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101 Word Short Stories

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Distracted God

April 22, 2024 7 Comments

By Chadd Lin

Why did you create me if you’re not going to spend time with me? You’d rather pay attention to your magical mirror that steals away your time.

Absorbed in everything. You’re nothing but a distracted god. Able to create, but not able to be interested in what you made.

I’m in front of you, begging for you to talk to me, play with me, be with me.

Instead, I just look at dilated eyes. Eyes that are somewhere else. Looking at other lives instead of living your own. Using your magical mirror to make yourself into a false reality of happiness.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tom says

    April 22, 2024 at 10:16 pm

    What a stunning indictment of parents who prefer their phones to their children. Well done, Chadd.

    Reply
    • Chadd Lin says

      April 23, 2024 at 6:46 am

      Thank you Tom!

      Reply
  2. Jess says

    April 23, 2024 at 8:33 am

    Humbling and well thought out.

    Reply
  3. S.L. Kerns says

    April 23, 2024 at 8:55 am

    My wife and I look around all the time and see these “distracted gods.” You portrayed our feelings well.

    Nice flow to this, as well.

    Reply
  4. Cathryn says

    April 23, 2024 at 2:54 pm

    Hello Chad,
    Excellent use of dialogue to convey the message and the emotions. Sadly, from what I observe from watching my grandchildren, the next cohort won’t even look up from their preferred devices to procreate!
    Well written.

    Reply
  5. Faith says

    April 24, 2024 at 7:41 am

    Very well said!

    Reply
  6. Lourens says

    February 17, 2026 at 5:22 pm

    Erg mooi.. very beautifully expressed. It hurts to feel..

    Reply

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