Lissa Bilyk

Seven Virtues Flash Fiction Challenge: Day Seven: Humility

Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Repentance: The Seven Virtues flash fiction challenge.

The premise of the challenge is as follows:
Seven Days
Seven Virtues
Seven Flash Fictions up to 100 words
Starting August 7.
I cannot refuse this Disney themed Seven Virtues artwork from http://pat7.deviantart.com.

The Seven Virtues are not as easily defined as the Seven Deadly Sins. Each virtue has a host of different meanings. So with my Seven Virtues, I’ll be defining which particular aspect of that Virtue I’m following.

Today is Humility: Modesty, selflessness, respect.

“But this is…”

“Yes. I want you to have it.”

“Thank you, Heathcliff. This means so much to me.”

My heart broke. There was no way I could ever take away another man’s wife. I respected her decision too much, even if I did not respect him.

Of course, I could not stand by and simply be her beloved friend, either. I would have to leave as well. I would make my fortune, then return a respected gentleman with a wife of my own. Only then could I bear to be in the same room as her.

I loved her.

Seven Virtues Flash Fiction Challenge: Day Six: Kindness

Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Repentance: The Seven Virtues flash fiction challenge.

Today is Kindness: Unselfish love, compassion, friendship.

She tugged at my vest again. I shook my head.

“Do not look so dour,” she protested. “My wedding day is nearly here. I command you to be happy for me.”

I forced a smile to my face but it did not spread to my eyes. She frowned at me and I grasped at the closest thing that would wipe that frown off her face and bring back that soul-quenching smile. My fingers closed around my grandmother’s wedding ring in my pocket. I pulled it out. I had originally intended it for her; why not give it to her anyway?

To be continued…

Seven Virtues Flash Fiction Challenge: Day Five: Patience

Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Repentance: The Seven Virtues flash fiction challenge.

Today is Patience: Forbearance and endurance through moderation.

Perhaps if I were to wait for her, she could once more be mine. I could outlive anyone on the strength of my love for her. My love would drive me to live beyond my own natural years, in an effort to once more stand by her side. If I could outlive her suitor, I could once more claim her. She would come to me willingly, if I had the ability. If I could bear watching them together. If it was a sure thing, I would wait forever. I had faith in her. It was him I wasn’t so sure about.

To be continued…

Seven Virtues Flash Fiction Challenge: Day Four: Diligence

Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Repentance: The Seven Virtues flash fiction challenge.

Today is Diligence: Unobserved convictions, integrity.

We could elope. No one would ever know. No one was watching. It could be our secret. But I knew it was not the right thing to do. I couldn’t take her away from the life she had grown to love – and thrived in – however much it hurt me. She wouldn’t leave the man she was engaged to. It wasn’t his wealth, or his comfort that kept her there. It was her duty. As it my own duty to keep her there as well. If she knew of my desires, she would come back to me in a heart beat.

To be continued…

Seven Virtues Flash Fiction Challenge: Day Three: Charity

Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Repentance: The Seven Virtues flash fiction challenge.

Today is Charity: Generous self-sacrifice.

With a sigh, I rolled off her. She grabbed at my vest, laughing. I disentangled her hands and helped her to her feet. She threw herself at me again and I wrapped my arms around her. I kissed her on that perfect, sloping forehead.

She no longer belonged to me, but to someone else. I didn’t want to, but I had to give her up. She wasn’t for me any more.

“Stay with me,” she pleaded, not realising that the best I could do was let her go. It killed me inside, to watch her go off with another man.

To be continued…