Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields who provides us with a photo prompt. Each week’s challenge is to write a 100-word story inspired by the photo. Click here to play along or just read more stories.
Rusted Gate
He stared out of the door’s window, through the gate that had long since rusted shut.
People walked by, talking, laughing, jogging, walking dogs, living. Children walked to school and back. Cars drove up and down the street. He wondered where they went. He longed to join them, to frolic, to explore, to live.
Instead, he sat and watched as the world passed by. Seconds, minutes, hours, gave way to days, weeks, and months.
He stared out of the window in the door, through the gate that had long since rusted shut. Or was that obstacle just in his mind?
NobbinBlog 
That often happens. An old trustworthy assumption turns out to be only an illusion
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Great philosophical question at the end
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Thank you.
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Love the revelation, a life changing thought.
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It could be. Thank you.
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I thought this was going to be from a dog’s point of view. The watching, the waiting — well done.
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It could be from a dog’s point of view. I didn’t think of that. I try not to think about dogs. Thanks, T.
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Oh I thought doggies were stamped in your mind… or is it just their doo?
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They’re stamped on every aspect of my existence.
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Sounds very much like a barrier in his mind. Well written.
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It could very well be. Thank you.
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Good story!
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Thank you.
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Great piece of physiological fear of open spaces and other people.
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Thank you.
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Rationalized paralysis is a terrible condition to suffer from. Good story.
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It is. Sometimes it’s easier to make excuses than face that fear. Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Much reality written here. Well done.
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An unfortunate reality it is. Thank you.
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Oh Nobbin,
Well written. Well read. There’s nothing more crippling than the fear of going out your own gate.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I got an “Oh Nobbin.” Weeeeee! 😁 Thank you, Rochelle.
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Incredible last line! Beautifully written sad story of someone who longs to join in but for their fear of doing so. Very well done!!
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That is an incredible review. Thank you.
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Poor person. I can feel the longing to be free throughout the story, and the twist at the end makes it even more tragic.
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It’s a horrible condition to be trapped inside oneself.
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At first I thought the story was about someone suffering from agoraphobia, which is a horrible and debilitating condition. On second reading, though, I realised you were also using it as a metaphor for any self-imposed isolation, which could be caused by grief or fear or even a profound lack of imagination. Many layers in this story, Nobbin – I like it!
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Thank you, Penny. You’re right, agoraphobia is the most common, but there are a lot of reasons people remain behind that “gate.”
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I liked the duplicated line, and great last line – puts a new slant on it,
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I like to make story sandwiches. They’re delicious. Thank you.
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