Little Rooms. Trap Doors.
Little Rooms. Trap Doors.
Exactly 100 words
It terrifies me to no end, beginning anytime, anywhere, a silent ambush, with no warning or sound. Imperceptible at first, it quickly grows in ferocity of attack, every second more intense than the last, until I can think of nothing…
She snuggles close to me as we sit on the edge of the cliff, our legs swinging freely above the raging surf and jagged rocks below. Do it now, I think—a slip, a fall, a tragic accident, I’ll say—and soon,…
The starting pistol cracked in the sparkling blue alpine air, sending dozens of competitors sprinting up the steep mountain trail in a frantic race to the top. Their speed slowed as lungs burned and legs turned to lead, but they pushed…
It’s the latest technology: convenient, safe, and unhackable, they said. I got one embedded in my hand, between my thumb and index finger. A microchip smaller than a grain of rice, replacing ID cards, credit cards, keys, transit passes, and…
My roommate Rich says, “You know, some people criticize the president for being selfish and uncaring, but it’s not true.” I raise my eyebrows at his assertion. “Oh?” I say. “Yes, he has everyone’s best interests in mind. I’ll prove…
I finished gassing up my car and noticed a pretty young woman at the next pump put the fuel nozzle into her gas tank. She stepped back, tripped over the hose stretched behind her legs, and fell flat on the…
As I signal to turn left, the Chevy pickup truck behind me speeds past on the right shoulder, horn blaring. The driver throws a middle-finger salute out the window and yells something that sounds like “Luck you!” I’m going a…
Another foggy Halloween night, pitch black save for a few freshly carved jack-o’-lanterns perched on the river’s edge, their flickering light casting ghoulish shadows on the nearby trees. A breeze moaned through the leaves, sending a pleasant chill down Sharon’s…
I rock in my patio chair, basking in the warm embrace of a lazy fall day, as a gentle breeze tousles my hair. The trees boast vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and greens in golden light, a vivacious show of glory…
I drift unseen through the darkened house, a ghostly specter come to end my husband’s dreams. I hear him whisper her name as he sleeps, unaware of my presence or intent. Betrayed by a kiss, he traded my life for…
He crouches behind the bush and looks through the eyepiece at the majestic lion resting fifty feet away. After tracking this regal beast for hours across the savannah, he finally has a good position and clear line of sight. He…
“We need to talk,” says dad. “Okay, I’ve got a few minutes. What’s up?” “Have a seat while I get some coffee.” I sit at the dining room table. Dad fills his coffee cup and sits next to me. He…
After his divorce, Keenan thought he would never find love again. He hated being alone. He missed female companionship. Twelve years together, then she was gone. Oh, how he longed for a second chance! Then he met her, and they…
You wake on the basement cot. Why are you here? How long have you been here? The light of dawn peeks through the window overhead. Betsy, your beloved tabby cat, meows close by. You remember. You came to find her…
Jimmy points to the empty container on the kitchen counter. “Okay, Skippy, ‘fess up!” I look away like I don’t see him. “Skippy?” I hang my head. I’m busted. I say nothing; my guilt is written on my face. Jimmy…
Meteorites are small bits of inanimate rock, streaking through the sky, leaving a trail of brilliant light in their wake. Shooting stars, but no more. They pass through time and space for a moment, leaving their memory etched in the…
Wherever she went, heads turned. Men stared and whistled. Women gave her a jealous eye and whispered. Everyone agreed: she was the most beautiful girl in town. With model-good looks that made men weak in the knees, and women weak…
The doorbell rings. It’s here! The new laptop I bought online a few days ago. I am so excited. It’s the latest model, with all the bells and whistles I need, and I got it for a song. I retrieve…
Daisy slathered the hot toast with butter, then squeezed on a gooey glob of honey from the bear-shaped bottle. “Mmmm…” she moaned, as she relished the sweet, buttery goodness. She recalled reading an article once about how a bee produces…
My hands drip crimson as I put the knife in the sink. What a mess. I scrub hard with soap and water, but to my dismay, my hands are stained. A dead giveaway to the act I committed. I need…
Morning latte in hand, Amy sits in her wicker patio chair and admires her backyard flower garden. In weeks to come, she will recall this moment fondly as she unpacks boxes in her new home and moves into the next…
Tony watched the evening news, amused as the Secretary of Education referred to “A1” instead of “AI” in a discussion about technology in schools. He rolled his eyes at her gaffe. Suddenly, he craved a juicy steak smothered in A.1.…