Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.
Here’s where the prompts took me.
crow ~ window ~ near ~ time ~ expect ~ flight
message ~ begin ~ stars ~ regret ~ smart ~ dark

No one thought to expect a crow at the window …. not at that time of night, when the stars were swallowed whole by something older than clouds.
It came without warning …. without flight, almost …. as though it had simply appeared there, black against the black, tapping the glass with the patience of a thing that does not begin so much as continue.
The message it carried was folded tight, sealed with wax, sanguine in color. The handwriting inside was smart, precise, and familiar in a way that made the stomach drop.
You were warned to stay near.
Nothing more, nothing less,
Outside, the dark pressed in from every direction. She stood very still, her breath a ghost against the cold pane, turning the note over and over, already feeling the slow bloom of regret for every door she’d opened, every secret she’d followed down into the earth like a root looking for water it would never find.
The crow had vanished. It always does.
NAR©2026
#MLMM
#Wordle
This is “Bones for the Crows” by Nickelback
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

This is so cool Nance! I loved it! 🌹🌹🫶🫶
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Thanks so much, CA!
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Oh my, that gave me the creeps!
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Mission accomplished! Thanks very much, dear Keith 😌
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You make us want to know more, Nancy.
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I really like that comment, Esther. Thanks so much!
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Love this- so mysterious!
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Not quite as mysterious as a raven, but close enough! Thanks, Jodi
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Curiosity might have killed the cat, my dear, but it is capable of more…. Great story, Nancy.
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It takes more than a little curiosity to kill those cool cats! Thanks, Lois 😎
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A strange and dark story and an equally strange song/group that I’ve not heard before, Nancy …
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It’s rare that I can feature music you don’t know, my friend; I’m happy for the introduction. Thank you for your very gracious words and a good song from the black crows. 🎶💙
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Ah, my musical library shall always remain an impossible task to fill my dear friend 🎶💙🌏
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Good story Nancy. Love the Nickelback track. I don’t know much of their stuff so this was new to me. It’s great!
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So glad you enjoyed Nickelback and my story, Di. I like the way they work together. Thanks very much!
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What a vivid haunting piece Nance – chilling and great track perfect for the story 💜
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Thanks for your kind words, Ange. Glad you enjoyed it. 🩶
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🩷
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Interesting and intriguing story 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Thanks very much, Sadje 😊
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♥️❤️♥️
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