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

“Remnants of our ghosts” by Margarida Guerreiro

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, my little heartbreak, it is a great labyrinthic mausoleum of death. Ever since I set foot here, I began to decay. The people who passed me by on the streets stole my beauty for themselves, to hoard in their daydreams. Do you remember how beautiful I used to be when you first laid eyes on me? By then, I was already half of what I had once been.I despised the window shops, dolled up like fashion catalogues I could never afford on a student scholarship and the money my parents scraped up to give me. I loat...

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“City of The Cursed” by Pamela Carr

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, no one seems to even notice that the land it is built upon is cursed. Perhaps, being oblivious is part of the curse or maybe I am just a lunatic. Who knows? But what I do know is that Daytona Beach seems to be a hamster wheel in which everyone ends up going no where very fast. Except to maybe a jail cell or a coffin, which ever fate has in store for it's unsuspecting visitors and residents of the city. Daytona Beach has been the stalking grounds of serial killers, the sanctuary of addicts, the golden ticke...

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“The Cloner” by Aarathi Guru

Submitted to Contest #85

Prologue That’s the thing about this city. No matter what, everyone is always together. I always imagine it as the “perfect place”. Imagine...it’s a strong word. A word that gives people dreams...hopes...wantings. I dream of being a great police officer, like my dad. A crime solver. I imagine myself in his shoes everyday. Chapter 1 My hand started to shake as I saw a huge figure in front of me. I shuddered as I pointed up my flashlight to see his face. He is six feet tall, has brown hair, a childishly sneaky appear...

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“City Limits ” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… it was built on another that was built on another that was… ad infinitum. Well, not really… only since Neanderthal times. The river and the fertile soil make it an ideal place for a settlement. That is why it abounds with entities, both seen and unseen. Some call us angels; some call us sprites, spirits, ghosts, saints, nymphs, deities or other numinous beings; some call in the exorcists, and some are adamant that we do not exist… according to which religion, superstation or folklore, or none, the...

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“Trapped by Truth” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, anyone who discovers its little secret is unable to leave. At least, that’s what we’re led to believe. I haven’t tried to escape yet, though I fear any effort would be futile. There isn’t an issue with the secret itself, it’s more about the control they seize over the city. The blissfully ignorant and unaware can move freely in and out of the city, but as soon as they pick up the scent the size of their world shrinks. Immaculate is one way you could describe the city. Every bit of pavement, every building an...

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“A Matter Of Perspective” by Isabelle Saadatmand

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, nobody ever leaves. It’s not that people don’t want to, it’s that they can’t. Nearly everyone was tricked by some horrid thing into coming here, and now they’re stuck. Some think they’ve won a contest, others think they signed up for some college internship. My family had the misfortune of passing through on our way to a beach vacation. I consider myself lucky, as I was young when it happened. Have no memory of the outside world, no friends or family lost. I was...

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“The Breakup” by Ali Hamzah

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. It’s too noisy. From the moment that I wake up and bathe under the stinging water coming out of the showerhead, I can hear the flushing of the toilet above me and the sound of water falling through the shower drain. I get out of the shower and dress up in front of my mirror stuck to my cardboard and I can hear the thumping above me. I have no idea what it is. It’s probably the neighbour’s boy playing football. I stare at myself, my hands slowly doing the buttons on my long-sleeved shirt, one by one. It ...

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“Dormant Anger” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #85

" That is the thing about this city, it doesn't sleep" Marcos said. "But, that's not a good sign, it's an indicator that all is not well" Eugene replied. " Of course, that is the situation we found ourselves in the country not just only in this city, even though here seems to be the worst" " How does those that wants to sleep do that, this is madness. Sleep fled from me when I started hearing noises everywhere. For sure, they must've been people like me that wanted to sleep but because of the noise could not" " That's true. But the situation...

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“The City Of Caves” by Alexis Leo

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. There were many ways to enter, but only one to exit. There were many people, but it was deserted. There were children, but no laughter. There were people, but only robots. There was never a moment where something new would happen. There was only a repetition of day by day. Our story takes place in the past future. Life is currently peaceful, just like our wanted utopia. Everyone lives in peace, with no conflict nor arguments, in every place but Eroda. What was in Eroda that was so special, you may ask. It wa...

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“Steinbeck Would Approve” by Carol Stigger

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. Positano burrows. I was warned I would never want to leave it. I was cajoled into experiencing it, dared even. My frequent flier miles and a generous offer made the experience possible. Would quitting my job be worth it? My boss did not think so. My mother did not think so. My friends did not think so. South of Naples and bleary-eyed from the overnight flight, I saw that Positano is one big cliff rising from the Bay of Salerno. The town’s one road winds, turns back on itself, loops around churches and vil...

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“Reality Check” by Linda Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, it’s a cesspool,” Hal said. “Harsh,” Toby said. Hal glanced up. He did not try to hide his disappointment. He’d been expecting Cutter. “Truth,” Hal replied. “Just the truth. Where’s Cutter? I asked for Cutter.” Toby flashed the goofy awe shucks grin that made Hal want to sock him. To keep his hands busy, Hal fished for a cigarette. His pockets ...

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“The Art of L̶o̶v̶e̶ More” by Beau Lux

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. It’s a small one, about a two-hour drive from the capital, busy and traffic-filled with honking horns on every dimly lit street. The people are quaint, nodding to each other as they pass by, screaming profanities at motorcycles that zoom by a bit too close for comfort. People from the capital, rich and snobbish, come by here at the edge of the week to find food and comfort at small, traditional, family made shops and restaurants. Let me tell you of someone from this city, she’s not anyone of importance, ...

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“Our City” by Priscilla Hall

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city,” The clean-shaven man at the podium grinned and continued speaking. “It will never change.” The crowd cheered. Women applauded and men offered grunts of affirmation. He took a bow and waltzed back to his chair on the left side of the stage. I glanced at him from my own seat and was met with a challenging wink that said, beat that. “Next we’ll hear from our opposing candidate,...

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“Dad's Not Home” by Lizzy Perkins

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, bloody protests. There I was, trying to get home, and a demonstration came down Kingsway. It’s a wide road and one side was full of students shouting out objections with noise and whistles, and helicopter blades thumping overhead, as the police watched for trouble. Bloody kids, I thought, as I watched them and waited to cross the road. They need to find a job and shut up. Take some responsibility in this world rather than grumble. I would have put my hands over my ears if I could, but I had too much blo...

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“Stars in the city” by Tera King

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about the city. It’s so bright it ruins the stars. There’s so much light here that it blinds you and shows us all in an unflattering light. That’s why I like the school planetarium. I sit here with my best friend... and well- maybe my crush. (Okay, okay, he’s 100% my crush but I’ve got good reasons!) I love the planetarium because it’s dark. In the darkness we’re the only ones that exist. The rest of the world fades away until there’s nothing but us. My head rests...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 283 stories

“Remnants of our ghosts” by Margarida Guerreiro

“City of The Cursed” by Pamela Carr

“The Cloner” by Aarathi Guru

“City Limits ” by Tanja Cilia

“Trapped by Truth” by Karmissa Ariadne

“A Matter Of Perspective” by Isabelle Saadatmand

“The Breakup” by Ali Hamzah

“Dormant Anger” by Philip Ebuluofor

“The City Of Caves” by Alexis Leo

“Steinbeck Would Approve” by Carol Stigger

“Reality Check” by Linda Brodsky

“The Art of L̶o̶v̶e̶ More” by Beau Lux

“Our City” by Priscilla Hall

“Dad's Not Home” by Lizzy Perkins

“Stars in the city” by Tera King

🌟 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: