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101 Word Short Stories

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The Lady and the Wheel

March 29, 2025 6 Comments

By Christopher Mattravers-Taylor

Harsh light bathes the roulette table, while freezing darkness obscures the rest of the casino. A tattered cowl hides the croupier’s face. Clutching my last chip, I hesitate, afraid.

The Lady sits opposite, eyes an iridescent green and hair a raven halo. Smiling, she plucks the chip from my shaking fingers and places it on a number.

The croupier’s skeletal hand casts the ball and it thunders around the spinning wheel, bouncing between pockets. I watch, breathless…

I wake in the hospital bed. My wife clasps my hand, tears streaming down her smiling face.

“It’s a miracle, sweetheart. The tumour’s disappeared.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny says

    March 29, 2025 at 5:42 am

    Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. Gripping .

    Reply
    • Nan says

      March 29, 2025 at 12:26 pm

      My thoughts exactly!

      Reply
  2. JRRoth says

    March 29, 2025 at 12:11 pm

    Nicely done. Great imagery!

    If it were my life, I’d probably be playing craps.

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    March 29, 2025 at 6:47 pm

    Nice! Do I spot a fellow Pratchett fan???

    Reply
    • Christopher Mattravers-Taylor says

      March 31, 2025 at 9:58 am

      Yup!

      Reply
  4. Paul says

    March 31, 2025 at 6:29 am

    Great build up to that twist 🙂

    Reply

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