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Every story published in 100 Word Fiction. Search by title, author, or a half-remembered phrase; filter by year, tag, or contributor.
Showing 18 of 109 stories
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Intentional Speeding
It was invigorating to be caught by the speed radar this morning. I was traveling faster than normal. Few drivers were out on an early Saturday morning. The officer’s speed gun was centered on me. He had me. I did not…
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Pinkness
Her bloodied pink panties lay crumpled in the corner near the bathtub where she dropped them when she returned from the clinic. Her boyfriend tossed them into the hamper a day later when he came by to check on her. He…
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Legacy Land
The view from the porch hadn’t changed much in his 85 years; the land gently sloping to the field his family had plowed for generations. Daniel Boone had been here once, as had the current governor of Kentucky. This was…
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Betty & Bob
After watering mutual anniversary bouquets, Jenny led Ryan to the park bench she usually occupied solo. Opposite them sat an elderly couple deep in conversation and tenderly holding hands. Ryan laughed. "Look at Betty &…
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Last Words
Uncle Fred was in his bed with the end near. That is, of his life, not his bed. Those few relatives who at the last moment could make it to his small unventilated room sat in silence on inexpensive folding chairs. Then…
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When Did You Dance, Mother?
Only once, did I see you jitterbugging in the kitchen. That’s when I realized there was another you inside the mix of you, hidden deep inside, resisting that urge to sing, dance and laugh out loud. The current you…
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Formations
“Good lord,” Doreen’s mother said when Doreen let the screen door bang shut.Doreen shrugged and made herself a sandwich, sharing a bite with the dog. Then she went into her room, pulled up her shirt and admired the…
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The Afterparty
Zak sits on a folding chair, cold sweat trickling beneath his flannel shirt. Onstage, her performance makes his nostrils flare with a familiar, frantic excitement. He remembers the psychiatrist’s diagnosis—the word…
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A Taste of Juniper
"No," you refuse, as I pass the pepper. "It's perfect."For your birthday dinner, I made a roast, grilled radicchio, and tomato soup. You don't like soup, but my intuition proved correct."Is there any more?'"There's…
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Eurydice
My wife asks for the scissors to cut the hospital band off her wrist.“I’ll do it,” I say.I glance back over my shoulder, just once, before leaving her alone. When I return, she’s not on the couch. Bile rises in my…
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s.o.u.l.
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph! A Rabbi at my side?”The clock strikes midnight. I whisper, “Merry Christmas, Dad”.I squeeze his hand softly, kiss his hallowed cheek. His breathing is shallow, legs swollen and dark, his face a…
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Vision of Deborah
I arrange my body into a comfortable position for mediation. As soon as my eyelids close, I see a vision. My friend Deborah, newly deceased, lifts my slack body, one hand under each armpit struggling to hoist me…
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Aisle Seven
Marjorie grabbed the last jar of Rao’s marinara sauce.Alexander’s fingers closed around hers, his nails digging deep. Their eyes met across the shopping cart, decades of rivalry crackling between them.Sauce was required…
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Final Ashes
A package arrived.“It’s heavy,” my wife exclaimed.“14 pounds,” I said. It was from Boise, which I hadn’t considered since I’d fired Boise-based Sid long ago.“A bomb?” my wife asked.“I wouldn’t think so.” Inside was a…
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The Suitcase
I’d forgotten the airport routine, and the turmoil wasn’t helping at all.“Do both these bags belong to you?” the agent asked again.I looked back down the line, but I couldn’t see her.“Uh, this chick asked me to carry…
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Migration
She wakes up early to say goodbye; he’s already gone. She runs to the door, catches a glimpse of his car as he drives away. Her mind takes a picture, processes it, then hangs it in her heart, just a blurry image of him…
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On Freezing and Fleeing
I sat sobbing on the cold tile floor at my in-laws’ house. Exhausted, I had mistaken familiarity for safety.“You’re just too emotional. She’ll hate you for it one day,” they said.My tears kept moving, but I didn’t.The…
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Being Honest
Jason had convinced himself he was dating a real girl, until she asked him for a ride to the android factory where she could score an upgrade. She told him she was considerably behind, due to her dataport having a loose…