See You Next Christmas
A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story
By Nate Melcher
Inspired by the card’s artwork
Theirs was a forbidden love.
They’d seen each other for years, he from the rooftop and she from the front yard. Both were a little different each time they saw each other. He was a little older, a few more wrinkles. She either plump or thin, depending on the snow that season, and her scarf had started to unravel over time.
They both knew the truth, though. The last child was eighteen. The “Sold” sign was in front of the home. The mini-mall construction would start up that spring.
“Come away with me,” he said.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
– – –
This story surprised me in the way it turned into something sweet. I think it ended up my favorite of the batch because of it.
You can read more about my process in crafting fifteen short stories based on Christmas greeting cards. Thank you for reading!
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