First Campaign Challenge

Rachael has posted the First Campaigner Challenge for this round.  The details:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

• end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

• include the word "orange" in the story

• write in the same genre you normally write

• make your story 200 words exactly!

So here goes:

Shadows crept across the wall.  That’s how Amery marked the time that endless day – by how the sun streamed into the room through the vast, open windows, how the shadows changed and shifted.  Her history textbook lay open in her lap, but she couldn’t concentrate, she didn’t care.  She threw the book aside.  What difference did any of it make now?  It was her own history that mattered, only that, hers and Ty’s.  Especially Ty’s. She couldn’t change what had happened.  She would, in a heartbeat.

Ty’s mom appeared, leaned into the doorframe.  Exhausted.  Defeated.  He’s asking for you, she said in a whisper.  Amery’s stomach clenched.  What was his mother thinking?  That Amery shouldn’t be here, that Ty should be with his family now, Amery was certain.  But as she walked past, Ty’s mom put her hand on Amery’s shoulder. Amery looked up into deep blue eyes so like Ty’s and saw an ocean, a world, a whole universe of sadness. 

 He doesn’t look the same, she said in that same hoarse whisper.  But that doesn’t change how much he loves you.

Amery walked down the cold, bleak hallway to Ty’s hospital room, stepped inside.  Everything changed.  Everything faded.

(200 words).

Thanks for reading!  Check out the entries from other campaigners here.