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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story where someone finds comfort in an unexpected event, place, or person.

Posted in Adults on Oct 31, 2022

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 56 stories

“Lovers' Reunion” by Tori Routsong

Submitted to Contest #161

Carmen stared down at the faintly glowing body in disbelief, her ragged breath the only thing preventing her from appearing as a statue, completely still.  “Ta da!” The Mystic beside her brandished a shaky, liverspotted hand at the young girl on the floor. “One lover, locked and loaded!” “Are… are you…” “Always this amazing? Yes, yes, I–” “Freaking kidding me?” Carmen finally snapped, turning to stare at the Mystic with bulging brown eyes. “This is not in any way what I asked for– what I paid for!” “Oh, no, no, no,” the Mystic chid...

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“The Gardener and the Trashman” by Josh Mullenax

Submitted to Contest #161

“What exactly does basil smell like?” He wondered, thinking about his abundant basil plant back at home. He, mentally, was among his plants, walking down the carefully tended rows. His thoughts continued, “If I had to tell someone who had never had basil before what it smelled like, what would I tell them? I could talk through the acrid, herbaceous, and earthy taste of sage, and just tell them it’s that- but not.” He chuckled to himself, now pondering his sage plant, fuzzy leaves most likely wet with dew in the early morning. It was late...

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“Even One Connection” by Francois Kosie

Submitted to Contest #161

I feel lucky to be at an enormous mansion standing proudly on the edge of a small seaside cliff. The floors are made of smooth mirror-like stone and there’s a wide ocean view dotted with sailboats. It’s starting to get dark, and the lights just discreetly turned on. All around me, fancily dressed people are enjoying cocktails, laughing at each other’s jokes, and closing business deals. White sand beaches stretch out lazily below us, and some of the wedding invitees are playing in the waves, under the gentle orange rays of the evening sun.I d...

4 comments 4
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“The Paradoxical Effect” by Ian Matonti

Submitted to Contest #161

George flipped on the television. The cathode ray tube set hummed and the picture came into focus.  “The coronavirus has spread to every major city in the United States. Governor Huard issued a state of emergency. Lockdowns go into effect at midnight tonight. If you need to go to a store you must wear a mask—“  George stared at the screen in a mixture of horror and disbelief. His cheek twitched as he watched; a tic he acquired a decade earlier. His doctor said it was from nerves. That was a ridiculous diagnosis. George didn't s...

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“Trampled Back to Life” by Althea Gowen

Submitted to Contest #161

Libby Porter had been raised in a devoutly religious household, and believed there was no problem in the world that could not be solved by prayer. Libby never had any reason to doubt this; so, when her faith failed her and she could not find comfort when she needed it most, she was utterly lost.Her twin sister, Carla, was hit and killed by a drunk driver when they were 18. Libby’s world collapsed and her faith seemed to be gone, along with Carla. Their home had been quiet and serious even before Carla died, but after, all joy was snuffed out...

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“Goodbye, Saint Nick” by Macy Farmer

Submitted to Contest #161

She was starting to grow tired of the crunch of snow beneath her boots. An hour of following deer tracks produced nothing but a half-eaten corpse and a pair of lethargic Howlers that—thanks to their recent meal—barely put up a fight as they were dispatched.  Dara pulled her arrow from one’s temple groan. “Don’t suppose we can salvage anything from the doe, huh?” Knelt by the corpse, Kole hummed in thought as she looked over the damage. “I mean… they only got the butt end, maybe if we only cut from the ribcage up… no, wait, there’s a...

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“The Balcony” by MELANIE WOODS

Submitted to Contest #161

   It wasn’t until Lockdown that Jacob realised he was lonely; before that, he had thought of himself simply as someone leading a quiet life. What he missed most was the noise, secondly the smells: the noise and the smells that had, up until now, infiltrated his subconscious from the balcony below, filling his head with joy, hope and that indefinable feeling of being truly, fully, alive.  Ire, who lived in the flat beneath Jacob had, until 2020, a constant stream of friends and family religiously streaming into her welco...

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“Mali's year” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #161

A grey sky looked down on the grey ground. As far as the eye could see, everything was grey. A treacherous muddy river made countless bends between its banks. At Harry's bend, the water was constantly churned by the heavy wheel of a mill, scarred by storms and the sun, in the same desolate colors as its sad surroundings. On a cliff above, a dozen unfenced houses stood in a group. All day, all night, day after day the mill pounded with maddening monotony. In the summer, the sun blistered and burned the whole valley, and in the winter the wind...

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“Reapers Ride Buses” by Natalie Sands

Submitted to Contest #161

“Come on, one more drink!”            “Please?”            I have a friend hanging off each arm, both begging me to stay and both already wasted.            “I’m sorry, the last bus is due to arrive and you know taxis to my place are extortionate.”            My two best friends, Susan and Molly, had convinced me to go drinki...

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“Beastly Comforts” by Kimberly Pienkawa

Submitted to Contest #161

Content warning: gore and death The kettle whistled.  They were lazy and lounging in bed, sweat-stains left in the sheets. Outside, the leaves rattled and the asphalt oozed the last of September’s heat. “You gonna get it?” Cass said, lifting an eyebrow, unself-conscious ease. The only betrayal: the slight shiver of her sloppily-manicured nails.  Hesitantly, Lyre stood up and straightened. She hurried to grab the tea, their little makeshift morning routine.  As they sipped, soused in the steam, Cass said, “You think they’...

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“Delivery” by Mandi Jackson

Submitted to Contest #161

Loud fixtures in the stairwell cut shards of awful light into whatever sleep the girl still had in her. They stepped out into the parking lot. Her pajama feet--shoved into snow boots--began to collect sweat, started to itch. Her little brother asked for donuts, and then sneezed. Their mother didn’t answer. She had darted ahead to the snow-covered car, scraping at the ice on the door handle with her key in search of the keyhole. “Careful, guys, it’s icy!” she yelled without looking back, her words filling puffs of visible air in the yellow b...

2 comments 2
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“Accidental Hope” by Joseph Manopello

Submitted to Contest #161

Lisa winced as she slowly rose from the floor. She spent the last ten minutes on her hands and knees, scrubbing milk from the carpet. If it had been coffee, or even one of those faux-milk protein drinks, she might have considered leaving it for tomorrow. Milk, however, leaves a telltale odor that’s nearly impossible to eradicate after it sets. Despite her best efforts, she’s sure she’ll smell it when she walks in the house tomorrow. She looked out the window. The late afternoon sun flooded the spacious yard with a pleasant glow. Beautiful ...

3 comments 3
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“Holey Hell” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #161

“Ramirez!” I hissed, “Keep your eyes open!” Ramirez jerked awake and then lazily lifted his head off the butt of his M16A4 rifle.  “Sorry Jones,” he said, “It’s just so damn comfy outside.”  “Maybe for you. I’m sweating bullets over here.” I bent over and shoved the tip of my collapsible shovel into the hardened, mostly clay, dirt at the bottom of my fighting hole. The humidity had reached a point where the air felt muggy and thick. Sweat soaked my camouflage utilities and seeped into my body armor. Ramirez lay i...

1 comment 1
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“Live in Peace” by Megan Franzen

Submitted to Contest #161

“Wow, Angie, you look great.” “Thank you, Scott,” she said with a smile before moving on across the room. She strode slowly over to the bar in the far corner, receiving a flurry of compliments along the journey. With the same, gorgeous grin, she thanked each of them just as she had Scott. She did look great. Probably the best she ever had. Even better than that, though, was how great she felt. At 30 years old, she supposed she hadn’t felt quite this happy since she was a naive child still holding faith in the world’s innocence. That was b...

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“Being Martha” by Melissa Rea

Submitted to Contest #161

            Being Martha            Martha Evans knew she shouldn’t have made the second pecan pie. Louella Davis being dead only required one pie for the visitation. The only reason for the second one was her own sweet tooth. Dr. Watson was going to have a blue blazes fit when she saw Martha’s blood sugar numbers next week. Eighty seven years might be enough time on this earth and if pecan pie was going to kill her, so be it....

2 comments 2
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