Sunday Photo Fiction Challenge – The Incident (Part 1)

Submitted for Sunday Photo Fiction

The Assignment: The idea of Photo Fiction is to write a story of around 100-200 words (which is also called Flash Fiction) based on a photo as a prompt. In this particular photo fiction, the story must be based on the photo below.  Today I write the beginning of a new serial.

Credit: Al Forbes

The sun was rising through the clouds as four women stood holding hands on a deserted beach.  They came together to say goodbye to their college friend Marisa.  Marisa’s ashes were taken by the wind and floated out to sea.  Each of the women said a few words about their friend and then walked back up the beach to the car.

Later while having lunch before their flights, Joanna shocked her friends.

“I don’t think it was an accident.  I know what the coroner’s report says but I believe it is wrong,” said Joanna.

Karen, Mary and Linda in unison, “WHAT?”

“Use my headphones and listen to a message Marissa left on my cellphone.”

Each of the women in turn listened, the shock visible on their faces.

Marisa’s excited voice said, “I can’t wait to see you next week.  I know we never speak about the incident but I actually believe I know who committed the crime.  You’ll be surprised too.  Once you come, we can go to the University police together and solve a twenty-year mystery.”

“Are you saying you think she was murdered?” said Karen.

The women made plans to return to Castlegrove the following week.