Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)
For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!
I opted to do the full challenge with a 200 word entry (word count determined by Microsoft Word - which counts ellipsis) with the beginning and ending phrase. This is a little darker than my usual stuff, but I like how it turned out. Enjoy.
VOWS
The door swung
open and I smelled Clorox. The television blared the words murder, killer on the loose, suspect escaped, mental hospital as I entered.
Susan’s mental illness manifested itself in obsessive cleaning and trying to kill
me for unknown reasons.
Suddenly there were footsteps on
the stairs behind me. I should run, I thought, but didn’t move. As soon as I gained the courage to turn around,
I heard her voice.
“Do you
remember our wedding vows?”
“Susan…Please.”
I pleaded.
“I asked
you a question…I think you owe me an answer.”
“Yes. I
remember our vows.”
“Will you
love, honor…Blah. Blah. Blah. in sickness and in health….be true in good times and
in bad” Susan growled. “Do you remember your answer?”
“I
do.”
Susan
screamed “RIGHT! BUT YOU DIDN’T!” and ran directly at me.
I braced myself
for impact but only felt a painful pinch, and then heat emanating outward from the
injury. Susan backed away and I saw a syringe protruding from my thigh. The effects
were immediate and I fell to the floor. Before
I lost consciousness I felt her warm breath on my ear.
“Until death
do us part. Remember? Goodbye.” Then the
door swung shut.
