If anyone else had taken a moment to look around, they would have seen only a dirty rooftop. But for Jimmy and Oscar, it had been sanctuary. The streets had spit them out and each had found his way here. Two mighty kings surveying the landscape of their realm.
Jimmy had only left his abusive home a year ago, while Oscar was a veteran from another age. Their friendship smoothed the rough edges that life can cause. The day Jimmy found Oscar’s body on the rooftop, cold and stiff from the frigid night was the day he left Sanctuary forever.
Word Count: 100
[This is my entry into this weeks Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Use the photo prompt to create a short story in 100 words or less.]
~V
The Well of Fiction 
Dear Chris,
A poignant rooftop tale. I hope Jimmy went onto a better life. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. 🙂
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A truly wonderful and powerful tale. So sad.
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A novel in 100 words. Excellent!
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Thanks. I hated to cut this story short so I’m already expanding it. Might publish it later on. Glad you liked it. 🙂
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So topical at present, places of sanctuary are getting much rarer these days.
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Poor Oscar.
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Very poignant. And very nicely told.
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Such a sad snippet of a life — to find someone who smooths over those rough edges (love that line) and then to lose them like that. I can see how the roof could no longer be his sanctuary.
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Thank you Joy.
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Very sad. They have a home, a sanctuary with each other but that ends when Jimmy finds Oscar’s frozen body. Grim and heart breaking, it wasn’t enough of a sanctuary to keep Oscar warm. Great write!
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Well done. It sounds like they had a special friendship and both are at peace now. So sad, though.
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Thank you!
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Sad tale, the coldness comes through and makes you shiver
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Thank you.
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Oscar survived long enough to pass on his experience of street life to Jimmy. Very sad at the end, I wonder where Jimmy will go now?
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I’ve been wondering that myself. I’ve been working on expanding the story and I’m thinking Jimmy may leave the city altogether.
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Friendships can happen in the oddest of situations between the most different people. What a great story for this pic. Well done.
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Thank you very much. I’m glad you liked it. I appreciate the comment. 🙂
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Great story. Well written. The last sentence seems to be missing something or maybe I’m just reading it wrong?? I figured it out, never mind. Was just missing the second comma:)
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Ah, thank you for that. Glad you liked it.
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Well done. Excellent story about two outcasts finding fellowship and exactly 100 words too!
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Thank you. I realized there was much more to tell about these two but This is all I could fit into the word limit. Glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
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Very sad. I hope Jimmy finds a new sanctuary, and a better life. Not easy after losing such a close friend. Good story.
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A nice tale of true friendship among terrible circumstances. Has a Midnight Cowboy feel to me.
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Ah, what a great movie. Wasn’t thinking of that, but I’ll certainly take the compliment. Thank you.
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Really sad but realistic and well done, Chris. —– Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne.
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