Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Collateral Damage

July 1, 2019 9 Comments

Collateral Damage

By JK Hayward-Trout

I told you stories about bloody wars ending in glory.

Your favorites were of heroes who went insane or transformed into beasts, stories of death and carnage because you never liked love stories.

So, I armored-up with you. In life, on the screen, and across the table we fought off our foes.

One day, we lay down in the tall, sweet shadows of summer grass. I felt bliss, watching the gold flickering in your dark eyes.

I was sure you were ready to hear my love stories. Instead, you rolled away, and left for someone who didn’t believe in such things.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. b. says

    July 1, 2019 at 11:53 am

    Well told tale of when dreams collide and reality rears it’s ugly head.

    Reply
    • Julie Hayward-Trout says

      July 1, 2019 at 11:59 am

      Thank you b.

      Reply
      • Julie Hayward-Trout says

        July 1, 2019 at 11:27 pm

        For me it’s about when people tell you who they are – believe them. 🙂

        Reply
  2. Kathleen Liberacki says

    July 1, 2019 at 11:01 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
    • Julie Hayward-Trout says

      July 7, 2019 at 11:38 am

      Thank you for reading Kathleen!

      Reply
  3. loriegarver says

    July 5, 2019 at 8:54 am

    I love the unexpected ending. (Always the optimist here.) You are so right in your comment–when people tell you who they are, believe them. Great 101 words, Julie.

    Reply
    • Julie Hayward-Trout says

      July 7, 2019 at 11:39 am

      Thank you Loire :)!

      Reply
  4. marlene samuels says

    July 5, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    Julie — this hit me so hard, I had to reread it several times, each one more of a slam than the one before. Such an intense and emotional piece. WOW!

    Reply
    • Julie Hayward-Trout says

      July 7, 2019 at 11:40 am

      Thank you Marlene, it means a lot to hear your words!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.