50 Word Thursday #76 – A Secret from the Past

And the words:

“Sometimes, it’s not your secret to tell.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday Challenge. Click on the link below to take part, you have until Wednesday to post your own story.

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/50-word-thursday-76/

 

I grew up on the coast but it wasn’t a popular stretch of beach, the weather was far too changeable. The waves were too rough for swimming. Sometimes a group of surfers would come and use the beach, but mostly it was just dog walkers who trod that lonely stretch of sand.

It was commonly said that the beach was haunted. Everyone in that part of the world knew the tale of a woman found strangled on the beach but how her ghost still walked the shore on quiet nights calling out the name of her lover. It had been nearly a hundred years ago, but still, that legend haunted me. I felt some strange connection to the story, possibly because the name the people heard her call out was the same name given to me at birth, Lawrence.

It was my Uncle who gave me the opportunity to explore the past. He was a mad scientist who had discovered the secret of time travel, although you could only go backward through time never forward.

Sending me back to find out what had happened to that woman murdered on the beach had seemed the only way to stop thinking about it.

However, I found out more than I could cope with.

I could never share what I had discovered, sometimes it’s not your secret to tell, but it had been my fault. It was me who was responsible for that woman’s death and why her ghost called out my name.

[250 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/backward-2/

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/your-daily-word-prompt-responsible-ydwordprompt-June-12-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/rdp-friday-uncle/