The sun set over the horizon as temperatures plummeted. Ice formed in the corners of her eyes as she hauled firewood and dropped it inside the teepee. Removing her gloves, she pressed her hands to her face. The ice melted quickly. Unlike the glacier that had formed in her heart.
He wanted to move to this uninhabited place. Who could resist those pleading eyes? Together, they learned how to survive off the richness of the land. Until an accident stole him away.
Rubbing her extended belly, the baby stirred. She felt the beginnings of a thaw, a renewal of hope.
~~
My story this week was somewhat inspired by the biting cold temperatures friends and family are experiencing in the US right now. Hope everyone stays warm and safe!
“Friday Fictioneers,” a weekly challenge to write a story using only 100 words and hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff Fields. If you would like to read other stories or join in by adding your own take on the photo supplied by Renee Heath, visit HERE.
Thoughts of a Wanderer 
Nice ending full of hope. Now I would be freaking out if I was stuck in a teepee in the desert pregnant, but maybe that’s just me….
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Thanks, Violet! I enjoy the show “Life Below Zero” because I admire those who have the endurance and courage to live in extreme environments. I, of course, watch from my couch and don’t think I could do it. =)
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I am going to Alaska next week hoping to enjoy the Aroura Borealis while I am there, but in reality, I’m not very adventuresome myself.
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Sounds pretty adventuresome of you traveling to Alaska and seeing the Aroura Borealis. I’d love to visit Alaska and see the lights someday. Have a wonderful time, take a heavy coat and shoot lots of photos. 🙂
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I really enjoyed this read today. It’s 2F, windchills at -12 and dropping. I could really go for a nice, warm teepee today.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed, Jelli! A teepee with a nice big fire to warm your hands and make a cup of hot coco. Please keep warm! 🙂
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Dear Brenda,
There’s so much emotion and story layered between the lines. Brilliant piece.
Shalom from the Polar Vortex,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much for that encouragment. I’m smiling! Please do keep warm, lots of hot drinks and blankets. 🙂
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I don’t blame her for feeling resentful, but I’m glad she does have a sense of hope.
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She ended up in an unexpected difficult situation, but she’s going to make the best of it. Her child gives her hope and courage to persevere. That’s how I image the story going anyways. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, Linda!
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Lovely story. If you have a strong enough desire to live in the wild, and a strong enough constitution, I guess the rewards are great. It was good that the stirring baby gave her new hope. (I love a happy ending!)
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, Penny. There are often-times when life takes us down unexpected paths. We must adjust and at the end of the day come out stronger. That’s the way it’s been for me. Where I’ve not had my character’s experience per say, I’ve had my share of “wilderness” experiences where I had to adapt. Thank you for reading and commenting as always, much appreciated!! =)
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Unlike the glacier formed in her heart…… very powerful words.
He is no more to give her company and share his life with her. But the tiny life in her womb will bring cheer to her.
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Thank you for reading my story and your kind cocmment! =) The baby will help heal her wounds for sure.
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You left the story without any true timeline, which I think fits this really well. It can take us to any era, any locale. Make the Tepee a yurt or a any other type of tent and it works. Good story.
https://stuartnager.wordpress.com/2019/01/30/t-p-fridayfictioneers/
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I hadn’t thought of that, thanks for pointing it out! =)
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You write so beautifully, Brenda. I think I would find my way out of there and into another lifestyle now that he is gone…
No way in hell I’d live out there by myself!
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You’re very sweet. I really appreciate your kind comment. Haha…I think I might do the same. =)
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Excellent piece, love the sense of hope at the end. Life goes on.
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Very true, life goes on and it’s important to have hope. Thank you so much for the encouragement! =)
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Gosh, that was so poignant!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you for commenting, Susan! =)
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Love, love, love the ending. I was so sad when I realized that the man had died, but I loved that you gave it a hopeful ending, with the woman looking forward to the birth of the baby. That baby will be loved indeed and grow up knowing about his/her father 🙂
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. The baby will love the father as did the mother. Thank you for reading and commenting! =)
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I love the stirring of her new hope… what a story to be stranded there with a newborn… but my feeling is that she was the stronger of the two.
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Very true, I think so too. Thank you for your lovely comments, Bjorn! =)
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A story of hope! Lovely Brends xx
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Thanks so much, Marie! =)
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Sorry, “Brenda” xx
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i doesn’t bode well for her and the baby, but i hope that they survive.
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She’s much stronger than I would be in this situation and she will be well. Before he passed, they learned how to live on the land. Thank you for commenting! =)
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When all is over, there’s always hope.
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For sure! Thank you for commenting!!
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Hope keeps life alive. She has nothing to fear because she knows how to live off the harsh land. With plentiful natural bounty, who needs more?
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Hope is indeed critical! I agree, she knows how to survive. =)
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Beautifully descriptive, had me reaching for a scarf as I read!
And then that lovely human touch at the end.
Wonderful.
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Thank you so much, your encouragement means a great deal. =)
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A pleasure, Brenda
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All alone in the frozen wilds. But not for too much longer!
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That’s right, she’ll have company pretty soon. Thank you for commenting! =)
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A warm end to a chilling tale. Excellent
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Thank you so much, Keith! =)
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Um, can’t she find her way to civilization? How far is she? She’ll certainly need someone when giving birth.
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She’s quite self-sufficient and clever too. She’ll figure it out when the time comes. Thank you for stopping by. =)
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Gosh, icicles at the corners of your eyes! Nice touch. Sounds like a harsh place to be a single mom. Hope you donnt mind me pointing out a technicality–you have a dangling participle, I believe, unless you mean for the baby to be rubbing her mom’s belly. 👶
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I don’t mind at all and appreciate help in this area. I tend to “dangle” often. hehe
Thank you so much! =)
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What a good story, Brenda! I liked how it started out so desolate, but ended on a hopeful note. Even more, I liked how many details you worked into so few words.
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Thank you for your encouraging comments, Ann. They are always much appreciated! =)
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Very hopeful.
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Thank you, Lisa, for reading and commenting. =)
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Raising a child in the wilderness alone? Assuming she survives the birth, she’s in for a world of hurt. I’d pitch the memories and go home.
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Thank you for commenting, Alice! =)
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An inspiritng tale of renewal and survival. Nicely done, Brenda.
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Thank you so much, Sandra! =)
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Ah! This story tugs at heart. Loved the story of hope.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks, Priya!
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Loved the hope in the end, but I am still scared for the pregnant lady all alone in the desert.
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Thanks so much, Anshu. She’ll be well!
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Pregnant, alone and in the middle of nowhere? Its like The handmaids tale all over, id get to the nearest settlement pronto!
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Thank you for reading and commenting! I do like The Handmaids Tale. =)
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I can not image such bitingly cold weather. Hope you are alright
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I am fine. Thank you, Michael, for your warm wishes! =) I’m actually in the tropics (Hong Kong) but my friends and family are in Massachusetts and Ohio.
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you ended the story nicely
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She has hope and a reason to persevere. Thank you for commenting! =)
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I love the incoming thaw and hope at the end.
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Thank you so much, Kelley! =)
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I’m not sure I’d be as hopeful as your heroine is. Pregnant and alone in the desert. Love your storytelling technique.
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Thank you for your encouraging comment about the writing! =)
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I love this story. So complete in itself and yet the start of a new one. There are so many emotional layers that can be picked up. And in just those hundred words I cared what happened to her. You write well. Good piece.
gramswisewords.blogspot.com
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Thank you so much, Marian, your comments are very encouraging! =)
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It could be weather or time that freezes us. It appears she has hope.
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That’s a good point, Susie. Thank you for commenting! =)
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I love the way you’ve told the story through the contrast of cold and warmth. Bittersweet and well-crafted.
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Thank you so much, Magarisa, for your kind words. =)
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It’s my pleasure, Brenda.
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A pleasurable read.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed, Dawn. =)
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