“U.S. Marshalls gunned down the poet turned America’s most wanted in this very bar.” The tour guide knocked on the wood of the pool table. “Some say his ghost still lingers.”
GG squeezed Rick’s hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her closer, kissed her right temple. “There’s no such thing as ghosts,” he whispered.
“Why were they chasing him?” one of the tourists asked.
“Kidnapping and rape,” the tour guide answered. “She was only thirteen.”
“I heard he married her.” Rick lifted GG’s chin, winked at her.
“That’s disgusting,” a woman standing behind him spat out.
“Edgar Allen Poe married his thirteen-year-old cousin. Was madly in love with her.” Rick bent down, kissed the top of GG’s ear. She purred under his touch, turned her head to the side, extending her neck.
“Poe was a creep too,” the woman muttered.
Rick dug his nails into GG’s hip, leaving pale crescent moons in her skin.
GG squeaked.
“Apologies.” He took her hand, guided her to the back of the bar where they disappeared.
word count: 175
—Nortina
Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a weekly challenge where you write a story in 75-175 using the provided photo prompt as inspiration. Click the froggy icon to read other stories inspired by the photo and add your own.
Lovely Curses 
Things have changed a lot since Poe’s day. Thank goodness!
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Yes! One less thing I’ll have to worry about when raising my future daughter. Whew!
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It does pose the question of what was appropriate back in the days when life expectancy was half of what it is now. A clever and thought-provoking story – well done, Nortina!
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Exactly. If you die at 30, it would make sense to marry at 13…
Thanks for reading!
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GG and Rick are in their own world. It is creepy to marry a 13 year old. However, I know even in the 1800’s people didn’t live long especially if they struggled for survival. So, many brides were too young. Great story.
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It’s so disturbing to imagine a 13-year-old marrying a grown man, but you’re right, that was very common back then. Plus, if a girl can get pregnant at 13, it would only make since that she’s old enough to marry too…. It’s still creepy though. Haha!
Thanks for reading!
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Yep it is 🙂
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Yeah, I wondered if they were ghosts, too. Or if GG was maybe a bit too young for Rick… I like a story that leaves me wondering 🙂
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Thanks! 😀 I would say that GG is much younger than Rick. Now, are they the ghosts of the poet and the kidnapped child bride? That’s up for interpretation. This story kind of wrote itself. 🙂
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It’s great when that happens 🙂
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Nice. I like how they seem to be somewhat oblivious to the tour around them.
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They’re definitely in their own “world.” 😉
Thanks for reading!
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Your tale is ways more creepy.
Ghosts listening in to tourists who judge their life story.
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Oh, the irony of it all! 😉
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Great story, enjoyed reading! I thought the same as summerstommy2, that maybe Rick and GG were the ghosts hehe
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Not initially, but it turned out that way. They kind of wrote themselves 😉
Thanks for reading!
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I found this tale fascinating Nortina, so well done though I was trying to figure out if Rick and GG were the ghosts…….
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I must admit, when I wrote this, I had no idea where the story was going. It was only until I’d reached the end that I thought it’d be cool if Rick and GG were ghosts eavesdropping on the tour. 😉
Thanks for reading!
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GG and Rick were having their own little tour. LOL! I think it is creepy to marry a 13 year old (they are still a baby). Great story Nortina!
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Even though a girl can technically get pregnant at 13 & thus is old enough to marry (way back when), it is incredibly creepy!
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Yes! It is.
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