Wednesday 22 April 2015

S is for Sudorific


For this year's A-Z Challenge I have selected a word from the dictionary for each day and written a story around it with a 100 word limit. For extra interest I have chosen words that are unknown or unfamiliar to me. All definitions are from the Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus 2007 Edition. Today's word is: Sudorific.

Sudorific: Relating to or causing sweating.

In the sudorific heat of the desert, he walked away from the plane crash. The only survivor as far as he could see, he was amazed he had no injuries. But there was nothing for miles around and no cellphone reception out here. He would die from dehydration before he reached help.

“Stuart!”

He recognised the voice instantly and a feeling of hope bloomed in his stomach. Rebecca? But how could that be?

And then she was beside him, seeming to materialise out of the air.

“You’re dead, darling,” she said, taking his hand. “But now we can be together.”

38 comments:

Sally said...

Another great flash fiction with an unexpected ending. So many words for me to learn - let's hope I can retain them and their meaning.

JeffO said...

And here I thought it had to do with cold medicine. Nice job on the story!

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

Well that definitely gets round the problem of dehydration :) I like how Rebecca is so practical.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Blogoratti said...

Nice and interesting read!

Jennifer Hawes said...

haha! You got me. That was great.

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Ouch :D Nice twist.

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

Unknown said...

I guess that explains how he could walk away...

Tamara Narayan said...

Another intense piece. Excellent and creepy, a good combination in my opinion.

Chrys Fey said...

Nice ending. I was going to say...not even a scratch? Lucky guy. Not so lucky anymore.

Shell Flower said...

I like how this has a sad, yet happy ending. At first, I thought she was going to be a mirage.

betty said...

At least he was dead with someone he loved. I like that word Sudorific. People in Phoenix Arizona here would definitely feel it come summer when it gets to over 115 degrees there.

betty

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Awesome story. Another word I did not know.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Guess he didn't make it after all.

jaybird said...

Aww! This had quite the twist. Bittersweet end.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

My grandmother always said that when we die, we're greeted by our loved ones who have passed. That's a comforting thought.

Cherie Reich said...

Aww! What a great twist, even though it's a bit sad.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm worried that he felt the heat if he was dead. Did he go to the hot place?

M Pax said...

In the sudorfic heat... great opening leading to a great story. Cool word. It sounds rather epic, doesn't it?

Sherry Ellis said...

I liked the twist at the end!

Sherry Ellis said...

I liked the twist at the end!

Mina Burrows said...

Okay, this has a jacob's ladder vibe to it. Well done!

Bish Denham said...

That is definitely a new word for me. I guess he didn't notice he wasn't sweating.... :)

Sophie Duncan said...

Sad, but sweet - I'm glad she was there to meet him :)
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press

Tyrean Martinson said...

Wow! That was a sudden and fitting ending. :)

Annalisa Crawford said...

At least he has Rebecca to help him on his way.

Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

Keith's Ramblings said...

So there is an afterlife! A delightful read although stories about plane crashes are a bit disturbing a week before I go flying myself!

J E Oneil said...

Sudorific, what a weird word!

At least he doesn't have to deal with being stuck in the desert.

Anonymous said...

So much for being the only survivor!

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

Melissa Sugar said...

Another cool word that I didn't know. I'm always looking for a word to use that describes horrible heat. I've overused cloying ... to death. Cool piece you've written with this word. Dead, huh. I guess he doesn't need any water, after all.

Stephen Tremp said...

One of my fears as a kid. Dying in the desert.

pamlovesbooks said...

THAT is a great word; gonna hafta figure out how to use it in a sentence!

loverofwords said...

You are amazing, a true wordsmith, Nick!

Liz A. said...

I had a feeling he was dead...

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - we imagine the plane crash and the sweltering heat .. and then Rebecca swiftly arrives to journey with him to another place ..

Love the twist .. cheers Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sara C. Snider said...

I find this story strangely uplifting. I like how he's reunited with his love. :)

djinnia said...

Aw! I think it's sweet that his girl found him.

Unknown said...

Great twist in the end once again. I'm enjoying your fiction. :)