Place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening.

Posted in Angst on Jul 12, 2024

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✍️ 84 stories

“Getting Better” by Christine Foy Jackson

🏆 Winner of Contest #259

The feeling was like sinking. Gert and the counselor drifted outside her field of vision; her breath halted. Sophie knew even if she could speak, her words would go unheard. She wanted to run out of the room, but thought better of it, so she sat, head in hand as if she were concentrating. “Are you ok?” The counselor’s voice was even, warm. The clock ticking, the sound of Gert breathing next to her on the couch, the stare of the counselor, all irritated her. She took a deep breath, looked up. Gert said, “We all want you to be ok.”...

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“Destined / Chance” by Christy Morgan

Submitted to Contest #259

“Holy shit!” That’s what you say right before the big black out, not something prophetic or memorable, but a base utterance steeped in a casual strain of blasphemy. In the fleeting seconds that the words take form and flight, your brain cycles through a million images, memories plastered on a spinning reel. You brace for the impact of all the accumulated choices, stunned by the inevitability. The blur of your life becomes a recognizable whole. you shouldn’t have read that extra chapter last night of Trudy Jas' latest novel / if only you hadn...

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“Despondency” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #259

The countenance of her face was one of despair as gloom filled the room like shadows from storm clouds rolling in on a sunny day. The incessant beeping behind her was like a timer ticking down to an inevitable catastrophe about to destroy her world, each beep striking a chord in her nervous system like the pluck of a violin string. She wasn’t prepared for this despite having three years to ready herself. She removed herself from the room with misty eyes. He was sullen in thought, angry to be put in his current position, yet feeling insurmoun...

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“Was He Okay?” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #259

(TW … depression and suicide) He was sullen. Again. He was sleeping all day. Again. “What’s with that kid?” “Leave him alone. He’s fine,” I hissed, not wanting to be overheard. “He should be helping. It’s not fair. Why do I have to do this shit by myself?” My older son was right. It wasn’t fair. I stood outside my younger son’s closed bedroom door contemplating my choices. “Hun, you ok?” I could ask tentatively, only for him to reply, “What do you want? Leave me alone.” “Get up.&n...

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“The Red Rocking Horse” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #259

Nobody thought to clean it up. If we did, it would mean it was broken. It was. It was broken. But there’s no explaining logic to a terrified child. Not even one who’s thirty-seven years old. I was thirty-one at the time. Muddle was thirty-three. I envied her. Thirty-three is the best age in the white room. You get extra food everyday. Nobody knows why. You also get to sleep on the cot with the softest pillows. After thirty-three, nothing good ever happened. Nothing we knew about anyway. Murmur was the thirty-seven year old. The one who could...

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“T, D & H” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #259

It would have been an ordinary day, one that would have passed like every other if she hadn’t seen him. If she hadn’t heard the roar from the motorcycle as he pulled into the slot in front of the pharmacy. If she hadn’t stood at the window, mesmerized watching him swing his leg over the bike, tuck his aviators in the chest pocket of his leather jacket. If she hadn’t watched him finger comb his brown hair while he did a slow 360, taking in Main Street.To say he was tall dark and handsome would be too easy.Later they would say that they had kn...

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“Confronting The Elephant ” by Helen A Smith

Submitted to Contest #259

For too many years, Johnny had been the elephant in Scott and Ellie’s marriage. The lurking shadow preventing honest conversation, always the one who came before. Yet somehow, they papered him over, the man between the cracks.“Johnny.” One day, out of the blue, Ellie tentatively raised his name as if testing where it might land. For Scott, hearing it was like being thrown in the wake of a tsunami. By then, Ellie was in the last months of her life and reshaping boundaries.“What are you going to do about Johnny.”Scott didn’t know what to say t...

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“Blindsided” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #259

This story contains sexual inferences.“I’m sorry Lyssa, your proposal was adorable just like you, but we’re looking for something with a little more, well, intrigue. We just think you’ve been playing it a tad too safe. Hey, good luck with everything, though. If you ever need a good reference, give me a ring, I’ll be happy to oblige.” “Wait! I hear what you’re saying Mr. Grayson. If you’d be willing to give me another shot, I’d love to work something up for you with more, what were you looking for; intrigue?” “Darlin’, I’m not certa...

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“How Are You?” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #259

Andre asked his three-year-old brother, Tony, “What game should we teach her first?”“Uhm… Old Maid?”The boys were talking about Melody, their soon to be born little sister. “That might work. She’ll be little though. Maybe can’t hold cards for a while…”Being five, Andre had more perspective.Mrs. Daugherty, the boy’s sitter met their parents, Bud and Desiree, at the door. She looked concerned. “How are you?”Desiree looked down. “Not good…”The boys yelled and ran to hug their parents. “Mommy! We missed you!”Bud said, “Hey guys… Your mom’s tired...

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“Two Warriors” by Owen Duff

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

In the late hours of a hot summer day, two enemy warriors lay on a bloodied battlefield. Each has mortally wounded the other, and has lost their strength to land the fatal blow. Exhausted, sweating, and quickly losing blood, they sit up against opposite trees and face each other. One bears a red sigil across his chest and rests in the shade of his mighty oak. The other displays a blue crest across his shoulder and grows weak below the arms of a willow.The warrior wearing a red sigil slowly removes a pen and paper from his satchel, wipes...

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“07-18-04 ” by Grace R

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

A burnt child loves the fire, I reminded myself as I crept closer to the writhing blue flames. I felt the heat on my chilled pale skin and exhaled. I never wanted to leave the city this weekend, but when Clarke called me, I knew I had to oblige. I’ve always thought of myself as a good friend, but just like any other human, I have my intrinsic selfish nature. I would’ve much preferred sleeping inside my apartment with the TV lulling me to sleep and a Diet Coke on my bedside table rather than camping in the middle of nowhere. But it's b...

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“Blink and You’ll Miss It” by Eric E

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

Keith Mitchell awakes to the sound of a ringing bell. As it has been since the accident, there is a second of confusion at waking up somewhere that is not his mother’s house. It doesn’t take long for him to remember where he is - the Haxton Regional Rehabilitation Centre. He repeats the words to himself and that helps to clear the fog of sleep. Then, he turns to sit at the side of the bed, winces at the pain in his head and lifts the leg that is still in a cast to join his other uninjured leg. He’s become used to the dull, itchy feeling belo...

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“When The World Began To Wilt” by Josiah Mporampora

Submitted to Contest #259

“It’s like…the world is slowly dying.” My friend's eyes stared into mine. I could feel--even see the fear that they shared--that we all shared. Something strange was happening to Earth. It was as if everyone at the same time began to give up on life. The fire that burns in us to prosper, thrive--to simply live…it would dwindle in all humans no matter their background. My friends were just talking about how great it is that crime, especially violent, is at an all time low. What they didn’t know before I op...

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“Hits Hard” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #259

Sam sits on the bus and gazes out over the craven and piteous sea of humanity. The bus is filled almost to the brim, that will leave a tide mark, the thought of which nauseates him. People stand shoulder to shoulder bracing themselves against accidental contact. He imagines the bus hitting a wall or a lorry or another bus. The last option fits best. The two buses coming together in a clumsy caress, their contents redistributed by the passion of the two inept red lovers. Life is short and ever so fragile. Not that any of these people are livi...

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“Faith Amidst the Storm” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #259

Life had a knack for turning on a dime in the quaint, sleepy coastal town of Willow Creek. Sarah, a girl of deep faith and unwavering devotion to her Lord and Savior, found her world turned upside down the day she met Alex. A tall, brooding man with fiery, rebellious eyes, Alex was the antithesis of everything Sarah believed in. Yet, as fate would have it, the moment she first set eyes on him, her heart found something in his stormy gaze it simply couldn't resist. Sarah's faith had wavered before, but this time, it felt different. Her once-s...

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Contest #259

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Ended on 23:59 - Jul 19, 2024 EST

Won by Christine Foy Jackson 🏆

Title: Getting Better

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Place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 84 stories

“Getting Better” by Christine Foy Jackson

“Destined / Chance” by Christy Morgan

“Despondency” by Ty Warmbrodt

“Was He Okay?” by Hannah Lynn

“The Red Rocking Horse” by Story Time

“T, D & H” by Trudy Jas

“Confronting The Elephant ” by Helen A Smith

“Blindsided” by Myranda Marie

“How Are You?” by John K Adams

“Two Warriors” by Owen Duff

“07-18-04 ” by Grace R

“Blink and You’ll Miss It” by Eric E

“When The World Began To Wilt” by Josiah Mporampora

“Hits Hard” by Jed Cope

“Faith Amidst the Storm” by Scott Taylor

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two people who aren't admitting their true feelings for one another, despite it being obvious to outsiders.

Write a story that includes the line, "Is nobody going to say it?".

In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. One day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it.

Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

Contest #259

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

297

Contest entries

143

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: