photo by Sue Vincent
I’ve always known I would travel here, to the heathered moors and verdant hills, to wander narrow roadways past stone cottages with views of the cold northern sea. Perhaps it was the Brontes or Hardy who first entranced me with the raw emotion that seems embedded in the very soil, that sweeps through castle ruins and keens across ancient cairns and holy places.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on the pulse of my yearning. But after my accident, I chose to wait no more.
The stone chapel was once part of a larger manor. It’s a quaint place of colored glass and worn reliefs, of strange carvings above its arched doorway. But also a place of layered faiths and archaic mysteries, imbued with ghosts of the past like a spiritual lodestone. I can no more ignore it than deny my heart to beat.
The day wanes, and I worry that the door might be locked. I give the latch a tug, and my fears prove true. Undaunted, I circle the perimeter, looking for another way in. To break in, frankly, though my intentions are harmless overall.
“Can I help you?”
The voice startles me, and I turn, sputtering apologies, only to encounter another shock. The fellow stands so close we nearly bump noses. “I was attempting to find a way in,” I explain, retreating a step.
“I can see that.”
“I’m from the US.”
“Do people from the US normally break into private chapels?”
“No!” My nerves force a laugh. “Not that I’ve heard of anyway. Rarely. I’ve… Well, this will sound strange, but I… It seems so silly really.” A blush pinks my face, and I stick out my hand. “I’m Daphne.”
“William. The guardian.” He takes my hand and bows, kissing it.
“The guardian?” I blink at him, flustered and nervous, but not afraid. He seems a part of this place, bonded to the stones and wildflowers, the crooked graveyard, and the weathered cross at the roof’s peak. I blow out an awkward breath. “What I meant to say is… I think destiny delivered me here, to this exact moment, to this chapel. It’s puzzling, but I feel as though I belong here and always have.”
“And I’ve been expecting you.” He smiles, looking quite noble, and sweeps his palm toward the door.
I laugh at his odd comment, but his kindness puts me at ease. He unlocks the door, and I enter without a sound. The room is tiny, though I hardly notice, my eyes drawn to a tomb illuminated by the sunlight lancing a slender window. “Whose tomb…?” I begin to ask, but William has withdrawn and awaits me in the garden.
The place is silent and still, and yet it’s thick with souls and reeling with the passage of time. I can scarcely breathe as I approach the tomb and gaze upon the sculpture of a knight. He appears asleep, his features tranquil and familiar. William’s face. A red rose, the only color in the gray-washed chapel, lies near his belt, and a white note in a woman’s script, my script, rests at its side.
Wait for me, my loyal knight, and trust my heart,
for through the spirals of time,
I will return.
My fingers pass through the paper without a flutter. I now know why I have come here. I am home.
**
Thanks to Sue Vincent for the beautiful Thursday #Writephoto prompt. It was hard to resist a little romance. ❤
Myths of the Mirror 
Just beautiful, Diana. You do gallant, romantic knights well. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks for the sweet comment, Suzanne. I have a romantic bone somewhere in this body. 🙂 Have a wonderful week, my friend. ❤
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Wow! This is wonderful, Diana! So much in so few words. Well done!
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Thanks, Julie. I’m trying to pop a few posts in between all the reblogs. I’m glad you enjoyed this. I couldn’t resist the prompt. Thanks for the visit!
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[…] D. Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror […]
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Thanks for sharing, Sue. 🙂
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Gorgeous Diana and mesmerizing!
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Thanks, Lynn. I had fun going a little romantic with this one. 😀
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Very nice
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Your short stories always make me yearn for more! ❤️
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What a sweet comment, Bel. Straight to the heart and bringing a smile. I’m glad you enjoyed this one. The prompt was so pretty, I couldn’t resist. I hope you’re well and enjoying the winter. 🙂
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Me too! I want to read more of you Diana. I guess at some point, when time isn’t such a precious entity, I’ll get more of your books and read them 😉
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What a lovely comment, Dawn. I hope you do too. Ha ha. Time is so precious, especially when you’re busy raising a family. Most importantly, find time to pamper yourself and indulge your own creativity. ❤
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I’m trying (on the pamper and indulge part) Not always successful, but hey, that’s part of the deal!
Hoping to get to write a little more during my next holidays… Thanks Diana!
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Beautiful, Diana, thank you for the treat. I perked up my ears at the word ‘accident’ 🙂 Returning to where we belong feels so right.We must have a home somewhere.
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Yes, I snuck that in there. 🙂 A clue as to why she too is a ghost and is returning home, finally. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, Inese. It was a great prompt. Have a great week, my friend.
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Thank you, Diana! Great prompt, and an excellent response. Have a great week you too.
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I thought this was very beautiful, Diana. I loved her coming home.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Robbie. She’s home, perhaps a thousand years later, but worth it. Have a wonderful week, my friend, and Happy Writing. 🙂
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This was mesmerizing to me, so many feelings floating around. Lovely.
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Thank you, Jacqui. I had no trouble coming up with this one. The prompt was lovely and so romantic. I appreciate the visit, my friend. Happy Editing!
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This one gave me chills – soooo good!
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Thank you so much. I’m trying to pop one of my own posts in here once in a while. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I was so inspired by the prompt. 😀
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Oh, my goodness! This story touched my heart, but I expect nothing less of Sue. So well-written and filled with mystical charm with a touch of romance. I loved it!
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Aren’t Sue’s prompts great? My muse was very happy to participate in this one and I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jan. I don’t write romance often, but had to. 😀 Happy Writing!
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Beautiful write up 😊
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Thank you for the kind comment, Natasha. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. Have a wonderful week! 😀
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I have goosebumps. Beautifully crafted.
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Thanks you so much for the visit and goosebumps, Staci. I loved the prompt and had fun crafting this one. Have a wonderful week and Happy Writing. 😀
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reblogged on Pen and Paper.
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Reblogged this on K. D. Dowdall and commented:
This is the kind of writing I love that has magic, romance, ghosts, and mystery.
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Thanks so much for sharing!
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This is beautiful and the kind of writing I love to read. Thank you for sharing, Diane.
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Thank you, Karen, for the sweet comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. The prompt was irresistible and the story wanted to be told. Have a wonderfully creative week, and Happy Writing!
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Diane, my pleasure. it is a wonderful short story and what a book that would be, to tell the back story and future story. Karen
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Oh the shivers and the feels with this one 🤗
Her knight stayed true and waited for her… and I guess she stayed true to her own promise and returned, after a fashion.
Lovely.
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You got it, Jess. Only took a thousand years or so. Now, that’s loyalty! I love writing from prompts and this one was so evocative. Thanks so much for stopping by to read. ❤
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Yeah writing prompts are a great wY for you to take on something you’d never have dreamed of writing. I must get back and do a few 🤗
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Very nice, though my first thought was that Daphne will have to join William, at least in body, under the floor of the chapel before her spirit can join his…
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Ha. I don’t think that’s necessary. They’re both free of their bodies, free to wander around and enjoy the scenery. 🙂 Thanks for the visit, Trent, and I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Happy Writing!
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This is such a lyrical, romantic piece, Diana. Thankyou for sharing.
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Thank you for the lovely comment, Damyanti. I was inspired by Sue’s photo, and the muse took off in this direction. Have a wonderful week and Happy Writing!
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Namaste Diana 🙂
An enchanting read beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyed. I do so appreciate a happy ending 🙂
Have a wonderful week.
Namaste 🙂
DN
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Thank you, Dewin. Even ghosts can have a happy ending. ❤ I loved the prompt and had a lot of fun letting the muse take over. Have a wonderful week. Namaste.
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Thank you Diana 🙂
Indeed they can – together forever in Love eternally ❤
Your muse worked their charm and excelled themselves: their endeavour is our pleasure as much their own 🙂
Namaste 🙂
DN
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Hi Diana,
SoundEagle concurs with Dewin Nefol! Perhaps this very fine piece of writing could be the start of a new novel.
At this time of the year, SoundEagle would like to gift and greet you with more lovely and fluffy Snowflakes, even animated ones, plus a lovely poem about Snowflakes, at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/%e2%9d%84-%e2%9d%85-%e2%9d%86-snowflakes-tell-me-why-you-are/
Happy New Year to you!
May you realize all of your visions and achieve whatever goals you have set yourself in 2019!
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Thank you for the lovely comment, SoundEagle. I don’t believe this will end up being a book, but who knows? Thank you for the link to your snowy post. I would love a little white fluff before the winter is over. 😀 Happy New Year to you and have a wonderful week. ❤
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Awh. Nice one. 🙂
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Thanks, Betsy. Even ghosts can find love. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the story. Have a fantastic week!
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This is excellent. Thank you.
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Thanks so much for reading and for the kind comment. I love writing for prompts, especially photos and images. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 😀
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[…] https://mythsofthemirror.com/2019/01/13/the-chapel-writephoto/ […]
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Thank you for the nomination, Laura. 🙂
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Absolutely beautiful!
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Thank you, Basilike. It was an enticing prompt and I couldn’t resist a go at it. Thanks for making me smile! Happy Writing!
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More like the prompt couldn’t resist you! Happy writing!
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Beautiful writing, Diana, and beautifully descriptive. And a great ending!
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Thank you, Steven. I’m going to try to pop a few of my own posts in here between all the responses to the prompt. I’m so glad you enjoyed this – means so much to me. Happy Writing, my friend. ❤
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You’re so welcome. 🙂
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Wonderful little ghostly love story 😊
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Thanks, Nick. The muse insisted. Ha ha. Have a great week and Happy Writing!
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Breathtaking! The ending first gave me chills but then it warmed my heart. A beautiful love story!
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You’re so kind, Lyn. Thanks you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed it. My ghosts are very happy. 😀 ❤
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I absolutely love this.
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Thank you so much for the visit and the comment. I had fun with this one, and I’m glad you enjoyed it! ❤ Have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead.
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thank you so much for sharing, Anita and Jaye Marie. I loved this prompt and couldn’t resist putting my pen to paper. Have a wonderful Sunday and Happy Writing!
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You too, Diana…
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Okay, wow! The descriptions are so visual, I felt like I was in that courtyard with Daphne and William- a voyeur to their meeting.
Beautiful, Diana ❤
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Thank you, Jacquie. I don’t think of myself as a romantic writer, but sometimes the old muse wants to go there, and who am I to argue! Ha ha. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the story. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Thank you, Diana … this piece just brought peace to my day – Eric.
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What a lovely comment, Eric. Thanks so much for visiting, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the little story. Someday I’ll head across the sea to see these places and commune with the ghosts myself. 🙂 Happy Writing.
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I didn’t expect the ending to be so emotive Diana. You amazed me with it and added so much charm to it! A red rose must have inspired it. 🙂
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Thank you, Balroop. The photo was so romantic but also poignant for me. My muse took a little detour in the middle, but came home at the end. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Have a lovely week, my friend. ❤
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I just came in from clearing 8 inches of snow (still falling) from my car, and stuck my frosty toes under an electric throw. But I don’t think that is what gave me a chill when I reached the end of this. Diana… it took my breath away. A lovely, enchanting story, and so beautifully told. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. I so appreciate your kind comment. ❤ Eight inches of snow and still coming?? I miss snow, but not that much! We're going to reach 60 today in NW Oregon. It's been a weird winter. Stay warm, my friend, and be careful while shoveling. ❤
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Wow, a lovely day! Excellent.
My back was already bothering me from relocation preparation. So I won’t be doing any actual shoveling. However if I didn’t get the car cleaned off before it froze, it would have been more than I could handle. (Made that mistake once before.) I’m looking forward to next winter in NM where the snow will melt super fast. ❤
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Superbly done, Diana…
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Thank you, Bette. I have lots of responses to my photo prompt to reblog, but took a bit of time to respond to Sue’s beautiful prompt. Thanks so much for the visit and stay warm!
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Wow. What a beautiful and evocative story!
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You are so sweet, Brad. Thank you for the lovely comment. The story wrote itself after the muse got a look at the prompt. 😀 Have a wonderful week, my friend. ❤
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I love when that happens. Photos sometimes serve as my muse for writing poetry.
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Beautiful piece, Diana!
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Thank you, Jill. The prompt was so intriguing that I had to give it a go. I hope you’re well and enjoying yourself. You’ve been unplugged for a while, so I just wanted you to know that I’ve been thinking of you. ❤
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Aw…that’s sweet, Diana. It’s been a crazy time with getting my parents downsized and trying to keep up with the day job and writing. I’m guest posting on Wednesday at Southern Writers, so I’ll have a link up. Thanks for thinking of me. ❤
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I’m going to be moving my parents soonish too (as soon as something opens up nearby), so I can imagine the time and work. I’m glad you’re well. 🙂
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Thanks, Diana. My parents were on a waiting list for over a year. My father decided he couldn’t wait any longer and they’ve gone to a new continuing care that has yet to build the memory care facility…that will be at least 2 years. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to continue to care for my mother until that time. It has been a lot of work, but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel…I think! 🙂
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Our delay is that my parents refuse to move without their 3 cats.
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🙂
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Ahh… Sigh. ❤ Mmm. I love the happy ending.
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Thanks, Mary. A happy ending despite being dead. Ha ha. Who says that love doesn’t survive our physical selves? Not me. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. 😀 ❤
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Hmm. Maybe she time-traveled? Haha.
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Areally lovely tale, Diana… and you capture the feeling of the land so well too.
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Thanks so much for sharing, Sue. That was fast! And thank you for the compliment. I’ve read so many of your posts about these places, that my imagination has little trouble visiting. I can’t wait to “feel” them in person. ❤
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Well,if you get over here any time, I do hope you’ll let me take you to at least one of the sites 🙂
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I’m not a city girl, so my plan would be to wander the lonelier places and enjoy the history. 🙂
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I am a city girl by birth, but a rural lass by choice… I prefer the wild places. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo.
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So beautifully written Diana – I do love a little romance with my morning coffee 🙂
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Thank you, Pauline. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m trying to add a post or two of my own, between the prompt responses, and the Sue’s photo was irresistible. Have a wonderful week, my friend. ❤
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Love It! Very beautiful
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Thank you, so much for the visit and the kind comment. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the read. Have a glorious day and week ahead. 🙂
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A Most Lovely Piece! ♥
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Thanks so much for the comment, Billy Ray. The prompt was so inspiring that I had to give it a go. Have a wonderful Sunday. 😀
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♥
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You don’t usually write romantic things, Diana – (or do you!?!) – but this was so gentle and beautiful and haunting. The very best, most subtle kind! 🙂
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Maybe I do. Ha ha. I have no idea what I write, Lenora. It just spills out the way it wants too – part of the fun of writing. I’m delighted that you enjoyed this. ❤
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Exactly – that is part of the fun of writing! 😀
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This was a pleasure to read. Love it.
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Thank you, Carol. Clearly, it needed one more proofread, but fixed now. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I usually don’t write anything so romantic, but the prompt took me right there. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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I didn’t even notice. I’m terrible for missing typos though.
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I proofread until I’m cross-eyed, and they still sneak in. Lol.
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Same
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Gentle and savory, Diana! 🤗
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Thank you, Jordy. (And the typo is fixed now 🙂 ) Sue’s prompt was beautiful and I couldn’t resist. Happy Writing!
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I have a lot to write today, am working on yours right now!! Quiet writing Sunday!! 💗
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I can’t wait to read it! I know it’s going to be gorgeous like everything you write. ❤
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Ah thank you, Diana!!💗
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🛣
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Thanks for the visit!
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🙏🏽
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