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101 Word Short Stories

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Pregnant Silence

December 30, 2024 6 Comments

By Vijai Pant

“I had taken all precautions,” she whispers.

A hush descends.

“Are you there?” she queries.

“I am wondering, is there any way to go ahead?” he asks.

A dead silence.

“I don’t care about my estranged husband, but my two grown-up daughters will never support the idea!” she retorts, despite knowing how badly this beau wants a baby.

“I know,” he sighs, leaving the room with a furtive glance at his wife, who had tried everything possible to conceive.

A long pause.

“Abort,” is all he blurts, his tremor unmistakable.

She looks fondly at the two pink lines.

The silence continues.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David says

    December 30, 2024 at 6:31 am

    Expertly done. I appreciated it even more on second reading. I like how we’re left to wonder what decision they came to.

    Reply
    • Vijai says

      December 30, 2024 at 4:29 pm

      Thanks David for your generous praise.

      Reply
  2. Cathryn says

    December 30, 2024 at 7:18 am

    David, agree about clarity upon second reading. I don’t expect any good will come to any of the characters in this FF.

    Reply
  3. Vijai says

    December 30, 2024 at 4:37 pm

    Cathryn, despite knowing there has to be only one resolution to this dilemma, it’s the silence that kills.
    Thanks for your opinion.

    Reply
  4. Pamela Cartlidge says

    January 1, 2025 at 10:28 am

    Well executed.

    Reply
    • Vijai says

      January 1, 2025 at 12:47 pm

      Thanks Pamela

      Reply

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