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101 Word Short Stories

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Dragonfly Dance

October 8, 2024 14 Comments

By Jo Gatenby

She spent hours watching the dragonflies flitting around the garden, their slender forms flickering in the sunlight.

If she stared hard enough, she could imagine being one of them. Flying. Free. Darting back and forth, the sensation of wings fluttering. The thrill of the wind lifting her body, releasing her, letting her swoop low, to gracefully rise again.

Her nurse stepped forward, blocking her view. “You’ve been outside for a while; you must be getting thirsty. Want some orange juice?”

She blinked twice, for yes, and he slipped the straw between her lips.

Over his shoulder, the dragonflies continued their dance.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosemary Johnson says

    October 8, 2024 at 7:52 am

    Love it. Painful ending.

    Reply
  2. Dart humeston says

    October 8, 2024 at 8:41 am

    Wow. Beautiful story.

    Reply
  3. Mel Goldberg says

    October 8, 2024 at 11:08 am

    Brought teasrs to my eyes!

    Reply
  4. Tom says

    October 8, 2024 at 7:26 pm

    Her body may be a prison but her mind is free. I felt for her.

    Reply
  5. Harris Hawk says

    October 9, 2024 at 8:20 am

    This is so beautiful and really resonates with me. Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Janet says

    October 9, 2024 at 9:22 am

    Lovely.

    Reply
  7. Patricia Pease says

    October 9, 2024 at 10:56 am

    This is so beautiful, Jo. Congratulations!

    Reply
  8. L. J. Caporusso says

    October 9, 2024 at 11:04 am

    Lovely.

    Reply
  9. Jake says

    October 9, 2024 at 2:10 pm

    Moving. A gut-punching ending. And I felt that deep yearning of the MC, wanting just a taste of that freedom. Very well written

    Reply
  10. Denise D'Souza says

    October 9, 2024 at 3:17 pm

    Fabulous imagery and storytelling. Imprisoned in her body but her mind and imagination is flying free.

    Reply
  11. RC says

    October 10, 2024 at 8:18 am

    Your writing is really lovely, Jo. You sure know how to paint a picture–internal and external.

    Reply
  12. Robert says

    October 10, 2024 at 10:43 pm

    Touching story, Jo. Nicely done. Enjoyed it a lot. Felt I was there with her, watching the dragon flies.

    Reply
  13. Pat R. says

    October 11, 2024 at 8:59 am

    Brought tears to my eyes as well.
    Beautiful!

    Reply
  14. marie says

    November 24, 2024 at 12:53 pm

    beautiful story. very moving!

    Reply

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