Start your story with a couple sharing a cigarette in a parking lot.

Posted in Adults on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 66 stories

“One More Cigarette” by Cynthia Black

Submitted to Contest #158

Hot moisture hung in the air. The hotel parking lot wet from the afternoon rain. Standing by her car they shared a cigarette and said nothing. It was time to quit. Time to go. Time to move on. It was time. They both knew it. Yeah, before something they couldn’t undo happened. At first, they started meeting on Thursday afternoons then Tuesdays too, and Mondays if they could. Sometimes Saturdays if she was free. It was time to leave. The traffic would be bad. She would be late. They both would be late. She needed time ...

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“Secondhand Smoke” by Nic Silvestris

Submitted to Contest #158

Secondhand Smoke The way she took a drag from her cigarette was not unlike Lady Godiva dismounting from her mount. No matter how hard someone tried, they could not match her grace. It was as if the tobacco burned in anticipation of touching her lips. Her exhale clouded my view of her face but highlighted the moon beams, which were the only source of light. Taking another long drag, she extended the butt to me, which I reluctantly took. To buy myself another five minutes with...

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“One Last Cigarette” by Rachael Parks

Submitted to Contest #158

“Well,” I exhaled, smoke drifting lazily between my teeth. “All things considered; this is a pretty fantastic place to watch the world burn.” A silence then; it filled the dirty air between us. It rode the rising smoke, drifted to the hot asphalt behind us, and slinked between the last of the cars left abandoned in their neat little rows. After a moment, the silence returned, loaded and heavy. At the change in atmosphere I looked towards him; at this man that I had vowed the rest of my life to. Turns out my vow has be...

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“One thousand first mornings” by Christopher Miller

Submitted to Contest #158

It’s always irritating when the swirling smoke from a freshly lit cigarette finds its way right into your eye, creating a stinging sensation that cannot seemed to be rubbed out, you have to allow the pain to fade. We were both overnight stockers at a local grocery store, escaping our chains in the morning when dew was fresh, the smell of salt peppered the air from the coast, and a splash of sunlight began to dance around the edges of the horizon. She asked if she could bum a cigarette off me and there is always plenty to go around, I handed ...

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“Brief and Random Conversations During the Apocalypse” by Richard Thompson

Submitted to Contest #158

This story contains references to drugs and violence.“When I was 16 I killed a man.”“What?”“I said, when I was 16 I killed a man.”“I heard what you said, Beth. I’m just not understanding the premise. Is this one of those new games the kids are playing now? You know I’m not on social media.”“No, I’m literally telling you that when I was 16 years old, I ran over a man in my daddy’s 1965 Chevy pickup truck and flattened him out like a pancake.”“Why?”“Why am I telling you, or why did I kill a man?”“Both, I guess.”“So, the killing was a total acc...

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“All In The Name Of Aquaintance” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #158

“This is for you, and this for me. These two sticks for you, this one stick for me” “ Why do you give me two sticks more and took one?” “ What would I ever do to be fair?” “ What you would ever do to be fair?—you should know” “ I should know? I gave you two extra sticks and kept one and yet you are complaining” “ So, in your heart, it was to be fair you gave me two extra sticks and kept one for yourself. Humm, good of you. I asked; if it were to be another thing beside cigarette, would you have given me more than you take?” “Beside cigarette...

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“LET GO” by Kate Baker

Submitted to Contest #158

LET GO It was nearly midnight when the train pulled into Kings Cross. Ellen checked her hair in the window’s reflection. She was sure the length and colour was exactly right, but only time would tell. Outside the terminal the pavement was wet although the rain had stopped. However, the seven minute walk to Oli’s bar was enough time for her plan to fail if moisture got to her hair. She retrieved her brolly and protected the hard-earned effect as if her life depended on it. Her life did depend on it. She was nobody without Oli’s atten...

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“His Surprise” by Dallas W

Submitted to Contest #158

The light from the cherry of a cigarette dimly lit his face as he puffed, puffed, puffed. He offered it back to me before turning in a slow circle, studying our surroundings. The tall cliffs and prickly cacti of the Arizona desert were but silhouettes against an orange and purple sunset. He looked at the signs in the parking lot, surely wondering why it was even there in the middle of nowhere. It was the easiest place to start our trek from. He smiled in his confusion. “What are we doing here, babe?” I smiled back. I had been playing t...

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“I don't believe in love anymore, Celine” by Gabi Gabrinov

Submitted to Contest #158

There was no one around in the parking lot. The chills in the air unraveled their pale skin, hidden under thin, black clothes. Fall was coming, and a sweet melancholy was floating around. Celine, who was curled up in his armes, suddenly lifted her head and snatched his cigarette. She pulled the smoke in her lungs, held it for a moment, then let it out softly, and the crispy wind blew it away in a gentle embrace. It was cold. She thought she had to shed some tears, grumble, negociate, but she just couldn't. Still, it was as thou...

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“Greener Pastures” by Melissa Taylor

Submitted to Contest #158

I leaned against my car in the parking lot of my apartment and took the first drag of my cigarette, Tony’s voice behind me nearly made me jump out of my skin. “I thought you quit.” “Son of a biscuit eater, Tony!” I yelled at my husband as I tried to calm my racing heart. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” Tony was always sneaking up on me. I had considered putting a bell around his neck like a cat. The thought made me laugh now, despite my annoyance. I passed the cigarette to my husband, who had q...

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“Cigarettes, Secrets, and Saying Goodbye” by Ashlyn Oboyle

Submitted to Contest #158

Ash steadily fell from the lit cigarette, the man tapping it twice to ensure it was ready to be lit again. “You know,” he began as he looked ahead, “I’ve never smoked before this.” There was a chuckle to his right side as he passed the cig to his female counterpart. “It’s funny, I haven’t either.” She held it steady in her mouth as he pulled out the lighter and lit the cancer stick. They were both silent as she inhaled and immediately began to cough. “What,” she hacked out another rough exhale, “What was your name again?” He smiled and put o...

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“The Waiting” by Brittany Mackeown

Submitted to Contest #158

They could have stayed in the truck, which would have been smart. Snow swirled across the empty parking lot and more was coming down, sticking in their hair and melting on the cigarette they passed back and forth. Sam’s hands were numb. He looked down at them to make sure they weren’t turning blue. No sign of blue, just a little red and chapped like Ronin’s lips. Sam had wondered if they would feel hot like when you have a fever and your body’s trying to stitch you back together, but he hadn’t tried. Sam’s mom was around, decorating the...

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“Two Weeks ” by Christine Dupuy

Submitted to Contest #158

Ben stood outside the back of the restaurant looking at the overflowing dumpster and breathing in the distinct smell of grease and fried food. Not all the food at his place of employment was bad; in fact, he quite enjoyed the free meals he got each shift that he worked. Being the dishwasher was about the worst gig he could think of, but he’d always been a hard worker and for now this job was just a means to an end. For the most part, the waitresses were nice to him, even though most of the time he felt kind of invisible. It had b...

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“Alexis” by Patricia Atkins

Submitted to Contest #158

Alexis walked out of the restaurant and towards his car. Louis always waited for her in the parking lot after she got off of work. When he saw her, he would roll down the windows, get out of the car, and sit in the passenger’s seat. That day was no different. Alexis watched him light his cigarette. She sat in the driver’s seat, but she wouldn’t drive anywhere. "You want to try it?" Louis asked her and held out the cigarette. Every day he asked this. She almost always declined. Sometimes she'd grab the cigarette and hover it inches bef...

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“Highs and Los ” by Dunbarin Fadairo

Submitted to Contest #158

Anna and Jack had almost nothing in common at the beginning of their relationship and that’s what brought them together, but the constant arguments and different viewpoints and backgrounds soon grew out of its cute phase. Much like their usual pattern, this odd couple finds themselves back in the deserted parking lot of a movie theater that closed down a few years back. “Remember when we attended your brother’s wedding?” Jack asked, took a puff of his cigarette and passed it to Anna. Anna placed the tiny cylinder between her lips and drew ...

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Start your story with a couple sharing a cigarette in a parking lot.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“One More Cigarette” by Cynthia Black

“Secondhand Smoke” by Nic Silvestris

“One Last Cigarette” by Rachael Parks

“One thousand first mornings” by Christopher Miller

“Brief and Random Conversations During the Apocalypse” by Richard Thompson

“All In The Name Of Aquaintance” by Philip Ebuluofor

“LET GO” by Kate Baker

“His Surprise” by Dallas W

“I don't believe in love anymore, Celine” by Gabi Gabrinov

“Greener Pastures” by Melissa Taylor

“Cigarettes, Secrets, and Saying Goodbye” by Ashlyn Oboyle

“The Waiting” by Brittany Mackeown

“Two Weeks ” by Christine Dupuy

“Alexis” by Patricia Atkins

“Highs and Los ” by Dunbarin Fadairo

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character with questionable morals.

Write a story where the law plays an important role.

Write a story about a character who is trying to become a better person.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “It’s not fair.”

Contest #158

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

245

Contest entries

103

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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