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101 Word Short Stories

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I Do; He Did

January 31, 2022 16 Comments

By T.C. Sundberg

He sits across from me on the hard wooden chair in the coffee shop. He’s broad in a comforting sort of way; the sharp angles of his sturdy arms a familiar counterpoint to the subtle lump of belly visible beneath his shirt. The fine wrinkles embellishing his eyes suggest a man who laughs authentically and often. My gaze flicks to his hands—his long fingers interlaced as if to steady themselves. Peeking through the grid of digits is a pale circle of skin around his left ring finger. When he breaks the silence, his voice is sure.

“I want a divorce.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen C says

    January 31, 2022 at 7:40 am

    Some powerful images!

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      January 31, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Leslie Flemons says

        February 3, 2022 at 1:51 am

        Dang! That was unexpected! lol Good work!

        Reply
        • T. C. Sundberg says

          February 14, 2022 at 9:24 am

          Thank you, Leslie!

          Reply
  2. Mary A Gorman says

    January 31, 2022 at 7:42 am

    Amazing use of words so descriptive. where do they come from? Do you read a lot?

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      January 31, 2022 at 10:12 am

      Thank you for your kind words! Yes, reading is one of my favorite things to do.

      Reply
  3. David says

    January 31, 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Wonderful piece. I’ve read it a few times and admire it more each time.

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      January 31, 2022 at 4:51 pm

      Thank you! That is so nice to hear!

      Reply
  4. Raymond Sloan says

    February 1, 2022 at 1:10 am

    Well done T.C. Great piece!

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      February 1, 2022 at 10:50 am

      Thank you, Raymond!

      Reply
  5. Stella Klein says

    February 2, 2022 at 8:06 am

    So neat. Such a beautiful character description of someone loveable – the twist is nicely ambiguous (well for me it is) as he could be wanting to divorce the narrator or wanting a divorce to be fully available to them.

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      February 6, 2022 at 10:34 pm

      I love that you saw the ambiguity! Thank you so much for your kind words!

      Reply
  6. Lauren W says

    February 2, 2022 at 1:05 pm

    Packed so much into it, thought it was great!

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      February 6, 2022 at 10:35 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  7. DeRicki says

    February 21, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    Nice twist. You completely caught me off guard!

    Reply
    • T.C. Sundberg says

      March 5, 2022 at 5:13 pm

      Thank you for the kind words and for reading my little story!

      Reply

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