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101 Word Short Stories

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Silent

August 19, 2020 12 Comments

By James Lipson

He lingers from dawn to dusk without fail, taking care that not a grain of salt falls. Alone. He has no life, no hobbies, no desires. There is nothing else, only the crystalline reminder of a time long since passed.

He made a promise to a young girl he didn’t keep, a promise he couldn’t break to that which remained behind.

Tender and gentle he strokes her cheek with the back of his hand. His love would melt with the rains were he to falter.

All there is left for Lot is the statue, his once-living sculpture, his now silent wife.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracie says

    August 19, 2020 at 7:09 am

    Well done! Quite poetic and beautifully written.

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 19, 2020 at 8:25 am

      Thank you Tracie!

      Reply
  2. Cathy Cade says

    August 19, 2020 at 7:56 am

    An original thought, well-executed

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 19, 2020 at 8:24 am

      Thank you so much Cathy!

      Reply
  3. Peggy says

    August 19, 2020 at 9:22 am

    So unique. Beautifully written.

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 19, 2020 at 9:30 am

      Thank you Peggy, your kind words are uplifting.

      Reply
  4. Denise says

    August 19, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    An imaginative idea for a poem. Heartbreakingly sad. Congratulations

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 19, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you Denise!

      Reply
  5. Michael D. Brown says

    August 19, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    So sad in the way it shows how a memory is only that and can never be real again. Well done.

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 19, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      Thank you Michael, I’m glad the story reached you.

      Reply
  6. J. David says

    August 20, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    “Why did you you have to look back?!” Nice! A very fitting and interesting sequel subplot to an ancient text. Next up: Job.

    Reply
    • James Lipson says

      August 21, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      Thank you J.! To be fair, we all would have looked back.

      Reply

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