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101 Word Short Stories

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Clarity

April 5, 2025 8 Comments

By Rhonda Cottrell

Grief splintered me and pulled me down into isolated misery. I couldn’t recall my dead mother’s face.

To feel something different, I yanked open the door to my mind’s memories. A tiny, withered version of my younger self stomped out and shook minuscule fists with rage.

I grasped my inner child’s shriveled hand, and we trudged to the edge of a  deep ravine. We opened our mouths wide. Our angry screams filled the valley with impenetrable fog. We gained strength as Mom’s smiling face appeared in the mist. We became less broken, swirling and dancing back down the mountain, reconnected again.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet says

    April 9, 2025 at 8:57 am

    This one touched me. Great visceral writing

    Reply
    • Rhonda Cottrell says

      April 14, 2025 at 11:26 pm

      Thank-you!

      Reply
  2. Sue says

    April 9, 2025 at 10:11 am

    Acceptance and healing, unity.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Cottrell says

      April 14, 2025 at 11:27 pm

      Yes for sure! Thank-you!

      Reply
  3. Sharon Murphy says

    April 9, 2025 at 2:03 pm

    Lovely writing. Really captures the grief and anger especially when you can’t recall a face you loved so much. Well done.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Cottrell says

      April 14, 2025 at 11:27 pm

      Thank-you!

      Reply
  4. Kelli Etheridge says

    April 15, 2025 at 1:20 pm

    This is so emotionally powerful, heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.

    Reply
    • Rhonda says

      April 30, 2025 at 1:03 pm

      Thank you for your kind words.

      Reply

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