Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, when writers from around the world post 100-word stories based on a photo prompt provided on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog. This week’s photo is by Rochelle, and I want to sincerely thank her for the inspiration.
To me, the photo is a kind of metaphor. I envision a broken human being, waiting to be brought back to life by music.
“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”
— Maria von Trapp
Broken
by Jan Brown
She wore her individuality like bright, shining armor. She loved wildly mismatched ensembles in a vivid palette, her cleavage sparkling with glass baubles of dubious origin. The explosion of color that lurked in her closet was a reflection of the courage with which she reclaimed her life—a life broken, brutalized at the hands of relatives—a life infused with hope when one of her doctors recommended music therapy.
From that broken place came healing. Her voice was the antidote to her violently colorful looks—a velvety smoothness that cut through the pain and darkness to let in the sun.
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
— Rumi
To read more stories by Friday Fictioneers, click the link below:
mezzojan 
Jan, what a lovely piece! I can hear her voice with my inner ear and it’s beautiful!
janet
Thank you, Janet! This is actually an excerpt from a short story in progress, but as the “progress” isn’t very fast, and the photo was so evocative, I thought I would piece together a mini-version here. I wasn’t sure it would work, so I am very grateful for your comment!
Nice post, and thanks for stopping by my little blog.
DJ
Thank you, as well 🙂
That’s lovely, in a bitter way. Good, evocative writing. I’m looking forward to seeing the longer piece.
Carma
Thank you, Carma!
Broken no more. Very well done, it should come true for all of us.
Thank you, Perry!
Lovely and poignantly written;, Jan. 🙂
Thank you, Celestine! Always a pleasure to see you visiting my blog.
Have a lovely weekend!
A very lovely piece, Jan. I so admire her courage and her colour. And I’ve always loved that Rumi quote.
Thank you, Joanna. I’m glad it resonated with you.
A beautiful image with unspoken volumes behind it.
Thank you very much!
There’s such a lot in this short piece. Very well done.
Thank you very much!
Beautiful! I liked the accompanying quotes as well.
Thank you, Tiffany!
You’re welcome!
I knew I would enjoy this, darling! If I may question one choice of phrase: ” velvety smoothness that cut through the pain” The pairing of “smoothness” and “cut” seems a poor match. Just a thought.
A good thought. Thank you!
I am quite fond of this particular quote by Rumi. I enjoyed your story too!
Thank you!
A lovely story of a life turned around through a girl’s strength and courage. Great accompanying quotes as well!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the quotes too!
I love that she found her healing through a creative empowering act. I imagine that the best art is created, written or performed by those who can truly feel the words, strokes or notes.
So true. Thank you for reading and commenting! So nice to see you in Friday Fictioneers this week 🙂
Beautiful, expressive writing, Jan! I really enjoyed this. Music can be so therapeutic. It has such power.
Thank you, Amy!
Dear Jan,
Broken is a fantastic piece of flash fiction that read exactly like what is is, an excerpt from a larger work. It was full bodied and layered, rich and resonant. Very well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Mahalo, Doug! Your kind comments are greatly appreciated.
Dear Jan,
Beauty for ashes. A well-written piece. Music has charms to sooth the savage breast. I enjoyed it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle!
a very beautiful and inspiring story. 🙂 and at the beginning i knew that this colorful character had an interesting story
Thank you, kz!
Oh I love it.. and how often is it not so?.. music can carry solace and healing…
Thank you for your comments, Bjorn!
A beautiful vignette on a powerful woman, tried and tested by life. You’ve spun this tale so creatively 🙂
Thank you, Eena!
Great story of hope and healing. I like your last quote.
Thank you, Patti. That’s also one of my favorite Rumi quotes.
Superbly written.
Love it.
Thank you very much!!
What a beautiful story of Unbroken.
Thank you, Dawn!
Wonderfully written…
Thank you very much!
Wow! I like this. It’s uplifting and hopeful.
Thank you very much!
Thank You.