“Bokeh, Bokeh!”
I still remember my Sensei’s words. He would whack me hard on the head every time I committed a mistake. I remember hating it. It made me very angry. I was training in the art of Kyūdō. I never had any say in it. My family forced me to do it and so I did it. As an inquisitive child, I had asked Sensei what bokeh meant.
“Little one, it means blur.”
“But Sensei, don’t you want me to focus?”
“Yes, I do. One can only truly focus on the target if the rest of the world is blurred. Thus – Bokeh.”
It had sounded like sound wisdom back then. So, I had accepted it without question.
Sensei’s concept of Bokeh trained me well. By the time I was a teenager, I had achieved mastery in Kyūdō . It was time for me to join my family business. Within a month of my joining, I had my first kill. I belonged to a family of assassins. Killing came naturally to me. However, killing with such a skill and precision was unseen even in my family. I never missed my targets. Whether it was a crowded street, a speeding car or quiet office, my targets never escaped. They were the only things I saw. They were the objects in the forefront. The rest was just a blur. However, I had no idea that the concept that was the source of my assassination skills, would serve to undermine me. I found it out the hard way, two years ago.
It was a routine assassination. Of course, no assassination is really a routine – every target, every scenario is different. However, after you have killed as many people as I have, it all feels like a routine. I get information and half the money up front. I study the area and find a good spot. I camp over there and wait for my target. Once the target appears, I take one shot and get away. I get paid in full the following day, and that is the end of business. However, two years ago, not all of these things happened. After I took the shot and saw the target fall to the ground, I knew something was wrong. They were expecting it. They had wanted me to take the shot so that they could find me, and find me they did. I had been so focused on my target, that I missed the bigger picture. I was apprehended.
It has been two years to that day now. I have been rotting in this prison. Sometimes, I feel Sensei trained me too well. All I can focus on are the walls holding me in, the lights of freedom are Bokeh.
-x-x-x-x-x-
This story was inspired from the picture prompt:
Would love to hear your thoughts on the story and your interpretation of the picture!
Cheers!
This is brilliantly penned! I like the metaphorial twist at the end. I have read some of your fiction stories and the pattern of your writing style is unique and authentic. Love it! Looking forward to more 😉
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Thanks a lot Apple! 😀
Your words mean a lot!!
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Good story. “Routine assassination”–that really got me.
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Thank You!! 😀
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Brilliant.
Finally a great story to read after being left feeling empty on so many other blogs, perfect 🙂
I love the ‘easy’ introduction as if it’s real life, then it switches so easily to fiction like jumping off a cliff.
Fantastic continuation of the bokeh theme from start to finish, no words wasted, to the point and a big payoff – exactly what I’m looking for in a story.
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Thanks, Lion! 🙂
I really appreciate your words. The way you described my story makes me feel a lot better about it! 😀
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Best story I’ve read in a long time, no bullshiting 🙂
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Thanks a lot! 😀
Glad you loved it!!
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It all tied so perfectly well together. Great job.
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Thank You! 🙂
Tried to spin a complete tale here!
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