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101 Word Short Stories

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Guggenheim, Late December

September 18, 2025 1 Comment

By Matt Garabedian

Among countless post-holiday patrons trying to understand the art on the walls, she stands out. She tries not to, but her inflamed eyes and the wad of spent tissues clenched in her hand cannot be forgotten once seen. She caresses the slight bulge of her belly that will never grow larger.

With a toddler on daddy’s shoulders, a couple passes, radiating light that cannot fill the darkness.

Like a threadbare blanket, her partner’s arm drapes over her shoulder as he whispers in her ear.

She blows her nose and shoves the tissue into his hand. “Just go. Enjoy the beautiful things.”

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Comments

  1. Jo Gatenby says

    September 24, 2025 at 4:27 pm

    This was so sad… I knew that grief many years ago-though happily we went on to have two beautiful daughters… and now three grandchildren. I hope she isn’t letting him go forever, but just for a moment. Very poignant…

    Reply

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