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101 Word Short Stories

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The Key

October 21, 2025 6 Comments

By K. Sharronne

Rain tapped the window as Marla held the old brass key, its edges worn smooth by time. It had fallen from a dusty library book she’d never planned to check out. Something tugged at her: a memory—or a mystery. She followed the pull, walking blocks until her feet stopped outside a shuttered antique shop she’d passed for years. The door creaked open at her touch. Inside: silence, velvet chairs, ticking clocks. A locked drawer behind the counter waited. The key fit. Inside: photos of her as a child in places she’d never been. A note: ‘Welcome back, we missed you.’

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stella says

    October 21, 2025 at 8:23 am

    Love this, very spooky! I’m keen to read more, well done.

    Reply
  2. David says

    October 21, 2025 at 3:50 pm

    Strange and wonderful. Loved it.

    Reply
  3. Ed Kratz says

    October 22, 2025 at 8:51 am

    Well done . Perfectly weird.

    Reply
  4. Sharon Murphy says

    October 22, 2025 at 1:33 pm

    Intriguing. What happens next…

    Reply
  5. Richard says

    October 25, 2025 at 8:55 am

    Weird but wonderful, thanks for posting

    Reply
    • Katrina Shaw says

      January 25, 2026 at 2:43 pm

      Thanks for the positive feedback. You never know

      Reply

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