Sonya stood outside, looking down the stairs at the Christmas decoration hanging by the sidewalk. Her boyfriend, Brent, had hung it up for her. Ex-boyfriend, she corrected herself mentally. He had decided to break up after six months and he took his things from the apartment and left. It was for the best. He was too jealous. Sonya liked to flirt, Brent had liked this about her. He blew up when he saw her on Rudy’s lap. It was all just for fun, didn’t he get it? Now she needed to find someone tall enough to take this decoration down.

PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

In this week’s photo we’re on a landing looking down a flight of stairs between two brick walls. At the bottom of the steps is a sidewalk, a street and beyond that a parking lot with cars. It’s snowing and between the walls an evergreen Christmas oranamet topped with snow.

Copyright ©2026 Lisa Paul. All rights reserved.

Written in response to Friday Fictioneers, where we are challenged to write a complete 100 word story using the photo prompt.

6 February 2026