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101 Word Short Stories

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The Wait

August 28, 2021 10 Comments

By Pauline Rendall

I watched her walk down the silent street towards me, yellow umbrella gleaming against the drab, grey stone buildings. Chestnut boots; I’d noticed them in the cafe when I picked her out. I’d liked the way her long blonde hair framed her face as she leaned over her coffee.

Thunder cracked across an indigo sky. Streetlights flickered in the haze. Edges blurred. Fast falling snow deadened my footfall.

I fondled the slender silk scarf and slowly drew it from my pocket. My fingers tingled. My heart beat slowed. A thrill of anticipation coursed through me.

My first, but not my last.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris Nedahl says

    August 28, 2021 at 8:38 am

    Suspense in few words. Well written.

    Reply
    • Pauline Rendall says

      August 28, 2021 at 9:22 am

      Thank you. Much appreciated.

      Reply
  2. b. says

    August 28, 2021 at 11:05 am

    Well done! I experienced a hitch in my breathing for just a moment.

    Reply
  3. J. P. Olesen says

    August 28, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Unsettling, almost poetic imagery. Well done!

    Reply
  4. Mary says

    August 28, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    This is incredible. The pace and suspense is right on target. Great job!

    Reply
  5. Eleanor Young says

    August 29, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    The build up of the sinister plan highlighted by the picking out of the woman, the deadened footfall and the fondling of the silk is enough to make your skin crawl at the promise of the inevitable action.

    Reply
  6. M says

    August 29, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    This story begs to be turned into a novel. Well done!

    Reply
    • Pauline Rendall says

      August 30, 2021 at 10:44 am

      Well you might be interested to know that it’s actually distilled from a short story of 3,200 words.

      Reply
      • Michael says

        September 1, 2021 at 9:40 am

        Well done!

        Reply
  7. Pauline Rendall says

    August 30, 2021 at 10:44 am

    Thank you everyone for such lovely comments.

    Reply

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