Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Off the Ventilator

January 27, 2026 2 Comments

By David Sydney

After three days, Mel came off ventilator support. He was initially confused.

Then he began talking.

It was the old Mel again.

His wife, Gloria, was there. Also his sister Freida and Mel’s brother-in-law Ralph.

“Is that you, Gloria?”

His voice grew louder.

“Ralph? What the hell are you doing here?”

Mel, back to complaining.

“Gloria, didn’t you bring my pillow?… Ralph, why aren’t you at our dry-cleaning business, rather than sitting on your ass?… Say, wasn’t Freida here, Gloria?”

“Yes, Mel.”

But just then Freida was at the Nursing Station, asking if Mel could be put back on the ventilator.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Faith says

    January 28, 2026 at 12:18 pm

    Hysterical – love it!

    Reply
  2. David Higham says

    January 28, 2026 at 1:41 pm

    So much humour in so few words. You had me laughing out loud.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.