Set your story at a silent retreat.

Posted in Angst on Feb 16, 2024

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✍️ 44 stories

“Inner Peace” by Hannah Floyd

Submitted to Contest #238

Shanti was sitting cross-legged on a wall. She had just finished a 1-hour period of meditation, and her legs had completely gone to sleep. She carefully moved her feet, one at a time, down to the ground, and sat there, readjusting to the world. Everything looked different. Before sitting down to meditate, she hadn’t actually been looking. Now, because she had un-hooked her thinking mind, she could take in her surroundings all at once. The flowers were brighter. A cat moved cautiously behind the bushes, stalking its prey. She caught its...

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“Silent War” by MJ Andres

Submitted to Contest #238

The book bag hanging off my shoulder felt heavier than it had when I first tossed it on.It only had the few essentials I needed to survive.But after hiking up a mountain for three miles I was sure even the hair tightly wound in a ponytail on my head was to heavy for me to be lugging around.My legs wobble as they finally straighten, the ground beneath my sneakers leveling. Sweat beads down the side of my neck, trickling a cool path over my skin as it slips inside my t-shirt.I take in the little rest area. The map had been straight forward eno...

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“Murder on My Mind” by Leah J. Simmons

Submitted to Contest #238

I have one goal, one purpose, one destiny. Someone has to die. And it’s going to happen today.Events of the past several days have stirred a slumbering malevolence in my soul that I never knew was there. Now, my inner Eldrich Horror has awakened and it desperately needs to feed. Through forced illumination and reflection, my undeniable path is now crystal clear to me. I’m going to kill someone. I’m just not sure who yet. There are so many options, so many unsuspecting tar...

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“The Evil Eye” by N HW

Submitted to Contest #238

Sweat trickled down the length of Anna’s spine. She mentally followed the single bead, gliding down, until it met the base of her back, joining the pool that had already been soaking into the waistband of her yoga pants for hours. Two hours and 43 minutes to be exact. That’s how long Anna had been sitting crossed legged on the floor. The cloying scent of incense filled the small room, the smokey streams visible in the shafts of sunlight streaming through the windows. As instructed, she was desperately trying to access that ‘peaceful corner o...

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“The Silent Treatment” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #238

(contains some sexual references and swearing)There he is, having a whale of a time, and me here, miserable as sin. Course, I can’t tell him anything; they’d be down on me like a ton of bricks if I as much as opened my mouth.The thing that really galls me, really gets my goat, really pisses me off – hmmm, my collection of ways to describe how totally hacked off I am is certainly coming along … and there’s another one! – is that this was all his idea.“Let’s get away for the weekend!” he said, and it was the first time he’d been spontaneous si...

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“The Father” by Alaina Wainwright

Submitted to Contest #238

**Trigger Warning**Contains acts of abuse, violence, religious themes, and language... “I’ll just have a glass of water please.”“Is that all you’re having Erin? We’re supposed to be having lunch. They have an amazing-““She’s fasting for our day of prayer tomorrow.”Darius grabbed the menu from Erin and tossed it on the end of the table. “You’re so wonderful. Your guidance has helped me so much.” She looked up at him sheepishly.I was dumbfounded but chose to contain it. “It’s so nice to see you, honey. I don’t think we’ve g...

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“The man in the window ” by Taya Baguley

Submitted to Contest #238

The suffocating grip of fear had become a constant companion. My face curls downwards so much that I can feel my upside-down smile tugging at my facial muscles. My body feels hard to control, my arms dangle at my sides like I'm holding heavy rocks and I find my legs hard to lift when I walk. Every day, I feel different to everyone else. It is a hard feeling to describe, I don’t feel sad, I just feel completely and utterly hollow. As I walk through the streets I wonder if people can see it, see that I don’t look like everyone else, look like ...

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“TEN DAYS OF SILENCE” by Maria Sardi

Submitted to Contest #238

Mum drove me to the Meditation Camp. She had done this course before and thought it would do me good considering my life circumstances. Before leaving she said, "Just remember if I managed to do it, you can do it as well." She kissed me goodbye and left. I looked around, the purpose-built center was surrounded by native bush. It looked like a very peaceful place, but I was feeling very nervous. Would I be able to cope with ten days of silence? That night for dinner they gave us lentil soup with bread. This would be our last evening meal u...

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“Where is the Green Temple? ” by Kayla Wikaryasz

Submitted to Contest #238

The brochure’s glossy texture had implied that the retreat was one of utmost professionalism. Their mission statement, “Those who come with loud minds, leave with quiet voices,” led Rain to believe that she was embarking on a week-long journey that would fix all of her problems. Subsequently, Rain used an entire paycheck, from Georgie’s Deli, to pay for the week-long retreat at the Green Temple, a thirty minute drive from the Everglade National Park. She did so, to remedy some ill facet of herself that had always been a hindrance to her self...

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“Inside the Mind ” by Lydia Tyburski

Submitted to Contest #238

She came from Ohio. She got off a steel clad bus in the center of town, and dragged her feet to the doors of "Silent Springs, -"the premier retreat for people of discerning tastes". "Hello I'm here for the retreat", she muttered at the front desk,The front desk lady had long, shiny black hair and slanted glasses."Name?" "Shilo Smith". Front desk lady nodded to indicate she had found Shilo on the registration list.She got up from the mahogany barrier, and descended to lead Shiloh into her quarters. The bed was white and prim, clean and the bl...

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“Silent Island” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #238

I never thought I was a big talker. I’m just not one of those garrulous types. So, the silent retreat sounded like the place for me. Having just been through a recent, huge life change, it felt like the perfect timing to retreat from the world and to contemplate things with no background noise interfering with it. What added to the appeal was the fact that it was being held on a private island. I couldn’t wait to get into the wilderness and rediscover the parts of myself that had got lost in my divorce. I brought a notebook with me. It was m...

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“Hereditary.” by Júlia Tammela

Submitted to Contest #238

Note: this story contains mentions of rape, suicide and murder (none explicit). I sit alone every night. No sounds. At all. I try to breathe as lightly as I can so I don't make too much noise. The last thing I want is to disturb his silence. A few years ago Mom told me how they met. They saw each other at a bar in their hometown and since it was quite loud they decided to go for a walk to get to know eachother better. Clichê. I wonder if she had never seen serial killer documentaries. "Do not talk to strangers", you might end up dead. ...

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“The Invention of Charades” by Denise Glickler

Submitted to Contest #238

Bonjour! I am Colette, a lively lass from the heart of France, born in the year 1620. My hair, as pale as the winter snow, carries a hint of red, like the last rays of the setting sun. My eyes, a curious blend of green and gold, are always sparkling with mischief and a thirst for knowledge. And my mouth, oh, it's always in a pout, especially when I'm deep in thought or when I've just asked one of my countless "Why?" questions. I'm a bit of a chatterbox, you see, and some might even call me silly. But I just can't help it! The world is full o...

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“Whispers of Serenity” by Cynthia Hansford

Submitted to Contest #238

The hushed tones of the forest welcomed Sarah as she stepped across the threshold into Serenity Pines. She inhaled, allowing the scent of cedar to envelop her senses. It was a marked contrast from the stale city air that clung to her like a second skin. Here, there were no blaring horns or endless crowds, only a stillness that settled into her bones. She wandered aimlessly, brushing her fingers against the rough bark of an ancient pine. The tree stood stoically, weathered roots plunging deep into the fertile soil. Sarah envied its stea...

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“Screaming in Silence” by Courtney Caruso

Submitted to Contest #238

Courtney had always been surrounded by noise. As a barber, her days were filled with the constant buzz of clippers, the chatter of clients, the honking of cars outside, and the blaring of radios. She loved her job, but the harshness of sound followed her home, where her husband Sam and their rambunctious kids created their own symphony of chaos. Every evening was a whirlwind of activity. Dinner had to be cooked, spills had to be cleaned, and somehow amidst the chaos, they tried to carve out moments of family time. But even in the quietest mo...

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Set your story at a silent retreat.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 44 stories

“Inner Peace” by Hannah Floyd

“Silent War” by MJ Andres

“Murder on My Mind” by Leah J. Simmons

“The Evil Eye” by N HW

“The Silent Treatment” by PJ Town

“The Father” by Alaina Wainwright

“The man in the window ” by Taya Baguley

“TEN DAYS OF SILENCE” by Maria Sardi

“Where is the Green Temple? ” by Kayla Wikaryasz

“Inside the Mind ” by Lydia Tyburski

“Silent Island” by Keelan LaForge

“Hereditary.” by Júlia Tammela

“The Invention of Charades” by Denise Glickler

“Whispers of Serenity” by Cynthia Hansford

“Screaming in Silence” by Courtney Caruso

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: