I remember reading a six word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway, it said, “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” And that started a curious wonder for sad six word stories.
Although there really is no solid proof saying that Hemingway did write the story, it is believed that he wrote it to win a bet. He challenged a few writers that he could write a six-word story that could make people cry. And he did.
Because the six-word format was so good, a few other people followed in. I have collected a few stories that follow the format. I like these stories because, well, they are short but sharp. Like daggers that pierce through your flesh, they bring out pains in your heart you never knew you had. They are kept short just so it can adjust to the degrading attention span of today’s world but are jam-packed with feelings.
I won’t keep you much longer, here they are:
Painfully, he changed “is” to “was.”
—Icantusemyimgurname
“Wrong number,” says a familiar voice.
—bailiff
The smallest coffins are the heaviest.
—TheWolfOfWalmart
Brought roses home. Keys didn’t fit.
—shallowblue
First sentient robot: “Turn me off.”
—pockets1
Paramedics finished her text, “…love you”.
—Craftisto
Introduced myself to mother again today.
—warsy26
“I’m faking Alzheimers.” said Granddad. Again.
—Gary10
Birth certificate. Death certificate. One pen.
—sixwordsmyth
“Just married!” read the shattered windshield.
—s_m_f_a_h
Finally spoke to her. Left flowers.
—mudswipe
Met my soulmate. At her wedding.
—LoveFoolosophy
“I do,” she said, as told.
—cresur
So, how are the stories? Did you like them? What was your favorite? Mine was Painfully, he changed “is” to “was.” Do you have a six-word story that you can share to us? Post your reactions at the comments section below. And if you find this article shareable, please hit the social buttons below.
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I once had a best friend
They prayed but God never came.
we prayed, no change, brain cancer…
omg aw at ” the smallest coffins are the heaviest “
Murió solo. Ya nadie lo recordaba.
Our secret………..Thats what daddy says.
On the toilet, forgot my phone.
I fell. He didn’t catch me.
Wisdom teeth. Kidney stones. Broken heart.
we saw the second plane hit
five to six months left. cancer.
My baby brother Kenny…dead…overdose
“I gave up on love, twice…”
and on a lighter note,
“Phone on 3%, charger is upstairs.”
” don’t let me die”, her last words
i can still smell her scent
”What’s youre return policy on rings?”
”Jumped.Then i changed my mind.”
”Siri,delete Mom from my contacts.”
”Mom taught me how to shave.”
Not mine read them somewhere.
Married — just not to each other.
“Lost both sons; still trust God”
Saw flames, heard screams, no exit
first responders sometimes second to reaper
Why him? Why not me?
Where did all my time go?
Top speed. No helmet. No need.
Take me, just take me instead.
“Don’t take my baby!”, I sobbed.
“Losing fat is a slow process!”
A true one for me . . . .
“Two sons dead; still trust God.”
They went to school,never come back
This is a real story of APS Peshawar…december 16,2014…. of those little angels who became the victims of terrorism!
Second dead husband. Still no insurance.
Two dead husbands. Still no insurance.
Two dead husbands. Live, still.
Goodbye love, this time is forever….
Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Indebted, tears fall on worthless diploma.
oh dear.
Someone died. It can’t be me.
Are you sure?
Broken mirror, never can be fixed!
Even the ice has to melt!
Daddy”s goodnight kiss. She feared most.
whoa!
“’Just married!’ read the shattered windshield.” First, putting “Just married” and the shattered windshield together tells us a sad story. Second, the fact that “Just married” was painted on the windshield tells us that the person who put it there was either an idiot or a jealous suitor. Third, it tells us that the driver was an idiot or maybe the passenger, too.
There results were in: Obama again.
They want mom to identify him
And the dress color is…fugly!
For some reason, the robot one hit the hardest.
The daffodils still bloom without you.
(For St David’s Day)
…haven’t been happy over a year.
” I have Alzheimer’s? Ice bucket challenge!!! “
Resonating word
Contextualization
Haiku found within
Heart unbroken. Typical internet hype. Fail.
Sign reads, “Birthday Today!” Nobody arrives.
Tree fell in the forest…quietly?
Awoke forgetting she was gone. Again.
-I never heard her snore again.
-My unborn child never kicked once.
-Her hand slipped from his grasp.
-One last time. “Don’t forget me.”
Letter. “We regret to inform you…”
Wow….I’m sorry.
Knowledge to share with no one.
Then she cried, “i’m all alone.”
I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet, but these little stories are much like haiku, a form that also expresses a thought, a feeling, an emotion–in very few words.
His last words, “I won’t believe.”
Veterinarian injecting. Breathing his last. Goodbye.
Wow did this one hit a nerve.
It reminded me of when my dog Elliott was dying and one day I looked out into the backyard and saw him trying to crawl under my ’68 Mustang. My heart sank. The vet told me that Elliott would let me know when it was time.
I got my keys and called to him. He followed me and jumped right into the truck. When we got to the Vet’s office he got out and followed me to the door. When we went in, I went straight to the exam room and he followed.
There was a sofa in the exam room and I sat down. Elliott jumped up and sat next to me, then scooted as close to me as he could. He laid his head in my lap. I tried not to cry, but tears streamed down my face, landing on his head and disappearing into his fur.
When the vet came in, he said “Let’s get him up here” as he motioned to the exam table. I said “No, do it right here.” He tried to object, but I insisted. Elliott died in my arms. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Mine: “It was over. Heartbroken, she left.”
Pee burns. Shouldn’t have banged that.
Now that’s just sad
Will you? I will. One heart.
First breath. First glimpse. True love. (Day my son was born)
Drove to store, forgot his wallet.
His “forever” ended. Hers continued alone.
“See you tomorrow!” Tomorrow never dawned.
End of the world? Or just his?
Best friend, expectancy 12 to 15.
When he lives, Troy will fall.
(Cassandre, daughter of Priam, King of Troy)
Nice.
Icicle scars extinguished her soiled innocence.
“Mrs. Peter? My brother just died.”
This was an actual quote from a phone conversation my sister had with our mother’s best friend. He wad dead; I was ten.
I accidentally hit send button twice.
I see what you did there.
“Mrs. Peter? My brother just died.”
An actual sentence I heard my sister say on the phone to our mother’s best friend. He was dead; I was ten.
Wrote a letter, to a RTS.
Her first kiss was his last.
= = =
They thanked her with a flag.
The wedding ring doesn’t fit anymore.
Godwish! Dont dare! It is over…
No next of kin, only him.
Dieing lonely has got to be one of the scariest/sadest things
It’s morning, she wakes in pain.
He saw me, fell in love.
I was cautious, burned by life.
Came to believe, fell in love.
Married my love, against all expectations.
Married twenty-six years, two happy kids.
All from wheelchair. Mom to Esq.
Beat odds. Because love matters, differences don’t.
Darling I have it, it’s inoperable
1) I know our time is limited…..
2) six years one heartbreak your mine
3) breathing slowly heartbeats faintly cancers killing
4) lost soul beaten and bruised forgotten
5) two words two rings two people
6) one kiss one touch stolen moments
7) eyes fading breath raspy hands shaky
8) shattered future he died a hero
9) leather frame old photograph lost soul
She took her first step. The metal clanged.
Mysterious villain. Locked inside. Body dies.
Heart embers died. Only ashes remain.
I told him flying was safe
I told him flying was safe….
I actually said “wow” out loud when I read yours. Excellent and chilling.
That’s only five…
promised broken heart, left website disapointed
Oh god, sorry to disappoint you.
He made his will in anger.
He told the truth, to late.
He promised me children. He lied.
“Tomorrow would have been her birthday”
“Thank you for your family’s sacrifice”
“Yes officer, she was my daughter”
He knelt, she cried, together forever.
(How about a happy one?)
Positive test. Nine months. Complete Family.
Unless she’s not your wife. 😛
Loved the water- his final home.
He jumped, chute didn’t open.
Pursued past, absent present, lost future.
-or-
Chased my past, lost my future.
….and her star winks at me.
Mom’s face glowed before she died.
Its our 50th! Table for one.
I loved her, She never knew.
I feel you
I never got to say goodbye.
*to my father who passed away from cirrhosis.*
It’s OK to let go Dad.
Mom I’m home. An empty house.
Only thought about crying out, “stop!”
“Welcome Home!”, he’d never hear.
Plagiarized a master, they’re so pathetic
They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard
That’s because of President Sarah Palin.
I feel the chills of an alternate reality!
Cried until the guilt was unbearable
His last words asked for forgiveness
Never apologized, now it’s too late
“I’ve never loved you” he thought.
Daddy, don’t go, the taperecorder repeated.
As a father of three that works away from home a lot, this struck a cord. Well done.
The Princess is in another castle.
YES, YES, YES!
This is so deep and sad
he finally got sober, by overdose
T_T in the feels…
Found life by hide-n-seek.
Pain. She wonders why he hits.
End is near. Here it comes.
Now Jenner is a woman’s name.
Oh my god. You won the Internet today!
Paramedics finished her text, “…love you”. was the saddest one for me. I think about trying to tell my husband I love him at the end often. (I think I need to tweak my imagination a bit!)
He slowly died full of regrets.
Just picturing the scene in my mind makes me sad
Exhales final breath. No man left.
(A story of war and indifference.)
it’s the first day of forever
One Step. One fall. One life
Needle in. He spasms. Justice done?
“Outlived them all; friends died young.”
You are right on me 75 me no close friend left
Bedroom door opened; diary lock broken
No she was cleaning the gun.
She watched them stick his arm.
(Death sentence.)
She saw the needle end him.
for sale: baby shoes, never worn.
I hope you aren’t attempting to claim this as your own.
Rush to the loo. Too late.
Kissed my father one last time
With windchill effect, negative sixty eight
Slide into first, feel something burst.
lol
“I love you”…her last note…
Decree Absolute today. Free at last.
Sometimes it was sometimes. Now, never.
Love this one.
Thanks!
Bloody roses. Jackies tears. Camelot gone.
They told me it was terminal.
The bus roared off, laptop inside.
Now, this has to be the saddest one. 😀
I used to feed my puppy.
She stared. He never saw her
some of thiese are really weird. but some are pretty good.
She made no sound. She jumped.
(true story)
Oh man, that sounded grim..
Grim does not cover it. She was my wife.
Oh James, so sorry
Powerful.
James–My son as well. That way.
No sound. She jumped. True story.
Baby’s bassinet for sale. Never used.
Why not just rip off the original entirely? You’re only a couple words off.
Wonder where you got the inspiration for that one…
No creative options. Copying is easier.