any bodies along the coastline…! Great write as always.
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We’ve been here three years now, and I still haven’t got over the scenery. Thanks for reading Iain.
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Dear Sandra,
Oh my. At least she can play the bereft wife or lover now. (as apparently planned). So well done, it’s frightening.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Glad you liked it.
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Will she pace the widow’s walk for form’s sake?
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I imagine so. Appearances matter, I guess.
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The sea will tell eventually, but only to the ones who listen. I am getting ready for a lot of darkness and murder this week. 🙂
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Thanks for reading.
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What a great twist. Although, to me, his words in the beginning have an ever-so-slight touch of menace. Who knows what happened that night. Great to see you back and thank you for the interesting picture.
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My pleasure, and thanks for reading.
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Very evil, very scheming. The end makes me wonder what she had done and what all she is further capable of doing. Great write, Sandra.
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Thanks, Neel.
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Once again I am speechless with admiration at how you tell so much in 100 words.
Fabuloso.
And great photo.
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Many thanks, CE. 🙂
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Great descriptive writing, powerful emotion, just enough of the backstory revealed and a twist at the end. Flash fiction doesn’t get better than your story, Sandra!
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Thanks for your kind comment, Penny. 🙂
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I certainly did not expect the two last sentences, they must have come from the floods in La Gota Fria
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Thanks for reading, Michael. 🙂
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Ominous. Loved it.
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Thanks, Shirley.
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Sandra, your title told the story without giving anything away. Brilliant.
The photo had me searching the nooks and crannies of my cluttered mind. I’m looking forward to a lot of inventive writing this week 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Linda. I too am looking forward to seeing different takes.
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Sometimes enough time has passed… and there is a point of no return. She has probably mourned already for years…
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Thanks for reading, Bjorn.
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Nice twist in the end. What is the evidence that sea has removed?
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I’ve left that to the reader’s imagination.
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Yoinks. He did sound like he’d never let her go any other way.
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Kling-on. 😉
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Ooh, that’s cold. Another works of genius!
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Thanks for reading Liz 🙂
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As Neilmacdon said, dark, rich and strong! Fabulous with all the unsaid…..
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Thanks, Sue. 🙂
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I did not expect that ending!
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Nor did he, I suspect. Thanks for reading.
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This was so well crafted. She does seem to have some remorse for causing his death. Makes me wonder about their history and if she is the villain or victim in defense mode?
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Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do… 😦 Thanks for reading.
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Well, he came back but not in the way he first meant. She better hope the sea was her friend. With the CSIs these days we can’t be sure. Good writing as always, Sandra. Thanks for the picture which is responsible for so many good stories. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks for reading Suzanne. Glad you liked the photo.
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I thought the sea never gives up her dead? Or is that Lake Superior that doesn’t give up its dead? Oh well, as long as all of the evidence is gone….
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One can never be sure, I guess…
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Interesting… a ghosting tale reminiscent of many a sea story. Loved it!
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It started so well and then…. Intriguing!
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Thanks for reading, Keith.
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Wow, gripping story. I always love reading yours!
Cheers,
Ronda
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Many thanks, Ronda. 🙂
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Dark and brutal with hints of an abusive relationship that she is now freed of.
Thanks for providing the photo prompt for this week.
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My pleasure, and thanks for reading.
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The foreshadowing of the dark ending is so cleverly disguised – just enough to lend a slightly worrying tone to the narrative, but once you read the ending the clues are unmissable. Fantastic.
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Thanks, Margaret. 🙂
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Lovely twist, what an evil woman, however its appropriate that he comes back to find her, all be it floating up in the surf, she’ll never be rid of him.
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Some lovers are like that. 🙂
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The turtles and fish have to eat too.
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True.
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The sea has no memory, they say, hopefully for this woman. Great picture, too. I grew up by the sea when I was younger and miss it now that I live in land-locked Iowa. Was this taken in France?
-David
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No Dorset, David. I’ve always loved living by water.
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Oooo….intriguing!
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Thanks, Dawn.
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She sounds like a bit of a siren luring the poor soul to his death. Nicely written Sandra
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Thank you, Michael.
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Great story! And a beautiful photo.
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She seems to have a love-hate relationship with him. The twist at the end caught me by surprise.
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Thanks for reading, Margarisa.
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You’re welcome. Thank you for the lovely picture prompt.
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I’m sorry to hear of the flooding and hope it didn’t cause to much damage, especially for your friends. A superb story as always. Your stories take me on a roller coaster ride each week. Great twist, subtly done!
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Glad you liked it, Brenda.
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Alarm bells rang when he said ‘grimly’ that nothing would part them – that sounded more like a threat than a sweet lover’s promise. Written with your usual finesse, Sandra. Love your photograph and to settle in Dorset … how wonderful. Happy settling 🙂
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Yes, we wish we’d done it sooner. Thanks for reading Lynn. I’m late getting round to other entries, but I hope to find some time this evening.
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Such a lovely part of the country to choose. May you have many happy years there
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A bad lady.
A story that belies the scene in the prompt; how could you!
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I am much delayed in reading, over the past couple of weeks, but have missed you and your stories, Sandra! This is wonderful. I know your writing and took in each word, anticipating where you might go. You do it so well! Interestingly, this reminded me of something that would be well read by C.E.. Welcome back!!
BTW: April Fools is one of my favorite holidays, I’m dying to know what happened!
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