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101 Word Short Stories

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Three-Day Thaw

October 12, 2025 10 Comments

By Kip Knott

Day One

Outside our bedroom window, early spring winds and crows tear the world to shreds. Tomorrow, I’ll have to relight your graveside candle.

Day Two

The Morse Code of my footprints in our slush-filled yard reminds the world I walk alone.

Day Three

One step ahead of spring’s first thunderstorm, I navigate the overgrown trail we used to hike together on your good days. When a flash of lightning cleaves the world in two, I ask you without thinking which way I should go. The only reply is the river’s voice as it tries to break free of winter’s ice.

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September 12 & 13 on Zoom
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vivian says

    October 13, 2025 at 1:37 am

    Beautiful.

    Reply
    • Kip says

      October 17, 2025 at 5:58 pm

      Thank you, Vivian!

      Reply
  2. Raghunathan Kuppuswamy says

    October 15, 2025 at 7:31 am

    lovely expressions very evocative

    Reply
    • Kip says

      October 17, 2025 at 5:58 pm

      Thank you for reading my story!

      Reply
  3. Ramona Taylor says

    October 15, 2025 at 11:10 am

    From the first line to the last, every choice of phrase was perfect, 101 words making eyes overflow. I don’t believe I’ve read any writing from you before but you’ve got a new fan now.

    Reply
    • Kip says

      October 17, 2025 at 5:59 pm

      I really appreciate that, Ramona! Thank you.

      Reply
  4. Gina says

    October 15, 2025 at 1:12 pm

    Powerful words that linger long after the last line.

    Reply
    • Kip says

      October 17, 2025 at 6:00 pm

      Thank you, Gina!

      Reply
  5. Marie Barski says

    October 17, 2025 at 12:18 pm

    Just wonderful. I love the sentence below “Day 2”. It reads like a poem.

    Reply
  6. Kip says

    October 17, 2025 at 6:01 pm

    Thank you, Marie! I often approach my microfiction the same way I approach my poetry.

    Reply

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