Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Posted in Adults on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 283 stories

“Tough As Nails” by Christina Marie

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city,” Grandpa says, polishing off his third Pilsner since we sat down at the pub around the block from my tiny dormitory. “An’ every other city. Makes people soft.”Part-time rigger and full-time rancher, Grandpa is the definition of a roughneck. His stocky frame is wrapped in solid cowboy muscle. His blue eyes are bright and sharp under the rim of his tattered ball cap. His face is like leather, weathered by too many winters atop oil rigs in the unforgiving cold and unrelenting wind in the country’s harshest, mo...

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“The Star That Could” by Jay DMer

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. It’s so full of negative people (not all). We can never just... stick together. Not just because we should but because of man kind. It’s not just this city, but everywhere. Life is just full is things you, sometimes, can’t control, but the things you can, like being nice to others, you should do. That’s why I’m going to fight. Fight for the weak, the scared, the innocent, the evil, and for me Because we all deserve that respect and the knowledge to how it feels to be lived in a world that gives it. I can jus...

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“The Cities Sin” by Katie May

Submitted to Contest #85

Raven's POV That's the thing about this city. They took my husband's life away. . It was just me and my 2 month old son, Zane. Their promises ripped apart every family. Including mine. I wanted to leave, I wanted to give Zane a wonderful life. They wouldn’t let me leave, they wouldn’t let anybody. So my only choice was to stay in my apartment, and try and adapt as best as I could. Zane’s wailing could wake up everybody. I bolted out of my bedroom and into the living room where his crib was squeezed tightly in the corner. My room didn...

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“The Dreamer's Message” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. It might look innocent- well, maybe innocent isn’t the right word. What I meant to say was that it looks like a normal city, all lit up to hide the heavens, all car horns, and drunken shouts. Sit down! If you flip that crate over, the rusty nails will be on the side, not on the top. You see, the thing about this city is that we remember. We remember what it was like before, before the terrors, and before everyone forgot the stars. I’m not making much sense? I don’t suppose I am. Here, ha...

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“The Girl In Green” by We All Feel Lost Inside

Submitted to Contest #85

Sunday, March 9th, Everyday is a new day to me. No part of any day is the same. Prosecutors are not the same. Well, I should introduce myself. My name is Alessia. I’m a senior in high school and I don’t have many friends. But I do have my dog Sparky. He is a German shepherd with lots of attitude and spunk to his step. But most of all, I especially love playing guitar. I sing and sing. Just like my dad. Anyways, I’m super excited for Saint Patrick's day in a few days because I have this super fab outfit I’m going t...

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“Sweet Dreams” by Holly Fister

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city- the shifting landscapes and otherworldly visuals never cease to dazzle me, but it’s the feeling of bliss, sweet and potent, that brings me back for more. Well, that and the contract.I walk into the hills that surround the city (today), following the meandering path of a placid river. Spongy soft grass propels each footstep without a sound, but the river babbles merrily. Is it calling to me? I wade in to find out, and the crystal waters flow around my ankles, my knees, my waist, until I float in the current o...

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“The Experiment” by Kim Kline

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. It was vibrant just eight months ago. Hard to believe by walking around now, but the streets used to bustle with activity day and night. Families casually wandering down the sidewalks, stopping to take pictures in front of the statues and murals hidden among buildings. Couples walking purposefully in and out of stores with their shopping bags. Men and women dressed in suits, rushing to or from business meetings. It used to be impossible to escape the sounds of humanity. The hum of thousands of conversations ...

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“That City” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city…” mused the shorty with a jet black Mohawk and pencil thin mustache. “When you’re up you’re up, but as soon as you’re down it kicks you in the teeth. The girl in a sparkling gold dress, backless with the thinnest of shoulder straps looked up from where she had been weeping into her open hands. At the beginning of the night she may have been something close to beautiful but her hair was now a mess and her makeup had run like a stream after the snows thawed. From the neck up she was a wreck. “What? What do you...

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“Are you afraid of the dark? ” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, it’s not what it seems,” Akari shivered and rested her hands on her hips. She wouldn’t let this small piece of information beat her. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looked straight at the boy in front of her. Noah shrugged and turned away. Akari stopped him, her hand shskaing. “What do you mean?” “I mean, that when everything seems fine, it never is, there’s always more to it,” “Like what?” Noah started to walk away. “Please tall me Noah!” Akari pleaded, looking straight into his g...

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“Rumor has it” by Vanessa Queens

Submitted to Contest #85

AN ODD THING- That’s the thing about this city, said the old man and hurried to catch the bus without looking back.Paula and Linda were speechless. They couldn’t believe their ears. They started to think that the trip away from university was a bad idea. In the end, they decided to stay and spend the night in that city. It was part of their university assignment anyway. In the morning they would catch the bus to the capital, where their university was. So they went to the nearest hotel and asked...

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“Shhhh...” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city- it’s broken, never to be fixed again. Up and down the same streets, again and again, and no friendly faces.Glares.Murderous glances. Distrusting eyes. These are the things that meet everyone’s sight as they walk into this dead city. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t done anything bad. It is just the way it is. Boarded windows.Shredded wood.Broken glass, representing the lives of everyone here.These things litter the sidewalks, hiding bad omens and bad karma. Broken hearts.Crushed spi...

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“On a Night like This” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… It bites! It mercilessly sticks its teeth in your skin and sends thousands of little ice pins to cast their freezing spell all over your body. No amount of body armor can stop your breath from hanging like a dying cobweb in the air around you. Small teary puddles gather at the corners of your eyes as they try to get accustomed to the cold. Now you comprehend the genius work that Mother Nature had put into the creation of the human body. If you’ve ever wondered why your tears are salty – it’s so that they don...

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“Severn 6201.5” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… As strange as it may seem to some, I like it here. My name is Johnathan. I live here with my mother and father and my older sister, Katelyn. She can be a bit of a pain sometimes, but I guess she is kind of cool at the same time. Katelyn is one of the popular kids in school, so her friends are always stopping by...

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“The Siege of Darkwell” by Pippin Took

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city….” Autumn said as she twirled around under the serene trees. “What?” Isabelle replied, a hint of curiosity creeping into her voice. “I do love this city.” Autumn laughed, her dark hair spilling down her back. “Well, Darkwell is a beauty, for one. The marble turrets and all the red and yellow flags waving in the wind.” “Ohhhh, I understand.” Emersyn chimed in. “And all the people selling fruit and things in those gorgeous wooden stalls on Main Street?” Autumn nodded, running a finger throu...

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“Beirut” by Celine Aoun

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, it breaks your heart whether or not you stay. You can leave and be forever haunted by a spirit that constantly reminds you that you don’t belong or you can stay, hoping not to die a stupid preventable death and spend the rest of your life trying to convince yourself that you’ve made the right decision. Beirut, also known as the city that never sleeps, not sure if it’s in relation to the wild nightlife or the trauma-induced insomnia. Either way, you get the point.My eyes are still closed but I can feel my sub...

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Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 283 stories

“Tough As Nails” by Christina Marie

“The Star That Could” by Jay DMer

“The Cities Sin” by Katie May

“The Dreamer's Message” by Corbin Sage

“The Girl In Green” by We All Feel Lost Inside

“Sweet Dreams” by Holly Fister

“The Experiment” by Kim Kline

“That City” by Tim Law

“Are you afraid of the dark? ” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

“Rumor has it” by Vanessa Queens

“Shhhh...” by Veda Vivek💎

“On a Night like This” by Bianka Nova

“Severn 6201.5” by Greg Gillis

“The Siege of Darkwell” by Pippin Took

“Beirut” by Celine Aoun

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: