Lizzie Koch Week 148: Checkmate

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Lizzie Koch’s Picture Choice: 2

Title: Checkmate

George took his usual seat at the table and surveyed the chess board. It was as he and Ava had left it two weeks ago. She was winning (as usual) and claimed to be only five moves away from a ‘checkmate’. He focused, his fingers clasping his only rook.

“You really don’t want to do that do you?” He looked across the table into Ava’s watery blue eyes then back to the board. Of course he didn’t. She was right . . . again. “I didn’t think so. I can still checkmate in five.” He looked to her again. Her smile was warm, her silver bobbed hair shone in the summer sun, framing her face. He moved his knight instead and her smile was replaced by a frown of intense concentration. “Mmm, I didn’t expect that.” George grinned. Foxing Ava didn’t happen often. He might actually win the game. She moved her queen, checking his king and taking his rook.

As the light dimmed, George, stared at the board. She was right. He was one move away from her convincing win. How did she do it?

“Hey, Dad, don’t you think you should come in now?” Dan said softly. “You’ve been out here alone for a while now. There’s some of Ava’s friends here who would love to talk with you.”

“I miss her.”

“I know you do. We all miss her. Come on.” he placed a gentle arm round his fragile shoulders. “Who were you talking to anyway?”

“Ava. She never liked unfinished games. We were trying to finish it. She would’ve won again, you know.” George stood, the bones in his arthritic knees clicking loudly. He still had his fingers clasped around the rook. Letting go, he shuffled back inside as a gust of wind swirled around, knocking over his king.

Checkmate.

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I dream of sharing my work with the big wide world one day as a published author. Right now, I share flash fiction with a wonderful community of writers and friends. If you liked this story, then why not visit my blog at http://40somethingundomesticateddevil.blogspot.co.uk/ for more. Thank you. Love Lizzie x

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