It’s been several weeks since I’ve had time to participate in Friday Fictioneers, but Rochelle knows the best way to get me back again–by using one of my photos as the prompt. If you’re new to this weekly challenge, the rules are simple: Writers from all over the globe are invited to compose a 100-word story based on the week’s photo prompt. Click here to read and play along.
My story this week is almost entirely autobiographical, but that’s all I’ll say on the topic for now.
Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
Resurrection in Turquoise
Thirty years later, she remembers the pale green of hospital walls and her own small legs encased in plaster. Her dreams are haunted. Too often, she wakes with a start.
Thirty-five years later she takes a deep breath, submerges her face in the pale green water of an indoor pool. Three measured strokes, another breath. Three more strokes. A breath. The panic fades.
Forty years later, she sits in her office, glances at the blue-green logo on her business card. In her favorite color, she recognizes a bluer version of hospital green. She’s lived to see the resurrection of the turquoise butterfly.
Being MG 
Dear Marie Gail,
I love the way you used color in this. Healing comes one step at a time and in this case it’s colored pale green. Your second paragraph strikes a chord with me for a significant part of my healing came in the water. Very well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS. I’m happy to have lured you back. 😀
Thank you and me too!
That’s beautiful. You win, turquoise butterfly!
Thanks so much.
Forty years in one hundred words is a good strike rate. It fits together so well.
Thanks so much, Mick.
I really liked the use of colour in this. And there’s a tranquility about the way the story moves forward.
Thank you, Sandra. I imagine tranquility is what the hospital decorators were shooting for when they painted every crevice of those places “hospital green” in the late sixties and early seventies. It certainly took me a long time to see that though. Even today, the act of sticking my face in the water of a chlorine-green swimming pool is a bit stressful. It takes the act of swimming and breathing and breathing and swimming to help me calm down.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Lovely flow…
Thanks.
Nicely done with colors.
Thanks.
[…] without much time to read either, but I welcome your thoughts if you have time. The photo is from Marie Gail Stratford, whose writings are well-worth a read […]
Beautiful weaving of colour with history, MG. Glad you’re back and thanks for the photo.
Thank you, Jen, and thanks also for the shout-out on your blog. I’m glad to be back in the loop. Hope to have time to read and comment this week.
I think you have a title of a book here .. 50 shades of Turquoise… Love how you weaved a resurrection here..
I personally prefer resurrection to 50 shades of anything, but I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
All my best,
Marie Gail
I love the way color was a significant element in the narrative. It added depth and texture to the story. Nicely done!
Thanks, Eric.
That’s beautiful, Marie Gail. I like how you used the recurring green and the time progression. Very effective.
-David
Thanks, David.
Marie Gail, so glad Rochelle dragged you back. A powerful, poignant piece (and a tongue twister!), about healing. I seem to remember a similar story, that hinted at this history. So glad you’re digging at the scab in a productive, healing way. Welcome back! xox
Yes, I fear this theme comes knocking relatively often for me. I’m glad you enjoyed this part of the whole picture.
All my best,
MG
As others have already said, I liked your use of the blues and greens through this life story. That sounds like a long time to full recovery.
Thanks, Ali. I sometimes wonder if full recovery ever comes, but one must keep one’s head up.
All my best,
MG
love the colors and flow…nicely done…
Thank you.
This was very interesting and mysterious. What is the turquoise butterfly?
Thanks for your interest, Joseph. There are a few blue butterflies that either were extinct or were thought to be so that have made a comeback either on their own or through human intervention. They are of various shades and dwell in different geographical locations. I couldn’t find anything about the turquoise butterflies that have made a comeback in the U.S. (which were the ones I was specifically thinking about when I wrote this), but here is an article about the phenomenon in the UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/5542084/Large-Blue-butterfly-flutters-back-from-extinction-thanks-to-a-tiny-ant.html
Very cool thanks for the info.
I’ve always thought of that one shade as melon green. To me, it’s devoid of emotion. I stare at it and it just sits there. I liked the recounting of the years and the thought of memories triggered by color.
I do wish colors would behave themselves for me and just sit there when I look at them. Ah well . . .
Thanks for weighing in.
All my best,
MG
Thanks for the photo prompt and for sharing your story. I’m partial to hospital green myself. 🙂
Your welcome, Tracy, and thank you.
Strong piece, cleverly done.
Thanks, C.E.
Beautiful story of healing and resurrection.
Thank you, Joy.
I do like the turquoise butterfly.
Great use of color to tie your story together, Marie Gail. I’m glad to hear you’ve healed over the years. Thanks for the lovely picture that’s leading to so many good stories. 🙂 — Suzanne
Wonderful use of colour, and I love how you count off the years with each new stage in the healing. Lovely.