This week’s photo-prompt is impressive because of the litter free look. The graffiti tells a different story, thank you to James Pyles for the challenge.
The Friday-Fictioneers weekly 100 word story is hosted by Rochelle, visit her site for more detail.https://rochellewisoff.com/2026/06/10/12-june-2026/#like-18587
Other contributions of stories can be found HERE.https://fresh.inlinkz.com/party/bbb9babbf72d457fb60a8231efea94c3
No Going Back
Faces stare out from the walls, calling from my past.
Memories of sunshine, music, laughter, and moments of nostalgia inspire my soul.
The bison painted on rock walls frolicked, an illusion created by the flickering of flames in our caves,
where the beginning of my eternal journey began.
Each step down the alley is like a thousand years where time etches history in layers recording my failings.
Faded, flaking and forgotten and pointing to a future forever changing.
I stride along this path courageously and confidant towards the light of another million years.
Will I forever remain?
James McEwan 
Great piece James – you’ve captured the feeling of a soul walking through the corridors of time – it’s haunting, visual, and very well-paced 👏
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My inspiration was the seemingly never ending alleyway.
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I liked the concatenation of the alley and the cave painting
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Thank you Neil.
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In answer to that last line- I sure hope not!
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Quite a reflection! The only constant thing is change, i assume. For good or for bad. What remains of us is what we chose to leave behind.
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and,,,future waits for no one, change as you say, for good or bad.
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What we leave behind is layers of humanity, the good we keep the rest becomes dust. Thank you.
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Humans have managed to survive so far. let’s not end too soon (million or so years).
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James, a well-written elegy for humankind. I’d put this one in your special folder.
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Thank you so much Lisa.
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You’re most welcome.
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We have special folders for everyone.
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Beautifully written
I love the journey you have reminded us of here. A life journey of existence
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We are all passengers in an endless journey of life.
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First class, James
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Thank you very much.
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Reminds me of a comic strip series I read in Boy’s LIfe (Boy Scouts magazine in the 1960s when I was as kid). A group of kids got lost in a cave. They were sent back to prehistoric times and gradually as the exited and re-entered the cave, they moved forward in time eventually reaching the present again. Great way to teach kids history of indigenous people in the U.S.
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The history of mankind’s development is fascinating, pity the focus gets lost by the so called leaders.
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great take on this photo – and I like how yous aid this in the comments: future waits for no one, change as you say, for good or bad. – yes!
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Many thanks.
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🙂 xxx
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hope springs eternal.
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For Humankind. Thank you
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How interesting, James. Love the ancient picture up there.
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Thank you Chris.
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Dear James.
Nice use of the prompt. I wonder what archeologists will say about our graffiti a thousand years from now. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good question, will the ‘Banksy” art remain on our city walls. Thank you Rochelle.
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An intriguing story of an eternal being, it seems. I enjoyed this very much!
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Yes, thank you. I was in pensive mood as to how far humankind will develop. Thank you Brenda.
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Beautiful take on the passage of time that gives courage to our own journey!
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Thank you very much.
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This is very thought-provoking and well done. We are an accumulation of out past. I don’t know about that next million years, though. That feels optimistic.
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Only time will tell. Thanks Nobbin
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Thoughtful story.
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Excellent, James! What a fabulous trek you have written!
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Thank you Nancy.
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