Agenda

Written in response to https://fivedotoh.com/2023/08/08/fandangos-story-starter-109/

The young woman was sitting on a tree stump at the edge of the river when she noticed something strange in the water. It sparkled like the sun had an agenda of its own. She wasn’t sure what to do, but curiosity got the better of her. A bracelet, with charms. That wasn’t all, the body that went with it caused her heart to stop in its tracks.

There was nobody about to hear her scream.

Her dad always said, there was nothing to be afraid of, especially if the body had no life to it. The police, that’s who she needed to call. Huddled on the bank, she dialled 999, as the body, dressed in yellow shorts and t-shirt got stuck in the reeds.

‘Hello, there is a body, in the river, it is not moving,’ she said.

What a strange way to describe what was in front of her – once a living, breathing, human being, now resorted to nothing more than rotting flesh. What brought you here? Who killed you? She stepped back, not wanting her DNA on her body. The person responsible needed to be caught.

A nearby dog walker, watching. Was she imagining the stillness? He stood, like a guard at London, not moving. Now he moved towards her. As loud as she could, the conversation, could keep her safe.

At least for now.