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101 Word Short Stories

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Out of the Inside

September 15, 2021 15 Comments

By Paul Lewthwaite

The man inside the mirror gazed out, frowning. He stared back, eyes narrowed, brow wrinkled, as if this was the first time he’d seen his doppelganger.

Over the years, he’d only had glimpses from afar. It had never been this close before.

His likeness had a rope around its neck, fastened tight somewhere above. It smiled, and he couldn’t help but smile back.

His own rope chaffed, the pressure tight against his throat. He kicked the chair away.

One of the men vanished.

An empty noose in one world, swayed back and forth, keeping time to the body in the next.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    September 15, 2021 at 7:49 am

    One of the scariest things you could imagine in terms of the paranormal – especially as doppelgangers appear so sinister. Nice creepy one.

    Reply
  2. Helen C says

    September 15, 2021 at 8:08 am

    Very scary which made me wonder!

    Reply
  3. Ruth Mannino says

    September 15, 2021 at 8:37 am

    Excellent!

    Reply
  4. Sanaz Bayat says

    September 15, 2021 at 8:46 am

    oh, I love this. it makes you think, and then it takes your hand into a labyrinth and then leaves you there to get out. I’m going to read it with my students this week.

    Reply
  5. Paul Lewthwaite says

    September 15, 2021 at 8:56 am

    Thank you everyone for your kind comments – it’s a bit dark so thought it might not be to everyone’s taste 🙂

    Reply
  6. Chris Nedahl says

    September 15, 2021 at 9:31 am

    Wow! Dark stuff excellently written.

    Reply
    • Paul Lewthwaite says

      September 15, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks, Chris, very much appreciated.

      Reply
  7. Ling Ling says

    September 15, 2021 at 11:11 am

    Bravo Paul. I like this short story, left one reflective. Thank you for sharing.
    ???

    Reply
  8. Paul Lewthwaite says

    September 15, 2021 at 5:06 pm

    Thanks, Ling Ling. I think it left me with a few questions as well 😉

    Reply
  9. Stacey says

    September 15, 2021 at 10:01 pm

    Loved it. Very powerful

    Reply
    • Paul Lewthwaite says

      September 16, 2021 at 3:35 am

      Thanks very much, Stacey.

      Reply
  10. Ekta Garg says

    September 16, 2021 at 10:03 pm

    Brilliant! I loved it.

    Reply
  11. Paul Lewthwaite says

    September 17, 2021 at 7:12 am

    Many thanks, Ekta.

    Reply
  12. Valli says

    September 17, 2021 at 10:48 am

    Excellent read… thought provoking… well done…

    Reply
  13. Paul Lewthwaite says

    September 20, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    Valli, much appreciated 🙂 thanks.

    Reply

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