“The Necklace” (A 500-Word Exercise)

I originally wrote this story in early 2009, as a fictional letter to Theo (a character in “The Prescribed Burn”), but I wanted to challenge myself by whittling it down to 500 words.

I broke my long, jangling necklace again. At least two of the little bronze bells rolled under the radiator, to be lost forever.

Please don’t scold me for neglecting to take it off while cleaning. I like the sound it makes when I move. Especially on a summer day like today, I craved something cold and familiar against my skin.

I don’t expect you to remember my jewelry, but you know this necklace. I wore it the night we met at the Stateline Diner, our halfway point. You arrived in your new car, which you had been wanting to show me.

I felt pretty. My necklace chimed when I hugged you.

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I Know You’ve Been Creeping

I know you’ve been creeping around this site and reading some of my stories. So far, I have shared about half of “The Prescribed Burn”. I figured now would be a good time to check in with my readers.

What have you liked the best so far?
What isn’t really doing it for you?
What would you like me to write about more?
What would you like me to write about less?
What suggestions do you have for me?
What else would you like to say?

You can leave comments anonymously below. Just provide a phony e-mail address and use a fake name. I’ll never know who you are.