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Murder Most Kind

May 21, 2018 32 Comments

Murder Most Kind
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Colin Fisher was cleaning his teeth one night when his wife sent him a text message that was meant for her lover. For one silly, tender moment, Colin thought it was for him but then he understood it wasn’t, and twenty years of marriage disintegrated while the toothpaste dripped from his mouth.

He went into the bedroom where his wife lay. He looked at her phone and she looked at him. Then he smiled a sad smile and took her in his arms, and over the following weeks and months and years he killed her with his terrible and unrelenting forgiveness.

By James Ellis

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. salvatore difalco says

    May 21, 2018 at 7:03 am

    wickedly good story

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:20 am

      Dear Salvatore – thank you very much for your kind comment – wicked indeed!

      Reply
  2. Lindsay Bamfield says

    May 21, 2018 at 7:20 am

    Ooh, superb ending in those last four words. Good work.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:22 am

      Dear Lindsay – thank you for your kind feedback. The word ‘terrible’ when used sparingly can be quite chilling.

      Reply
  3. David Silver says

    May 21, 2018 at 7:31 am

    Fabulous.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:24 am

      Dear David – thank you for your comment. Hugely appreciated. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Marjan Sierhuis says

    May 21, 2018 at 7:32 am

    Well done!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:25 am

      Dear Marjan – thank you. It’s very gratifying to read such comments.

      Reply
  5. David Batteiger says

    May 21, 2018 at 8:07 am

    “…unrelenting forgiveness” very strong last words to this one, the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae. Well done.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:27 am

      Dear David – thank you. I wanted the ending to indicate how unyielding the man was, and perhaps hint at why his wife had sought refuge elsewhere…

      Reply
  6. Constanée Malik Hemedi says

    May 21, 2018 at 8:41 am

    Everyone has already said it but I have to say it too. This is sooo good. I can feel it!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:30 am

      Dear Constanée – It’s always nice to hear it again, though! And thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m glad the atmosphere within the story came across. Thank you..

      Reply
  7. rauthor68 says

    May 21, 2018 at 9:23 am

    Game over! Game, set, match. Checkmate. Good job, but grab a knife and do it right, or spend forever with a part-time lover.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:32 am

      Hi – goodness, that’s certainly one way of ending a game of chess! I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to comment. Greatly appreciated.

      Reply
  8. derekmcmillan1951 says

    May 21, 2018 at 11:19 am

    I agree. A very good story with a strong ending.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:33 am

      Hi Derek – thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad it worked. Endings are so important and I’m glad this one worked.

      Reply
  9. Kathryn Evans says

    May 21, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    I also really enjoyed this, and didn’t expect the ending – even though the title should have given it away.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:36 am

      Dear Kathryn – thank you for your comment. Very kind of you. I think the title might be the weakest part of the story – it’s apt but you’re right, it might pre-empt the ending. So pleased you enjoyed it, though. Thank you.

      Reply
  10. Vivian Satterwhite says

    May 21, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    Loved the wonderfully different ending!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:39 am

      Dear Vivian – thank you for your kind comment. The ending just flowed and as soon as I’d written it, I knew it was right. The challenge then was to mute the opening as much as possible so as to hit the ending as hard as possible. Thank you.

      Reply
  11. Scott Dukette says

    May 22, 2018 at 5:48 am

    So good – we so often sacrifice poignancy for shock value. Taking the high road made it so much better!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:45 am

      Dear Scott – thank you. With 101 words I thought it best to focus on the atmosphere and how it hardened as the scene developed through certain key words – ‘silly’, ‘tender’, ‘disintegrated’, ‘unrelenting’, ‘terrible’ and so on. I’m glad it worked and that you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  12. Jon Nixon says

    May 22, 2018 at 7:04 am

    Brilliant work. Loved it

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:48 am

      Dear Jon – thank you! It’s always great to read such feedback.

      Reply
  13. Susan says

    May 22, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    Absolute perfection!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:50 am

      Dear Susan – thank you! This story just flowed and the hard, almost metallic ending was a pleasure to write. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  14. Mary E Falkner says

    May 23, 2018 at 1:52 am

    Brilliant! More from you, please

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:51 am

      Dear Mary – thank you. That is great feedback. I’m a full-time writer which means I don’t get out much! So comments such as yours are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

      Reply
  15. Scott Dukette says

    May 23, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    Sorry – I already commented once, but I reread this and it is SO good I felt like I didn’t do it justice before. My wife loved it too. James Ellis – please keep writing!

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:55 am

      Dear Scott – hi again! And thank you again for your generous and encouraging comments. I’m a full-time writer so the words will keep tumbling out for as long as I can think of them. Kind regards to your wife and I’m glad she enjoyed the story too.

      Reply
  16. Nina Robison says

    May 23, 2018 at 10:49 pm

    Just read it and am an admirer, would like to read more of your stories.

    Reply
    • James Ellis says

      May 24, 2018 at 3:59 am

      Dear Nina – thank you for taking the time both to read the story and to comment. Hugely appreciated and I’m glad you liked it. I’m a full-time writer – novels and short stories, with a scattering of flash and micro-fiction. I will definitely submit to 101 words again, not least because of their discerning readers!

      Reply

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