As I post my latest Friday Fictioneer’s story it’s Friday Eve. That’s Thursday in some parts of the world. For other stories from our growing global community click here. You’ll find a wealth of one hundred word stories inspired by this single photograph from Jan Morrill.
Summer 1969, an American sailor stationed in Greece, I went on leave to Santorini.
In Pyrgos, I met sable-eyed Melina.
We drank each other. Her fragrant breasts welcomed me home.
“Marry me,” I whispered.
“I can’t.”
After that I never saw her again.
Summer 2010, I returned to Pyrgos.
On the street I stopped a silver-haired woman. “Melina Dimitri? Do you know her?”
“Why?”
“I love her.”
“Impossible! She was my great-grandmother. Died in childbirth in 1846. Here she is with my great-grandfather.”
When the woman flipped out a daguerreotype I gasped at the youthful images of Melina and…me.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
why was my first thought “shades of Dorian Gray” ? hmmm. What a terrific post with a twist
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Whoa! As Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again”. Nicely done!
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I love that line. Thanks.
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I love time travel! Probably would be better to say daguerrotype instead of photo if he somehow ended up in 1846. Nicely done, though. I haven’t written mine yet.
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I’ll think on the word…you’re probably right on that so don’t be surprised if you come back and see that it’s changed. Thanks, Maggie.
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Now we know why she couldn’t marry him in this life. Makes one wonder if any of those close encounters you experience have eternal roots.
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Kind of boggles the mind, doesn’t it VB?
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Hi Rochelle,
Guess you never know when you’ll slip into one of those time portals. Very sharp story, nicely written, double twist ending. What more can any reader ask? Ron
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And more can an author ask for than such a nice compliment? Thanks, Ron!
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I had to read the other comments to get the jest of the real story. Sorry. I first thought there was a possibility that the woman he talked to later was also named Melina, then thought there was a mistake made in the date year, but got it now. A time tunnel. OK. Good story with a different twist.
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I actually thought about naming the great-granddaughter Melina, Joyce, but thought that would be confusing and take too many words to explain. Glad you liked it.
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Very fun! I love time travel but if we could really do it, it would be pretty confusing. This makes me want to know what might happen as they start talking.
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Hi Sheila,
The whole idea of time travel has always intrigued me. So many what if’s.
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Very strong opening image, so when we see it later in a daguerotype it’s stunning. Great story!
Cheers,
Lorelei
http://www.westcoastwriters.blogspot.com/2012/10/friday-fictioneers-whitewash.html
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Thanks, Laura. Glad you liked it. There’s something fascinating about the idea of time travel.
I did try to comment on yours several times but can’t seem to get past your captcha.
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I loved this. Very intriguing! I hope you keep it as is. I disagree with the idea of changing the word, “daguerreotype.” It was obviously taken prior to 1846, so it’s not strictly a “photo” and should be called what it is.
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Dear Jan,
Hmmm. Well I did change old photograph to daguerreotype. I don’t know if I’ll change it or not. Would hate to have the only story with a revolving word. 😉 But I’ll listen to other comments and consider.
I’m happy that you liked the story. Some of my favorite books and movies are about time travel. Fire for the imagination.
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that was a good read!
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Like the twist. Could be built into something larger, methinks
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I joined FF in April and have so much fodder for something larger I’ll be writing the rest of my life. I found myself longing for more words to play with this time but I’m anal about staying within the one hundred word boundaries. Glad you liked it.
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Nice twist on the twist! I saw the first one coming…not the second one. I just love it when the last word or two changes it all.
Scott
Mine: http://www.madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/101212-2/
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Gotcha, Scott! Thanks for the input and glad you liked it. Going over to catch yours now.
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I had to read it twice to grasp it. What a brilliant twist!
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Excellent, beautifully done.
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Coming from you Sandra, this is a high compliment indeed. Thank you.
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Did I mention I love time travel? 😉
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/disharmony/
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Seems to me the subject came up. 😉
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What a unique and imaginative take on the prompt. Very beautiful story. Thank you for the visit, Rochelle.
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I like this very much!!!
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Marvelously strange!
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Thanks Sharon!
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I like a good time travel story. Yours was very good. Very Good!
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A sad, spooky and soulful tale. Love it Rochelle. Thanks for visiting mine.
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Rochelle. I read it twice to wrap my mind around this “time travel” piece. Name the old lady Melina and bring in reincarnation as well. Well done.
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That might have been too strange even for me, Lora. 😉
Glad you liked it. Seems a few folks had to read it twice. I think I like that.
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Very cool! I like the time travel idea in stories. It opens up all kind of possibilities! I really liked it!!
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I was a great fan of the Back to the Future series among other time travel stories. Intriguing. Mind boggling. And just plain fun.
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lotsa possibilities there! well done.
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Thank you kindly, sir.
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Nice complete story in one hundered words, well done. Maybe the whole time issue is some remanent effect left over from the huge volcanic explosion that formed Santorini?
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Who knows, Dude. Could be. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Wow! This is unique. loved your post!
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LOVED IT! Ghost stories are always fun.
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History, Time Travel (or Ghost Story?), Magic and Romance in one wee story! Way to go!
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Wow, goosebumps.
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what do you do with a drunken sailor.. earliii in the morning.
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I love convoluted time loops!
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Dear Rochelle,
If you think about it, my story could have been an episode of your story. 1969…Joni singing…the line about her predicting their future…the setting and the passion…
Very interesting.
I enjoyed your story very much on a number of different levels. Many more mysteries there than 100 words can do justice. Time travel is a great subject for writers. Lots of freedom and lots of paradoxes to examine.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
I did notice some startling similarities in our stories. I didn’t read yours until after mine was written. Cross my heart.
It might be fun at some point to explore this story in more than 100 words.
In any case, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Shalom-Aloha,
Rochelle
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I was thinking some form of reincarnation until I read the comments. Great story, Rochelle.
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I suppose that wouldn’t have been out of the question…just didn’t go there. Glad you liked it, Russell. Hey congrats on your award! So NOT surprised.
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The concept’s pretty cool—but I think it needs a lot more than 100 words to develop it properly. I found it very hard to believe that he went back to find her (although I know it does happen). Omitting “After that I never saw her again.” would help me (as a reader) with that. (The story ends here, anything afterwards feels unbelievable. If this sentence was removed, the reader is still open to all possibilities, including time travel.)
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Thanks for stopping by, Stacey.
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I just got a mention of you on Madison’s prompt for the week and i am NOT surprised at her choice to pass the baton to you as an anchor…congratulations! See you this week.
-Charles.
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Thanks for your kind words, Charles. This means a lot to me.
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