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find me here. I’m trapped in a maze. Every turn, every path takes me to the center, where memory, like a ghost haunts me.
There’s a swinging bench by an old stone well. I hold one last quarter in my hand. The tinkle of bells rides like a hunter on a whispering breeze.
Time stands still while I pause, hand outstretched. Then, I let the coin fall.
I wish for you to
…
Thanks Rochelle for sharing this picture as a prompt this week.
Author’s note:
This picture is from Chelsea Market in New York City, which had this maze-like feel to me, the low ceilings, narrow doors and the walls. So much fun to walk through. Also, I started reading Piranesi by Susannah Clark, a trippy book about a house/maze. It’s one of three books I have in rotation, including Alex Trebek’s memoir “The Answer Is…”, and a trilogy by this guy named Iain, who also writes Friday Fictioneers stories and will probably read this eventually.
In trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, we often link memories to certain events. In aversion therapy, you revisit the event over and over to put something good/neutral there, so your mind is no longer hyper-aware of the traumatic event. By linking something positive to a certain place/image, every time I see it, I reinforce the good experience. I can for example remember being in New York City a little over a year ago before the world shut down.
This memory helps me to remember that we will be able to travel freely again. This helps me to be a better person here and now.
It can be a good thing to keep a memory alive, by keeping it alive, by keeping it alive. After a while, it starts to feel like home. A home that lets you go other places too. ❤
Anne Higa 
I’m an absolute sucker for mazes. They form such a powerful metaphor. I liked the way you linked the trappedness to the hope of company
A ha – good to have an explanation of the photo! A very evocative memory, I can see how that would help, we’ve all needed to find something to cling onto for the last year.
THe picture reminded me of the old water works in London. I love your story.
A good story and explanation at the end. I think that’s something we all need. Remember that there was and will be a different way of life.
Hari OM
I saw the image over at Iain’s blog and was intrigued by it. Love the stone carving and the lure of the bucket. Yes, reinforcing positive images and memories, surely helps to build hope for the future. YAM xx
The story does a pretty good job with the city maze. Thanks for the explanation, but I’m still not 100% sure what is going on in the photo.
Hopefully we will be able to freely travel again very soon 🙂
I wish too.
Thanks for contributing the picture. It’s certainly taken us in all kinds of directions!
I like the clever circular nature of this. Trapped forever…
Thank you for the prompt picture. And I like the way you used it youself. Clever take Anne.
Great story Anne! Loved it! Thanks for an awesome picture, too. I imagined it was some kind of museum display like the one about the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Wright Patterson AirForce Museum in Dayton, Ohio, USA. It had that feel. New York City… don’t care to go. I fear that all I would be able to see is memories of “that” day.
I love the wrap-around. I thought it was a typo until the end. Very clever.
Very clever use of the circular! Piranesi just became available from my library holds so it looks like I’ll be doing a little maze reading shortly.
Oh lovely!
I love a good maze in a story. And a wishing well too!
it looks like i made a mistake in interpreting the picture. i thought it was a subway station with people in line waiting for the train. oh well. 🙂
I remember when you first posted this but I couldn’t remember what you said about it. I’m glad it reminds you of a happier time. I like the story and the lucky also.
My “M” Jethro Tull song is here:
Interesting snippet.
Ronel visiting for the A-Z Challenge with an A-Z of Faerie: The Raven Faery: Morrígan
Thanks for the great photo prompt this week, Anne.
The brain is such a complicated organ. Loved your explanation.
Have a great weekend … Isadora 😎
Clever, stylish writing. I enjoyed it.
I guess you’re doing the A-Z April challenge! I did the same for a few years – don’t hink I could repeat it now, so well done!
Dear Anne,
Thank you for the intriguing picture. It’s been a while since we’ve had a prompt that’s taken us in so many different directions. 😀 Loved your piece which put me right in the midst of the maze.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Anne, for the interesting photo with so many possibilities for stories. I’m not a fan of mazes, but I enjoyed what you did with your story along with the wishing well and the hope you conveyed of being free again soon. Take care!
‘The tinkle of bells rides like a hunter on a whispering breeze.’ What a wonderful sentence. I loved your story. Mazes terrify me though! Thank you for the photo too.
Thank you for your fascinating picture. It’s been a great week for a wide variety of stories! Lover your story.
Maybe one day when we can travel again I’ll find my way to this market. Thanks for providing the prompt this week and the amazing (pun intended) story.