Exceptional He groaned .... It's really happening! by Wendy G      The Door Slammed Contest Winner

The door slammed, echoing down the long hall. He sagged, just for a moment, a little overcome. This was it. It was really happening! He was shut in. They all were. For how long? He knew the door could not be opened from the inside. Just for a moment, he hesitated. Then he stood up straight, and slowly walked back to the others, waiting at the far end of the hall. “We’ll be fine,” he declared, but I am just sorry …” “Stop! You did all you could,” his wife answered, “and at least we’re all together ….” He leaned back against the wall for a minute, remembering the jibes, the jeering, the taunting, over the last few months. And it wasn’t just him they mocked and ridiculed; he knew that, but his heart was heavy. Waves of sorrow almost overcame him. These next days would not be easy. He knew his neighbour’s son was getting married; all the festivities were being planned and finalised. Other friends were having parties, weekend gatherings and family celebrations. Plenty of food, and plenty of drink. More than enough. As always, they would get drunk. They always did, which led to violence and abuse. Often, unpleasantness would follow. Not really his scene. But now, because of the decision he had made, he and his family would not be around. He had tried to explain what was happening in his life, but no-one would listen. They weren't really interested. They simply thought he was going crazy. Although he felt like a bit of an outsider, he was still invited to everything, and strongly encouraged to join in, urged to be one of them.  He heard raindrops, gentle rain, then it increased in volume and intensity. He looked at his wife. “Do you think …?” she started to ask. “Yes, I do … and it’s too late now!” he replied. Above the noise of the rain, he heard shouts from outside, but was helpless to do anything. He was locked away. They all were. The chain of events had started. Day after day the rain continued, never abating in its intensity. He knew the rivers would be rising and springs of water would be gushing everywhere. The shouts became terrified screams. The imprisoned man could do nothing, nothing at all. Gradually the sounds from outside abated. He wept at the silence. His neighbour’s son would not be getting married. The parties, gatherings and celebrations the others were planning would not be happening. Despite their insults to him, he still cared about them. “Eat, drink, and be merry,” whispered the man to himself, “but they forgot the last part of the saying …” “Live for today, live in the moment .... that's what they kept saying to me, but look at what's happened!” he groaned, filled with awareness and horror. He turned back to his wife and family. “If only they hadn’t ignored what I was saying, if only they had not just assumed I was crazy, if only they’d listened, instead of mocking! It wasn’t just me they were ridiculing ….” “You did the right thing! You tried to warn them. But we still have each other, and the family too!” she reminded him. He and his family continued to feed the animals who’d come to him; they too were locked inside this strange place. The rain continued steadily, for almost six weeks, day and night.  He waited patiently, knowing that when the time was right, the door would be opened from the outside … and there would be a new beginning. Writing Prompt Write a story that starts with this sentence: The door slammed, echoing down the long hall. Don't add to the sentence. The catch is this must be flash fiction. So the story should be between 100 and 1,000 words. The Door Slammed Contest Winner

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