We had made it! I gazed around, breathless at the beauty that surrounded me. The architecture was magnificent and unlike anything I had seen before. The crowd’s murmurings echoed off the high ceilings; the light pulsed brightly from the white marbled walls. I thought back to the grey concrete walls of the place I grew up; and the musty, stifling scent that had invaded my pores. Here the scent was fresh with open spaces that promised freedom. But soon it would no longer exist. We began the work we had signed up for: rendering these extravagant spaces into a memory.
What do you feel when entering an impressive building?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018
(This post was inspired by Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. The challenge asks for bloggers to write a story in 100 words or less in response to the photo prompt.)
I feel like I am there with you. Great writing!
I attended a graduation ceremony last night. It took place in a theater build in 1945, that had been carefully restored. I had a seat high up on the balcony. You could almost hear conversations from the past taking place there. The ceiling was an intricate work of art. My daughter could not stop looking at the ceiling. It must of been an extraordinary building in this small town, at the time it was built.
Thank you for a great, inspiring post.
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Thank you so much.
And thank you for sharing your experience.
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What a great piece, Colline. You’ve got me hooked. You must make this a bigger story.
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Thank you so much Sandra. My aim for my summer break is to take a couple of these flash fiction pieces and make them longer.
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Great writing.
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Thank you Lisa.
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The motivation of the narrator is quite intriguing.
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Not one you would think a person visiting such a grand place would have 🙂
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I feel awe! Great photo Colline.
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Unfortunately I cannot take credit for the photo – only the writing. 🙂
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You’ve written a clever and moving story that neatly captures the way professional and personal experiences interlink in our minds. The regret at “rendering these extravagant spaces into a memory.” is tangible.
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Thank you. I tried to express the juxtaposition between admiration and the need to do a task.
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That was such an interesting story!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Hank you Susan. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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How sad… it is too bad that some people do not realize the importance of knowing the past. It is the only we to learn so we do not make the same mistakes again. Good story!
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That comes, I think, I living too much in the now and wishing to change the future.
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I am always amazed at the architecture, the attention to detail in a huge and magnificent building. What a shame to see them all disappear!
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When a person is part of a rebellion, they do not see amazing architecture bit instead what the building represents.
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Dear Colline,
The feeling of freedom and, perhaps remorse, is tangible. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much Rochelle.
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This made me a bit sad. Such hope upon entering the open space and comparing it to a dark and musty space. Then ~ the beautiful area is going to be torn down. Well done.
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I wanted to create a juxtaposition between the two feelings. Your thoughts have shown me I was successful 🙂
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When I go into Canterbury Cathedral in the UK, Colline, I feel quite overwhelmed at its beauty and size.
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That is a Cathedral I have’t visited. The Gothic cathedrals do make a person feel small.
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Dystopian indeed. The world being turned into the grey dull place your protagonist recalls? How tragic.
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It is. Some people find it hard to move out of the grey space in their minds.
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