I had always been interested in photographs. No, not the images captured on the photo paper, but the way chemicals reacted to bring out the images and colours on them. I used to experiment too; using a brush to apply nail polish remover on the faces of people in the photographs. I used to wonder how the faces dissolved away leaving nothing but whitish smudges on the photographs.
These days, I don’t remember much. I cradle the old photograph in my trembling hands as I try to recall the faces that once were in place of the white smudges.
Thank you, Rochelle, for hosting Friday Fictioneers. To read other stories, please follow this link.
That’s so sad, but real. How often we do things and then wish they could be undone.
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So sad that your protagonish erased his memories. I have just been going through my mother’s photo albums and the memories are flooding back.
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Sweet turn at the end there. 👏
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Strange behaviour, he sounds like a tormented man. Intriguing piece
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It makes one wonder.. does he regret his actions now? Making the faces disappear? Great take on the prompt. 😄
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So much said with so few words. A beautiful piece, Varad.
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Thank you very much
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Thought-provoking piece, Varad. A unique take on the prompt.
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Thank you very much, Linda 🙂
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I wonder.. is it regret? Would he have done the same thing if given a do-over?
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It is indeed regret. Maybe he might’ve chosen a different course of action if he had known his fate. Thanks for the comment, Maria.
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Such an original take on the prompt, Varad. So well done. Memories fade like the images on the photos, especially if they have been rubbed out.
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Thank you for the kind comment, Dale 🙂
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You bring back memories of what my mom used to do. She scribbled out the faces or cut them out of photos. The one cut out? My dad, when she divorced him. I haven’t thought of that in years. Good story, Varad.
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Thanks for sharing that memory, Jade. Glad you liked the story 🙂
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You are welcome and I did!
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Nice use of metaphor as faces always seem to fade from memory.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Excellent story! I love the imagery.
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Thank you J.A.
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I like this VERY much. So much said between the lines. Kudos!
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Thank you very much, Alicia. 🙂
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An act of destruction that he has come to regret. Great take Varad.
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Thank you very much, Iain. 🙂
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I kept wondering whether this was going to take a sinister turn.
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Didn’t want to go down that path, Sandra. Thank you for the comment. 🙂
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Poignant piece there.
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Thank you, J Hardy.
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Dear Varad,
Not many darkrooms these days, are there. Everything is digital and faces can be changed with photoshop. A bit of a metaphor…faded photo, faded memories. Nicely done.
Shalom and welcome back,
Rochelle
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Thank you for the kind comment, Rochelle. The digital photography has eradicated an art, unfortunately.
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I wonder if he carried out those experiments when he was a boy? Seems the sort of thing only a child would do. Poignant take on the photo prompt, Varad.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Yes, it was a childhood thing. Thanks for the comment, Susan 🙂
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That’s just lovely
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Thank you, Neil.
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Shame photographs don’t last forever.
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Very true.
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