Write a story where someone decides to take the long way home.

Posted in Adventure on Nov 4, 2022

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✍️ 37 stories

“The Long Way Home” by Edward Latham

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #171

Dear Holly,Here goes nothing. I ate my pasta with a spoon tonight. It reminded me of you, and how you’d stubbornly say it was the best and only way. It’s one year to the day since I saw your gorgeous face. I miss the rebellious amber strands that refused to tuck behind your ears. I miss the little cleft between your eyebrows, worn by time. I miss the tiny mole behind your left ear that you’d scratch until sometimes it bled. I have to be honest, I haven’t been able to let you go in the way you asked.It’s partly Jim’s fault, if he hadn’t been ...

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“A World of Opinion” by Scott Christenson

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #171

Pundits predicted the death of the news industry back in 2028 when Trump and Biden were both moved to assisted care homes and were taken away from their microphones. The ex-presidents had the option of separate rooms at the home but neither could afford to stay alone for long. As a Pulitzer Prize winning human interest writer, my editor had me invited to hear their side of the story of what it is like to share a room because of the government budget cuts, but from behind their oxygen masks, I couldn’t make out much of what they were saying a...

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“The Long Way Home” by Katharine Widdows

Submitted to Contest #171

TRIGGER WARNING - CHILD ABUSE - ALCOHOLISM Custody battles are hard, especially when you have no armour.Each fortnight I’d turn up on time, But be rewarded with more grief,These details the courts ignore,As they eat away my self-belief,“You should have called this morning.” Graham doesn’t ask me in.“I called last night and confirmed. You know this is my weekend.” Rain bounces off the driveway and up the backs of my jeans.“You should have called this morning.” He crosses his arms on the doorstep and fake-shivers.“You make it impossible by cha...

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“Black Moss Bridge” by Annabella Bones

Submitted to Contest #171

Tommy knew they’d be waiting to jump him where Odessa Drive meets Skylark. They had told him so just after 4th period before shoving his small body into his locker and securing the padlock. Mike Tanner, Billy Langley and that tall fat kid who transferred from Spencer before summer break. The Soldier War Boys, they called themselves. They laughed to the end of the hall. Only when the echoes of their laughter faded into silence did Tommy fill his lungs with air and shout. The sound of his voice struggled to be heard beyond the suffocating meta...

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“Last Exit to Eden” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #171

Jordan always took the long way home after he did his weekly shopping in Hico. It was soothing. Until today, that is. Today he was abducted by three men. Jordan spotted the first man, about three miles off of the main highway. He was standing in the middle of the road with his right hand up. Jordan stopped. He had to, otherwise, he would be running over the man. Jordan got out of his pickup and two other men appeared behind him. Without saying anything, the men motioned for Jordan to follow them. He didn’t want to do that, but he felt a stra...

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“Don't Take the Teleporter” by Os Cole

Submitted to Contest #171

It’s almost time to leave the office for the day when your coworker approaches. The one you don’t like because they seem to know everything and have a holier than thou attitude about it. They are constantly on the prowl at the end of the day looking for some poor colleague to distract for the last 15 minutes of the workday to ensure they can’t finish whatever they were working on before quitting time. Today that person is you. They lean into your cubicle with a cold cup ...

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“The Face of Fear” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #171

As I sped out the back door, I was amazed at how fast my feet could carry me. Sweat poured off my face as I dashed across the yard, not from exerting myself, but from facing fear. As I reached our adjoining neighbor’s backyard, my father’s voice called to me from my back porch, but his words were lost in the distance. For two blocks I ran before I was greeted by a friendly face. “Hey, Terry,” Norman shouted out at me. “What’s the hurry?” Not daring to stop for him, I called out as I ran by, “I need a place to hide out. Any suggestions?” ...

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“blood stains don't just wash away, ya know” by Jennifer Cameron

Submitted to Contest #171

Mentions of PTSD and domestic violence. Blood smeared across my left eyebrow, crimson and glinting as the moons light caught it. The windscreen wipers waved a sombre goodbye as they battled against the relentless rain throwing itself against my windows. I’d come back tomorrow and the next day just like I had after the bruises lined my jaw. A smile flitted across my face before perching itself comfortably on my lips. 4 years ago it had been different blood coating my skin. It had been victim blood. He’d hit me with a force that would cause m...

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“422 Old Laker St. ” by Korinne H.

Submitted to Contest #171

It’s bitter out here tonight. Trouble roams these streets at all hours, but the lack of sunlight stirs up another kind of evil. I'm walking through downtown Chicago. That's where I live. Honestly, I’m not sure how long I've lived here but life happened and here I am. Lifes been rough lately. Lifes been rough for a while. I hate these streets. I hate the dark, the whispers, the footsteps shuffling through the trash. I miss my home. Yes… my home, 422 Old Laker St. Seems like forever since I've been there. Heck, seems like forever since I...

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“A bottle, a drive, and a confession” by Ian Barrett

Submitted to Contest #171

Here I am, alone, talking into this tape recorder driving these Gulf roads in New Hampshire at an hour when most people are fast asleep, the roadways are devoid of any innocent causalities that I may encounter on my mission. What mission are you on? You might be wondering. Oh, I don’t know if we’ve gotten comfortable enough for me to divulge that just yet. Ride with me for a little bit and let’s see if we get there. A few more pulls off this bottle and I’m sure I’ll spill my guts no matter what. Shit, I just spilled some ...

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“Senseless” by Nicole Robinson

Submitted to Contest #171

The lights were warm. They didn't flicker. The light above the entrance did dim, however; it dimmed every time the ground shook. I gazed tiredly past it, through the glass door, and into the wet darkness. My hands numbly grabbed another mug, dunked it in the lukewarm soapy water, and scrubbed at the old coffee stains. I rinsed, dried it, set it aside, then reached for another. The lights flickered. That dull, warm glow went dark for a moment, then came back brighter. White light flashed through the room accompanied by a deep rumble, then abr...

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“Sea Change” by James Workman

Submitted to Contest #171

On the slow, rock-swaying return voyage Kenji Nozake overheard the two seasoned deckhands of the FV/Shindō casually discuss whether to drown or eviscerate him. Given his bungling over the past week, the young greenhorn, or aonisai, couldn’t blame them. Among the ways to dispose of him, Kenji reflected, pitching him overboard would require the least effort. Hip checked as he squeezed past astern. Cold cocked by a gaffing pole. Lurched to starboard without warning as a rogue wave swept across the slippery deck. A frenzied scrabbling, shriek,...

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“He Would Be Late for Dinner” by Abigail F. Taylor

Submitted to Contest #171

Eagle's Nest, old and anemic, leaned above a rich and diverse canopy like a rotten tooth. Plastic KEEP OUT signs crinkled in the shallow summer air. Dan parked his pale blue Mazda beneath the structure's shadow and stared up into the dark windows of the third level deck. He remembered the summer night he and Crystal Novack watched the sun dip low behind the distant escarpments. Her short hair was licked up on one side and crisp from a day swimming in Big Lake and he twirled a thumb around it, like he was preparing to pull the winning part of...

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“Missing in the Forest” by Patricia Merewether

Submitted to Contest #171

Missing In The Forest "This is a tale of a time when things are so different, and I must record it in my book of memories." Fawn One sunny spring afternoon, my neighbor Sharron knocked on my door, then stepped into the chaos of our home. Our three children were in school. Two cats slept on the sofa, and Miss Piggy, our rescued little pup, yapped and danced for her. The usual piles of books, magazines, and toys lay sprinkled about the living room. "I wanted to take a walk, Annie, and it's such a beautiful day. We have at least ...

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“Urbane Jungle” by William Simon

Submitted to Contest #171

Hugo Kane-Smithwick stood outside the station in a state of impatient agitation. His driver was late again! Honestly, this was getting to be too much he thought to himself. Twice last week he’d been left standing here like a buffoon for minutes at a time but today was a step too far. He checked his watch again, seven minutes! Seven minutes he’d been stood here like he didn’t have anything better to be doing with his time. In truth his plans for the evening didn’t extend much further than dinner and a bath, perhaps a nap in the study if...

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Write a story where someone decides to take the long way home.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 37 stories

“The Long Way Home” by Edward Latham

“A World of Opinion” by Scott Christenson

“The Long Way Home” by Katharine Widdows

“Black Moss Bridge” by Annabella Bones

“Last Exit to Eden” by Delbert Griffith

“Don't Take the Teleporter” by Os Cole

“The Face of Fear” by Howard Seeley

“blood stains don't just wash away, ya know” by Jennifer Cameron

“422 Old Laker St. ” by Korinne H.

“A bottle, a drive, and a confession” by Ian Barrett

“Senseless” by Nicole Robinson

“Sea Change” by James Workman

“He Would Be Late for Dinner” by Abigail F. Taylor

“Missing in the Forest” by Patricia Merewether

“Urbane Jungle” by William Simon

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone looking at a breathtaking view and getting emotional.

Write about two solo travelers who keep bumping into each other in the most unexpected of places.

Write about a character who is trying to leave something or someone behind — only to realize they carry it with them.

Your character is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. The story takes place during a long-haul flight, with an open return-date. What happens?

Contest #171

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

79

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: