Platform-Building Campaign - Challenge One

The first challenge for the current campaign is underway.  The challenge this time:

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!

Here is my take on this challenge; which does indeed meet all of the above criteria:

The First Day

Shadows crept across the wall as Lila blinked her eyes and attempted to recognize her unfamiliar surroundings.  The combined sounds of a crashing wave and deep breathing to her left calmed her and brought everything into mental focus.

She was on the island.  Well, she corrected, as the man beside her shifted and settled again, they were on the island.  They’d flown in late last night and driven straight to the hotel.  They’d gone for a walk on the beach but it had been too dark to properly take in their destination.  Now, too excited to stay in bed, she got up and went out onto the balcony.

“Oh wow,” she whispered reverently.  The early morning sky was filled with dark blue, a bit of purple and the edge of orange as the sun made its ascent onto the horizon.  Lila heard the soft glide of the glass door and turned to smile at the sleepy, black haired man stepping outside with her.  “Good morning.”

“Wife,” he said grumpily even as he smiled at his own use of her new title.

“Husband,” she tossed back with a laugh.  He pulled her in for a tender kiss and everything faded.