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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas
Genre: Romantic Fiction
Word Count: 100
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Twirling in front of the mirror, Hattie admired her reflection. Her wedding dress, complete with a satin train, made her feel like a fairytale princess. The heart-shaped diamond on her left hand sparkled. The day James presented it to her everyone in the restaurant applauded. How could she refuse?
Reluctantly, Hattie slipped off the gown. Had she made the right decision? Marriage was a huge commitment.
She took off the ring and laid it beside a handwritten note that read,
“Dear James,
“By the time you read this, David and I will be on our honeymoon.
“Love and apologies,
Hattie”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Poor James, can’t help but feel sorry for him, but hopefully Hattie’s reasoning is sound and she is sparing everyone pain in the future!
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Dear Iain,
Even though I wrote it, I do have to feel for James. Hopefully he can find happiness with the right woman. Obviously that woman isn’t Hattie. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m hoping she made the right choice
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Dear Sadje,
I hope so, too. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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❤️
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Wow, Rochelle. Brutally romantic
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Thank you for such a great compliment/comment, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A nice twist!
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Thank you, Reena.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah. The old dear John letter.
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Dear Danny,
Or in this case, “Dear James.” Thanks for dropping by.
Shalom,
Rochele
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Oh, Hattie, you should have taken them both to that honeymoon. 😀
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Dear Loré,
I’m not sure taking both of them on the honeymoon would be a good idea. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, David was a brave man to steal a woman wearing someone else’s ring. But love always finds a way. I hope Hattie finds she made the right decision. Well done.
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Dear Sandra,
There’s probably more to the story, but there was that pesky 100 word limit. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow cold. I think James dodged a bullet. Better knowing before “I do” than after.
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Dear Tannille,
I think you’re right. Who knows what the future might have held with Hattie? thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Poor James. But then, a bit of hurt and disappointment may be better than a life of hurt and disappointment.
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Dear Trent,
I agree. Better to know now than find out after the wedding. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a very tough decision to make and an even greater one to execute.
But if she was right it would save generations despair from dysfuntional relationships.
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Dear Chioma,
Better now than later, I suppose.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Many times the “Dear John” letter works out best for the guy. I know these things. Good story and one that is really not so rare as one might think.
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Dear Jan,
I know of one “Dear John” recipient who’s learned to laugh about it. 😉 Thanks m’luv.
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Dear Rochelle,
Public pressure, oy vey! Maybe James will choose a less public venue to propose next time. Meanwhile, you led us up the garden path right well with that twisty ending!
Shalom,
Dora
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P.S. What a lovely painting! 💛
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Dear Dora,
It would be hard to say no in public, wouldn’t it? Although Hattie might’ve let it go a bit too long. 😉 Thank you re my story and my painting which really had nothing to do with the story. I just felt like posting it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m glad you did. It sends good cheer every which way and that in itself is an immensity of accomplishment. 🙂
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Wow! It’s one thing to leave him before things go too far, another to do it to marry someone else. I fear in the end, James may have got the better deal than David.
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Dear Jen,
It doesn’t sound like Hattie’s too stable, does it? 😉 It’s one of those time will tell things. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, how sad for the poor groom! But I’ll choose to believe he found a wonderful woman, and they all lived happily ever after 🙂
Yellow roses–my absolute favorites, used them on my wedding cake and bouquet 🙂
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Dear Linda,
My bouquet was yellow sweetheart roses. I hadn’t hit my purple stride quite yet. 😉
I think James will recover from his heartbreak. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do love purple iris. But still, yellow tea roses are my favorite.
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Dear Rochelle,
Hattie is a bit of a bitch and James is lucky to be rid of her. Yes, yes, it is better to not go through with it if it’s not meant to be; but to leave such a note? I have no respect for her. But lots for you who managed to bring up so much emotion in me!
Shalom and lotsa love in all the right places,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Hattie would definitely be the villainess in a Halmark channel movie. 😉 I love it that my little hundred word story evoked such a response. Thank you. 😀
Shalom and lotsa loyal hugs,
Rochelle
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That is always a good sign 🙂
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Nice twist… of the knife in James’s back. The old “Dear James” letter. Brutal. I guess it’s better than being left at the altar. At least he got the ring back. David could have scored double if his bride came complete with a ring.
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Dear Nobbin,
Hopefully James can recoup what he spent on the ring. 😉 Hattie doesn’t have a lot of tact, does she? Better James should know before the wedding. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Textured with delicious manifestations of “it’s complicated.”
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you for such a wonderful comment. 😀 ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome ❤
Shalom,
Lisa
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After reading her letter, I also fear for David,
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Dear Michael,
Hattie could be bad news. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dang! I hope all three find the life they need/want. An excellent take on the picture.
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Dear Lish,
Ah the 100 word limit. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story, Rochelle.
Shame on me for laughing. This is why our generation decided maybe marriage was not the best idea. Three cheers for polyamory.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice and Hattie and James and Davie. 😉 thank you for the laugh. Perfect response IMHO. Muchas gracias for the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always, Rochelle.
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Poor James, but probably for the best, is this a true story, based in fact? I’m sure it must have happened before. Sad but only because we hear it from Hattie from the side of James, I’m sure she’s happy with David. Good stuff
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Dear Shrawley,
To my knowledge this isn’t a true story. Although I’m sure it resembles a few. Perhaps we’ll hear from James at a later date. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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at least, the engagement ring didn’t up at a pawn shop. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
Hard telling what James will do with the ring. 😉 thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We don’t know all the details. Should James be heartbroken, glad to be rid of her, or what?
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Dear Larry,
The 100 word limit kept me from expounding on James’ side. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Poor James, but better now than after the wedding. I always wonder about those public proposals. You better be double, triple, quadruple sure she is going to say yes.
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Dear Dawn,
I agree about those very public proposals. They could be disasterous in the end. I agree. James is better off. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a twist in this story but it seems she chose true love, always the best way to go no matter the disappointment of the one left behind,
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Dear Clare,
Better to know before tying the knot, isn’t it? Although, Hattie didn’t use a lot of discretion in how she handled things. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wonder if David knew what she was up to with James. It could be a short marriage!
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Dear Keith,
I guess time will tell. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Poor James. Not nice to wait till the last moment, Hattie! And to be fair, I’m not that sure about how David will fare. …
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Hattie just might be a must to avoid in the end. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yep! Me agree!
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Brutal, leaving it till she’d bought the dress.
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Dear Liz,
Hattie didn’t take a lot of thought, did she?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m with Dawn and Jade on this one. It’s definitely complicated, by the sound of it. I hope they all find happiness in some form. Better to cut loose before the vows, than after.
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Dear Fleur,
It could have been more costly after the wedding had Hattie gone through with it. I’m glad you saw it as complicated. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Aww I hope he finds some happiness 🙂
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So do I, Angela. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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SO sad for James., but I hope she is making the right decision.
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Dear Athling,
I guess time will tell. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, wow. What an unexpected turn of events! As they say, out with the old in with the new. Hopefully James found someone too and will breathe a sigh of relief when he reads the letter.
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Dear Brit,
I think James will be okay. 😉 But then I ran out of words. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oooooo snap
Great last line!
Poor James, but Hattie probably made the right decision
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Dear Laurie,
I guess only time will tell if she made the right decistion. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When one goes another comes. Hope he finds what he is looking for. Lovely story.
I am sorry could you kindly link my submission. Somehow i was unable to link. Thanks, dear Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
If you read my story for this week, you’ll see that James is just fine. 😉 Thank you.
I’m sorry about the link. The inLinkz closes every week on Tuesday at 7:00 pm (1900) my time, which if I did my math correctly that would be 0630 Wednesday morning your time. Once it’s closed even I can’t add a link. Sor sorry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoyed this, thank you. Poor James. It obviously wasn’t meant to be but he’ll find his true love eventually, I’ve no doubt.
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Dear Heather,
Hattie’s timing really sucks but I think James will be fine. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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