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101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

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A Promise Kept

July 19, 2021 16 Comments

By Bryan van Gorder

I lower Edith into the passenger seat. Her soiled nightgown feels cold and wet against my skin, the latest indignity suffered by her body’s failure.

She thinks we’re visiting her son. It was after his funeral that we’d sat in this garage and Edith admitted she felt her mind slipping. I promised to take care of her; soon I won’t be able to care for myself.

She watches me with empty eyes. I want to hold her and tell her it’ll be okay. I start the car. She touches my hand. “But the garage door.”

I tell her I opened it.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Archibald Hobbs says

    July 19, 2021 at 3:32 am

    Wow! What a dark story, Bryan. But it made me think…

    Reply
  2. Lynda says

    July 19, 2021 at 9:23 am

    Really deep, very real.

    Reply
  3. Vivian says

    July 19, 2021 at 11:12 am

    ?

    Reply
  4. Vivian says

    July 19, 2021 at 11:13 am

    Sad…

    Reply
  5. Vivian says

    July 19, 2021 at 11:14 am

    I did not post the question mark!

    Reply
  6. Rita+Riebel-Mitchell says

    July 19, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    Bryan this is a well-written, sad story. You communicated so much in so few words.

    The only thing I wanted to know: what is the relationship between Edith and the narrator. Perhaps a second husband or a best friend? I guess it doesn’t matter, the story was great anyway.

    Reply
    • Bryan says

      July 19, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      I imagined the narrator to be a sibling.

      Reply
  7. Shoshauna says

    July 19, 2021 at 5:02 pm

    Powerful story, and I’m there every syllable. One to remember, for sure.

    Reply
  8. ren says

    July 20, 2021 at 9:35 am

    beautiful

    Reply
  9. Liz Falkner says

    July 20, 2021 at 4:14 pm

    Sad, sad, sad.

    Well done.

    Reply
  10. Maca says

    July 21, 2021 at 9:45 am

    You were able to communicate a powerful and sad message in a few words, I am truly impressed.

    Reply
  11. Casey says

    July 21, 2021 at 4:22 pm

    Wow. Excellent.

    Reply
  12. Indra Raj Pathak says

    July 23, 2021 at 1:49 am

    Words succeed to bring out deep melancholy. Really a wise plot to reveal.

    Reply
  13. Bryan says

    July 23, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    Thank you to everyone who commented. Your words are appreciated.

    Reply
  14. Kim Taylor Clark says

    July 24, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Oh my goodness. What a 101 words. Amazing writing that got me in the gut at the end. I want to be able to write like you!

    Reply
  15. Michael says

    August 11, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    A devastatingly sad tale.

    Reply

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