Photo Copyright: Al Forbes
This story was written for Sunday Photo Fiction–November 27th, 2016. Each week the host, Al Forbes, provides a picture prompt. The challenge for each member of the group is to write an original story or poem with no more than 200 words, not counting the title and inspired by the prompt.
To read the other stories written by group members, just click on the link below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box.
The link to the other stories this week is as follows:
https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2016/11/27/sunday-photo-fiction-november-27th-2016/
Genre: Crime Fiction
Word Count: 200 Words
FOUND GUILTY by P.S. Joshi
Jack stood at the window and gazed out at the city almost hidden by the dusk. Any moment now the police would arrive to arrest him.
He was guilty and knew it even if the dead man was the one who did the damage. He wrecked Jack’s marriage.
Margaret wasn’t to blame. She was lonely because he was gone so much. He thought his job was keeping them together not building a wall between them.
When he’d walked in and found them together in bed he went wild. He’d grabbed the Glock from the dresser drawer, clicked off the safety, and started shooting. He was a practiced shot spending hours at the indoor firing range. It should have been a thief he’d shoot one day.
It a way, the dirty stinker was a thief.
Now he was waiting for the police to find him. He had plenty of time to think. He had nothing else–no wife, no job, no future, no hope. He was his own worst enemy.
What do you do to an enemy? He heard a knock at the door and pictured death or life imprisonment.
The maid holding clean towels heard a shot in the room.
Musings on Life & Experience 
Great last line! Maybe he had time to do a runner after all.
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Thanks, Ali. It could have been possible if he didn’t actually commit suicide. That ending is kind of open. I’m pleased you liked the story. —- Suzanne
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A very good story told in such a compact way.
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Thanks, Bernadette. I’m so pleased you liked the story so much. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Excellent piece, Suzanne, high powered tale told in a matter-of-fact way.
Good writing.
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Thanks, C.E. That’s a great comment. I appreciate it a lot coming from such a skilled writer as yourself. A “matter-of-fact way” seems to be my style in most of my writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Well told story Suzanne. Double Murder suicide, it happens in life too often. I don’t think Jack realizes everyone is at fault in this. The guy she had an affair with, Margaret herself, and Jack, who if he was a practiced shooter, should also know, when to shoot and when not to. He ruined his own life. Too bad he won’t face the consequences on earth.
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Thanks, Mandi. I’m pleased you liked the story. I didn’t see him shooting his wife, just the other man. While accusing the other man, he’s also accusing himself. That’s what the title is referring to. He found himself guilty and an enemy to himself. He no doubt knew he shouldn’t kill but his anger took over. He now has regrets and is suffering depression. He was his own worst enemy. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh I see now. Thank you 🙂
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Great ending. I only he had held on a bit longer, but I guess he got the ending he deserved.
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Thanks, Iain. I’m pleased you liked the story so much, especially the ending. He was in deep regret and depression so his own worst enemy. It would have probably been judged manslaughter as it wasn’t a planned killing of the other man. He would have gone to jail though and his marriage, reputation, and career would have been finished. —- Suzanne
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Oh oh. Might ruin the maid’s whole day. Good one Suzanne.
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Thanks, John. Yes, a sight like that would ruin that day and many to come. I’m especially pleased you liked the story as you write thrillers. It’s a bit of a different genre for me but I like to experiment. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You did well. 🙂
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An intense one, Suzanne. Yikes. Great story 🙂
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Thanks, Diana. I’m pleased you liked the story so much and I succeeded in making it intense. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Good story Suzanne. I think that will be in the maid’s memory forever. I think I may have had the same reaction if I had found my wife in bed with someone else. Thankfully I was divorced before I found out about her infidelity lol
No wife, no future, no job, no hope. That says it all. I guess he didn’t want to spend time without them.
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Thanks, Al. I’m pleased you liked the story so much. It was a bit of a different genre for me but I liked the change. I’ve been around depression and suffered mild depression. You are your own worst enemy. I’ve known of suicides in our family and it’s extremely tragic. We’re all glad you’re not behind bars. We sometimes surprise ourselves in our reactions. —- Suzanne
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Having suffered from depression myself, I can wholeheartedly agree with you. The problem with depression, is that once it has had a grip, it never fully lets go.
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Wow Suzanne – this was a bit unexpected one from you 🙂 But I enjoyed it and I think he took the best way out.
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Thanks, Dahlia. I know it was a change of genre for me. I like to experiment. I wasn’t favoring suicide which to me is always sad and often leaves families devastated. I do understand some people in depression think it’s best because they’re hurting so much. Someone in deep depression should never be left alone. I’m pleased you liked the story. —- Suzanne
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🙂
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Excellent. I liked the succintness.
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Thanks, Sascha. I’m pleased you liked the story and the style I used. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Sad twist at the end Suzanne.
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Thanks, Dawn. I know. It’s not my usual type of story and ending but I thought I’d try something different. I’m pleased you like the story. —- Suzanne
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