The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Honeysuckle
by Kathleen McCluskey

Maria walked along the carpeted hallway. She ran her fingers along the oak banister. Her magnificent home was once the most luxurious home in all of New Orleans, now its former glory was replaced with the sound of doctors and patients in agony. The tuberculosis clinic ran on state funding. Her beautiful home now smelled of urine and death.

She continued to walk, hearing the tormented blubbering made her want to walk down the stairs faster this time, maybe she would succeed in escaping. She stood at the top of the large staircase as doctors, nurses and patients brushed passed her. She knew she had to wait until the time was right to bolt down the stairs and into the sunlight. Maria wanted freedom, she wanted peace. It felt like an eternity since she was able to feel the sun on her face. She looked around. The staff was busy and now was her time to move. She took a step down, the soft carpeting was rough on her feet. She stepped again, again. Finding herself standing on the first landing she looked out the window. She looked around and there was not another in sight. She leaned forward to see a better view of the honeysuckle tree that was in the yard. She desperately wanted to see it. She stepped up onto the ledge and pushed the window open, she took a deep breath of fresh air and began to fall. She didn’t see the tree, all she saw was rushing concrete coming at her face. The sound of her neck snapping was deafening.

She felt as though she was floating. Floating in darkness. Her vision quickly came back when she felt her feet touch a carpeted floor. She raised her head and saw the carpeted hallway, the tormented wails began and she knew, her suicide was to be relived for the ages.

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!