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101 Word Short Stories

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Beauty Across

July 23, 2024 8 Comments

By Matt Henshaw

For weeks, he gazed at the secretary working in the office across the alley. Her beautiful figure inspired sweaty fantasies in the middle of the night, thoughts of her lying next to him.

He gathered his courage to introduce himself and suggest a cup of coffee. He descended the stairs, crossed the alley, and climbed to the fourth floor.

The door opened to a room that was empty, save for fluttering wallpaper blowing in an unseen wind. Looking out the window to his own office, he saw the same fluttering wallpaper taking his form and staring back at him.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kevin says

    July 23, 2024 at 6:48 am

    Great story, completely unexpected ending. Kudos.

    Reply
  2. Ramona Taylor says

    July 24, 2024 at 11:15 am

    Spooky surprise ending. Does loneliness drive one mad? Great story

    Reply
  3. Dan Graves says

    July 24, 2024 at 7:53 pm

    unseen wind evokes supernatural.

    Reply
  4. Ilona Rapin says

    July 25, 2024 at 10:37 am

    Great piece – love the chilling last paragraph.

    Reply
  5. Ed Kratz says

    July 26, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    Well done. Perfectly chilling.

    Reply
  6. Matt Henshaw says

    July 26, 2024 at 10:36 pm

    Thank you for the kind words. More info on my work can be found at linktr.ee/mhenshaw

    Reply
    • Dundiswa says

      July 29, 2024 at 1:33 pm

      Strange, but well thought-out.

      Good job!

      Reply
  7. Lisa H. Owens says

    July 31, 2024 at 9:02 am

    Eerie and spooky. I love that you left it to the reader to interpret what forces are at work here.

    Reply

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