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101 Word Short Stories

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Memento Mori

June 3, 2022 18 Comments

By Uma Hamzic

I found your purse a year after you died. The hand-stitching was unraveling from the pockets you added, scraps of fabric from a cornflower dress I ripped racing down the stairs. Inside: packs of tissues and caramel candies for the grubby grandchildren playing in your strawberry fields. Bobby pins, ones that didn’t hurt your snow-capped scalp. A handful of loose change, folded into receipts, purchases of fat-free milk and diabetic sugar tablets for your coffee. A dog-eared photo of us at my graduation, matching lipstick kisses. All that’s left of you, red stains that had once been on my wet cheeks.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen C says

    June 3, 2022 at 7:18 am

    Very sad

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 1:42 am

      Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  2. Vivian says

    June 3, 2022 at 7:39 am

    Bittersweet memories…

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 1:43 am

      And each are lovely in their own way! Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  3. Tim Goldstone says

    June 3, 2022 at 8:02 am

    That’s one of the best 101s I’ve read. So much in so few words. Wonderful.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 1:43 am

      Thank you so much. This made my day.

      Reply
  4. Derek says

    June 3, 2022 at 9:20 am

    All we can ask is that we will be remembered with love. In that way this is not a sad story.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 1:44 am

      This is such a profound way of seeing it. Thank you for sharing and for reading

      Reply
  5. S says

    June 3, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    Lovely.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 1:55 am

      Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  6. Paul Lewthwaite says

    June 4, 2022 at 8:00 am

    A life story in a purse. Brilliant. Loved it.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 4, 2022 at 2:53 pm

      I’m glad you liked it—thank you for reading!

      Reply
  7. Raymond Sloan says

    June 5, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    Lovely story, Uma!

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 8, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  8. Caroline Jenner says

    June 8, 2022 at 9:00 am

    A really thoughtful piece, lots of lovely detail.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 8, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      Thank you for reading and for your lovely comment 🙂

      Reply
  9. Nina says

    June 8, 2022 at 4:20 pm

    So touching and beautiful! Reminds me of my Grandmother’s purse. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Uma Hamzic says

      June 8, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      No, thank you! This was originally inspired after finding my grandmother’s purse with candy still inside it. The story evolved, but I’m glad it found someone with the same event <3

      Reply

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