avatarAdelia Ritchie, PhD

Summary

Arianna, a woman who has recently taken to drinking Scotch, finds herself alone and grieving on a dock as she watches Rafael, a man she met through her preference for spiced rum, sail away, leaving her as emotional as an empty tissue box, until a kind stranger offers her a hanky.

Abstract

The narrative "Scotch on the Docks" is a poignant 75-word novel that captures a moment of solitude and heartache in the life of Arianna. She is depicted reaching for her Scotch, a drink she began to favor after meeting Rafael, who has now sailed away, leaving her to mourn their parting. The scene is vividly painted with imagery of condensation on her glass and the rain, symbolizing her tears. Just as she confronts her loneliness, a compassionate stranger extends an offer of comfort, hinting at a potential new beginning or connection.

Opinions

  • The author likely empathizes with the protagonist's emotional state, using the empty tissue box as a metaphor for her feelings of emptiness.
  • The choice of Scotch over Arianna's preferred spiced rum may symbolize a shift in her life or coping mechanism due to her encounter with Rafael.
  • The act of the stranger offering a hanky suggests themes of kindness and the possibility of human connection in the midst of sorrow.
  • The inclusion of links to other works implies that the author values brevity in storytelling and invites readers to explore more concise narratives.
  • The mention of "The Open Kimono" indicates a possible self-reference or a nod to transparency and openness in storytelling or personal expression.

Scotch on the Docks

A 75-word novel, a single woman, seeking…

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Damn. The tissue box is empty again, she whined, reaching instead for her Scotch. Arianna had always preferred spiced rum until she met Rafael, the tall stranger standing on the dock, alone, in the rain.

Like the condensation on her icy glass, tears flowed down her cheeks. Watching Rafael sail away, she felt as empty as that tissue box. She turned back to her Scotch.

“Hello, do you need a hanky?” offered the handsome stranger.

For more fun with few words:

And for something completely different:

And thanks for exposing yourself to The Open Kimono!

Adelia Ritchie, Shadowgnosis

Poetry On Medium
Romance
75 Word Poem
Microfiction
Life
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