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101 Word Short Stories

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Brush Strokes

July 2, 2024 15 Comments

By Lesley Bungay

One final coat of paint and all trace of you will be gone. Every reminder is removed: the spare toothbrush in the bathroom; the one discarded sock under the bed; the whiskey glass that kissed your lips as you confessed. Your prints wiped clean from the bottle you clung to when you promised—It will never happen again.

You were right.

Fresh towels now caress my skin. New sheets embrace my body. With each stroke of colour, I brush away your touch on the walls and on the door you slammed as you left. If only I could whitewash my heart.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dart humeston says

    July 2, 2024 at 6:32 am

    Wow. Powerful!

    Reply
    • Lesley Bungay says

      July 3, 2024 at 4:09 pm

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  2. Mary says

    July 2, 2024 at 8:02 am

    Wonderful story written so well emotions dancing off the screen through the words.

    Reply
    • Lesley Bungay says

      July 3, 2024 at 4:10 pm

      Thank you for your kind words Mary

      Reply
  3. Laura Besley says

    July 2, 2024 at 8:59 am

    Beautifully-written story, Lesley!

    Reply
    • Lesley Bungay says

      July 3, 2024 at 4:10 pm

      Thanks Laura 🙂

      Reply
  4. Toni Brayer says

    July 3, 2024 at 8:41 am

    Very nicely written

    Reply
    • Lesley Bungay says

      July 3, 2024 at 4:11 pm

      Thank you Toni.

      Reply
  5. Sue says

    July 3, 2024 at 7:46 pm

    Poignant and beautifully written.

    Reply
    • lesley bungay says

      July 4, 2024 at 1:48 am

      Thank you Sue.

      Reply
  6. Ed Kratz says

    July 5, 2024 at 12:16 pm

    Strong story. Strong selection of objects: toothbrush, whiskey glass, bottle. Replaced by fresh towels, clean sheets. But still the heart remembers. Well done.

    Reply
    • lesley bungay says

      July 6, 2024 at 1:12 am

      Thank you Ed 🙂

      Reply
  7. K F Lerner says

    July 8, 2024 at 10:11 am

    Oh man, I spent most of the story thinking she murdered the unfaithful ex! Guess I’ve been listening to too much true crime. In any case, I wish I could tell her that while the heart can’t be whitewashed the bruises turn the most fascinating colors as they heal.

    Reply
    • lesley bungay says

      July 10, 2024 at 2:06 am

      Thanks for reading and commenting. Now I’m wondering why she didn’t! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Pamela Cartlidge says

    July 20, 2024 at 7:48 am

    Amazing

    Reply

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