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101 Word Short Stories

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Count to Three

December 12, 2021 13 Comments

By Blair Mancini

“You go first!”

“No, you!”

I see excitement in his eyes. Oh, boy—we are not on the same page. “I don’t think I should go first.”

Nothing I have planned is in sync with his tone. He’s bright and jittery. I’m suddenly aware of my elevated heartbeat and sweaty palms. The silence in this restaurant is deafening.

He smiles. “Close your eyes! We’ll count to three and say them together!”

“I’m breaking up with you,” I say as he reaches three. I open my eyes to see his confused expression and the box with the ring in his hand.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bipra Prasun Das says

    December 9, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    This absolutely shattered my heart into pieces. Well done.

    Reply
  2. Helen C says

    December 12, 2021 at 9:00 am

    Well done on conveying so much in so few words!

    Reply
  3. Coco says

    December 12, 2021 at 9:40 am

    Ooh, painful for both of them.
    Nicely done!

    Reply
  4. Kevin says

    December 12, 2021 at 11:59 am

    Sore one !

    Reply
  5. Cathy Cade says

    December 12, 2021 at 1:57 pm

    Nice one. I feel for him.

    Reply
  6. Derek says

    December 12, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    Oh dear. Still plenty of fish in the sea.

    Reply
  7. Emma says

    December 12, 2021 at 6:14 pm

    Oh no! I can just feel his confusion. Bravo on conveying so much in so few words.

    Reply
  8. Michael D Brown says

    December 12, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    What a shame. Wrote a flash where the groom went to Niagara Falls alone.

    Reply
  9. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    December 13, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Well told… sad for both… especially him… just shows, as you say, sometimes couples aren’t on the same page… kudos …

    Reply
  10. Mary A Gorman says

    December 14, 2021 at 4:49 am

    Great capturing of a daily problem in relationships when we assume we know what our partners are thinking. Again the power of the word so powerful

    Reply
  11. Melanie says

    December 15, 2021 at 8:24 am

    Gut punch! Well done.

    Reply
  12. Ekta Garg says

    December 15, 2021 at 2:03 pm

    That poor man! Well done, though. Your point came across really well.

    Reply
  13. Richard Temple says

    December 15, 2021 at 4:37 pm

    Oh! Bleak but moving.

    Reply

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