Frantically he pushed the door. It did not move. A voice filled the room. Please answer the question, that is all that’s required. The voice was calm and precise.

He began screaming, banging frantically on the door. It remained shut.

Soft and calm the voice repeated, please just answer the question.

Fire hoses did little to quell the fire.

The dying embers amid the rubble released the last gasp of smoke.

Firemen stood amazed. Only the door and frame remained untouched. There were no handles on the heart shaped door as it swung back and forth in the gentle breeze.

    0 0 votes
    Post Rating
    25 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    2 years ago

    An unsolved mystery, an allegory, an unasked question – what more could we want from 100 words? This story will keep us all guessing for a long time. Great writing!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    Eric, this story is so different, and so absolutely intriguing. Is this a woeful tale of AI gone wrong? What’s the significance of the heart shape for the door? Is there a deeper symbolism here? I can’t wait to read it over and over and let the aha moments pour in. Great job!

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    2 years ago

    What a conundrum you have presented us with Eric. The heart shaped door and the fire leads me to a heart on fire from which there is no escape. The question evades me but I get the sense the man is desperate for release but unwilling to answer the question. I have to assume he answered in the end as there is no mention of him among the ashes. As for the… Read more »

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    I write for the sheer love of it Eric. Sometimes I may pause and wonder if others will understand a particular phrase or sentence or even dislike it but, when push comes to shove, I understand it and I like it. So I guess I write for myself, but I also take a lot of pleasure from receiving feedback from those who have taken the time to read and comment. That is… Read more »

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Eric, when I read that he had to answer a question, I got the impression that this is a case of revenge and that the protagonist didn’t want to admit guilt. Your reference to the heart shaped door made me think this was maybe a romance gone wrong because of a fault on his part… which he didn’t want to admit to. So many possibilities though… Well done!

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    Eric, I certainly enjoyed your story. It is seldom as simple as only one possibility! That is making writing even more exciting, because each person interprets it in their own way.

    Last edited 2 years ago by Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    I like Carrie’s take on it! Much less morbid than mine ?

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    Very intriguing story, Eric. If this is symbolism, I keep imagining some poor chap with sudden chest pain, wondering if he has heartburn or having a heart attack. The firemen with their hoses the antacid going through his system, like in the advertisement, then the heart shaped door swinging back and forth, the beating of his heart as the fire subsides. My brain does go off on strange tangents though ?

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    Now, there’s a really cool name for a character ?

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    Reply to  Carrie OLeary
    2 years ago

    Love your interpretation Carrie  ? . Eric suggests I look to the symbols again, I think I’ll go crazy if I do, I’m already half way there!

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    Reply to  Linda Rock
    2 years ago

    I’m all the way to crazyladyness. You have read my interpretation!

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    Thank you so much Eric for the explanation and congratulations on being a finalist. This was such an intriguing story that is so much clearer now! I did get it right that the door was his heart though so I will take some small comfort from that. I look forward to more fascinating and mind boggling stories from you that will probably drive me crazy but I will absolutely love them!

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Eric Radcliffe
    2 years ago

    I love it, Eric. It is fascinating but thank you for your giving us the interpretation.

    Lisa Gledhill
    Lisa Gledhill(@lisa-gledhill)
    2 years ago

    Ohh..I love stories that make me think and stay with me for a long time after. Nicely done 🙂

    Recent Comments

    25
    0
    Selected Authors may submit comments (5 Credits)x
    ()
    x
    Scroll to Top

    Sharing a Post

    Why do my friends need to SignIn to read the post I shared?

    Actually, this is a voting security feature. During public voting, only club members can read posts submitted for that contest. Since anyone reading the story is able to vote (click the Like button), we reserve these capabilities to members who SignIn. Before we implemented this security feature, people were voting multiple times and making the public voting process unfair and out of balance. To fix this, our staff finally decided to allow only members who SignIn to read the stories. Membership is free and easy, and ensures our club is safe, secure, and family-friendly!