Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Twins

June 7, 2021 6 Comments

By Anna Sanderson

Jay and I are identical.

As kids, we wore matching outfits; learnt to read and count and swim together; were protected from bedtime monsters by our shared four-legged friend.

But as we grew, things changed. I was taught lessons Jay never needed to know. Like when to fake a phone call, and how to carry keys between my fingers, and remember: wear flat shoes when walking at night, in case you have to run.

I didn’t understand at first, but now I get it. My monsters still lurk in the darkness. Jay and I are identical, but we’re not the same.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John Holmes says

    June 7, 2021 at 7:19 am

    Great piece of writing. Powerful.

    Reply
  2. Heather says

    June 7, 2021 at 7:51 am

    Excellent. Conveys much, succinctly.

    Reply
  3. E Barnes says

    June 7, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    This sounded like one twin was male and one female. Identical twins are of the same sex. It was a good insight though between what females must endure vs males. They are fraternal twins though if different genders.

    Reply
  4. Casey says

    June 7, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    Omg. As a fellow female, I can 100% relate to this. Also, I have identical twin boys….23 years old. And while I don’t have to worry about them being attacked/raped in a parking lot, there are so many other “monsters” waiting for them (like peer pressure to do dumb stuff … idk how many ER visits/stitches we’ve had over the years ?????)

    Reply
  5. Archibald Hobbs says

    June 8, 2021 at 12:54 am

    A very thought-provoking story, Anna. Thanks for your contribution to helping men see the monsters lurking in the darkness for women.

    Reply
  6. Kelli Borges says

    June 8, 2021 at 11:40 am

    Really good…hit close to home.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.