Spark

I give to you a story in eleventy-one words...

He answered the door; their eyes met. They exchanged a sad, silent greeting. He opened his mouth to speak; a passing siren stopped him short. She responded with a melancholy grin. He motioned for her to enter; she shook her head. A tear fell down the inside of her cheek. He moved to wipe it away; he couldn’t stop the droplet from falling into the corner of her mouth. She licked her lips. His finger lingered in midair; she took his hand in hers. The spark remained. He tried to speak again; she moved her index finger perpendicular to her lips. She looked into his eyes once more, turned, and departed.

Smile

I give to you a story in eleventy-one words...

He was meandering down the main path when he came upon a whirling white creature in the meadow’s midst, an adolescent girl. Seeing no one in the vicinity, he traversed the field.

‘Are you okay?’

She stared at him.

‘Where are your parents?’

She shrugged.

A young couple came into view. No sooner had they appeared than the girl began to scream. The couple raced to them.

‘Are you okay?’ they asked the girl.

‘He tried to hurt me.’

At that the young man restrained the older man and the woman hurried away with the child. As they fled, the old man caught on the little girl’s face a sardonic smile.