FF – The Final Sacrifice
Here’s my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. I’m a bit earlier than usual as I have a day off today! The photo was supplied by Marie Gail Stratford.
To read this week’s other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Marie Gail Stratford
The city looked so beautiful, so peaceful from up on the ledge. Harry watched the people, ant-like, scurrying around, busy with their own lives. He felt strangely disconnected.
He had lost the house trying to prop up his failing law firm, the last straw for his long-suffering wife. She’d left with the kids. He had nothing left.
Hearing his law partner approach, pleading with him to come back off the ledge, he shook his head sadly.
“Here’s what you do. This roof has easy access, no locked door and no safety rail. Sue the owners. Save the firm.”
He jumped.
Speak to me - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Click for a random post!
Woohoo!
I totally didn't win!
Share Your World
Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
Dear Ali,
Lawyers always have an angle, don’t they? Sad story. Well done although I was hoping he’d change his mind.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
Me too, but his lawyer’s mind saw only one solution.
Thanks,
Ali
LikeLike
Good story, Ali. I was also hoping he wouldn’t jump. This was tragic but also realistic. I guess at that point he was so depressed his partner’s advice didn’t get through to him. Well written. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
He saw a way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Thanks!
LikeLike
I’m guessing we’re going to get a lot of jumpers this week. I was tempted that way myself but I couldn’t find a way of ending it. 🙂 This is what I like about lawyers, they always have a practical answer for whatever predicament, and they almost all work to their own advantage. Nicely done, And quickly too!
LikeLike
Yes, I almost commented at before my story that I was probably going the same way as many people’s first impression 🙂
His finely-trained legal mind certainly deduced a practical, though tragic, answer.
I still didn’t manage to beat you to the first slot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pragmatic to the last drop of blood. Nicely done, even with that sad ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, that’s lawyers for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That made me chuckle
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
😦
LikeLike
I agree 😦
LikeLike
Did she succeed? Sadly his where the actions of a desperate man.
LikeLike
Who knows if the partner successfully sued. I expect he did!
Yes, he was a very desperate man.
LikeLike
Oh dear!
Isn’t that too much of a sacrifice.
LikeLike
He didn’t think so, but I guess he wasn’t in his right mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear! So sad! The partner sounded like the typical lawyer.
LikeLike
He’ll save the firm, I’m sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloody nora!
LikeLike
I know!
Your Gravatar correctly echoes your comment 🙂
LikeLike
Lol so it does, I never thought of that before
LikeLike
Well … I guess that decision was a bust on his part, huh? Fun to read story, Ali. What did Shakespeare say … kill all the lawyers? You did it well.
LikeLike
It looks like they’re “taking care” of it themselves! Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
I am positive we’ll have lots of jumpers this week… However, not all of them will have the whole thing planned out to the others’ advantage…
LikeLike
I’ve already read a couple…
That’s lawyers for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep…😉
LikeLike
Uh-uh… was that choosing the easiest way out or the only way out? Too bad it had to end that way. P.S. Are lawyers that heartless?
Great take, Ali!
LikeLike
It was the jumper who spoke (it wasn’t totally clear), so he thought he was doing his partner a favour. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Makes perfect sense in a totally daft way.
LikeLike
To the right sort of mind…
LikeLike
A true lawyer to the dying day. Good ending there.
All my best,
Marie Gail
LikeLike
Yep, he was well trained! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to say, Don.t jump. Too late 😦
LikeLike
Don’t… oh. Hmm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a fellow human being, I weep for his loss. Since he was a lawyer, I’ll get over it. (Oh shame on me for being so callous!) Guess this was a suicide photo prompt. Well done.
LikeLike
Give us a picture of some tall buildings, there’s gonna be jumpers 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL… yeah, hard to pass that up.
LikeLike
Humour in the pathos. Brilliant
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
Yikes. Typical lawyer!
LikeLike
Yep! All planned out…
LikeLike
A lawyer until the very end. Well played.
LikeLike
That was one thing he couldn’t let go of 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kind of sad cause I plan on becoming a lawyer myself, but nice to see we had a similar train of thought- different landings 🙂
Cheers.
LikeLike
Very different 🙂
He had to be a lawyer in my story so he could work out the plan to save the firm, but it could have been anybody really 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s dedication!
LikeLike
As someone who spends a lot of time watching lawyers in court, I just had to smile at how he approached this. Well told 🙂
LikeLike
Always thinking, those lawyers… 🙂
LikeLike
That was really clever and initially I felt sad and then I “got it” and smiled at your cleverness.
😀
LikeLike
Thanks, feel free to feel sad anyway! He was a clever though tortured chap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, he couldn’t come up with any other way. How sad for his family!
LikeLike
It’s all he could think of unfortunately.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope he wasn’t about to win the Publishers Clearinghouse first prize in the next five minutes. Sad and gripping story.
LikeLike
That would be a bit of a bummer!
I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLike
He jumped into the deep…without a tail indeed, but anyway… Double Pawkiss for the day 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Sadly yes 😦
Hope you have a lovely day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Your day off made you cheery Ali 😉
LikeLike
Yeah, I was all smiles and giggles 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad, I hope he left the wife and kids some insurance.
LikeLike
And that there’s not a “suicide” clause…
LikeLiked by 1 person
there is that.
LikeLike
Oh yikes! Tragic and genius tale.
LikeLike
Thanks! Yes, very tragic that he felt that was the only option.
LikeLike
A law firm that can’t stay afloat in a world of outrageous lawsuits will probably not be able to win this case either. Another senseless lawyer death…. oh, wait, there’s no such thing! 😉
LikeLike
No, what are they thinking? Everyone is suing everyone these days, they must just be rubbish 🙂
LikeLike
Sad. It’s just money Dude. Back away from the ledge.
Nicely done Ali.
LikeLike
Yes, I guess he’s got a lot more going on and he hasn’t asked for help, poor chap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so sad. I was surprised that he was so thoughtful, thinking about saving partner and firm… Great story.
LikeLike
I guess it gave him a positive “reason”. Glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the black humour, that’s the best kind 😉
LikeLike
I think so too 🙂
LikeLike
What a scary twist! I didn’t see it coming. Too bad they placed so much importance on the firm! (or weren’t more successful…)
LikeLike
Yes, it’s only money after all.
LikeLike
Smart man – sad that he couldn’t think of simpler solutions to live.
Well done story that brings out the complexity of the lawyer’s pysche.
LikeLike
A lawyer will always go for the most expedient and logical outcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
Sad story, but realistic. Enjoyed.
LikeLike
Thanks, it was a sad story. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLike
We both saw ‘ants’ in the picture. I wonder how many others did too. Good story, well told. I liked the fact that his motives for jumping were clear and calculated – a different take on the suicide story. He wasn’t giving up, he was literally giving everything to save his firm. Neat.
LikeLike
Lawyers always have a reason for what they do I reckon (this reasoning is based on too much TV!), even when they’re this far gone. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sad story. It is a frightening thing when dying seems life’s best option.
LikeLike
It is a very frightening thought. No going back, it’s awful to think of what could drive someone to that place.
LikeLike
It sure is.
LikeLike
a team player right at the end. sad story.
LikeLike
Yes, always thinking of others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh definitely a twist that is interesting …. what an ending. Quite the clincher – and interesting idea in that in the end, last thoughts, even after losing everything, his true love was his work. Ultimate sacrifice or “stupidity”? (I’m not judging – but your story raises the deeper questions.) Good job 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, even though he feels there’s no way on he’s thinking of his law partner. I’ve often wondered at “sacrifice” or “stupidity” myself. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
definitely well done 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, no! I didn’t expect that end. Heartless and yeah, I guess he’s a team player. Oh, so sad, Ali.
LikeLike
Always thinking of others right to the end. A very sad ending though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect “lawyer” persona, brilliant!
LikeLike
Some part of his training still survives in this situation. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person