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

Posted in Angst on Feb 16, 2024

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✍️ 93 stories

“PHOTOSYNTHESIS” by David King

Submitted to Contest #238

Everyone in the crowd was practically on the edge of their seats as Jamar Williams paced on the stage, spewing his self-discovered knowledge. A baby blue turtleneck wrapped perfectly tailored to his body and Rolex snug on his wrist.The frail Black man smiled and absorbed the validation from the engaging crowd. He had dropped a line; which he was famous for. No matter how long or how little he spoke for, he made sure to include one line that would spark, hurt, or baffle hi...

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“Lost” by Ann Martin

Submitted to Contest #238

LOSTCarol Ann Martin(Sensitive content: Missing person) My Dearest Lost Love,It’s been six weeks and they’ve stopped looking. I don’t want to stop, but I don’t know how to go on. Where are you, Jack? Why can’t I find you?Always, always I have known where you are. If not beside me, you were five minutes away, a phone call, a text, an email away. But I can’t reach you now, you don’t answer me and I don’t know where you’ve gone. That’s why I’m writing this letter. I can’t remember ever writing one to you before, but at least I know it will last...

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“Lay Down The Highway” by Giulietta Villalobos

Submitted to Contest #238

“Lori, I don’t…,” Andrew trails off, sighing heavily. This is miserable. He doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know how to say no to her in this moment– if he ever did.He had called her from a motel room outside of San Antonio, accepting the charges without even asking how much they’d be. He just wanted to hear her voice. “Where in the world is Andrew Brown?” she’d asked as soon as she picked up the line. For a moment, he’d considered lying to her. He could be vague, distract her with stories from the road until she’d forgo...

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“Obsessions” by Cheyenne Spicer

Submitted to Contest #238

This story contains mentions of self harm and mental health issues."Why doesn't..." Jessica sat on the edge of a twin bed in a college dorm with tears rolling down her cheeks.I met Jessica in 6th grade, we were 11. I remember sitting next to her in science class and I used all my 11 yr old charisma to make her my friend instantly.She seemed to like me and the feeling was mutual, she was really funny and easy to talk to. She wasn't as immature as all the other kids I hung out with. But soon I realized that Jessica had some real issues.She too...

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“The Thief” by CC Watson

Submitted to Contest #238

She gazes for a moment at her bedroom door and then says, not loudly, but enough for whoever she thinks is behind the door to hear: "Not again, you’ve already taken from me, so go to --." This wintry night, when neither a murmur nor hum is heard within the walls of the Thompson residence, Elzebeth anticipates a thief. The probability was created six months ago while living alone in her apartment. Bandits harassed and forced her out of the very home she had lived in for twenty years, and she knew they would return. She was one of the f...

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“What’s In The Box?” by Peyton Fleek

Submitted to Contest #238

I can count the number of times I’ve had a gun pointed to my head. This is my eighth occurrence since I started this trade five months ago. It’s not necessarily a fatal business, but people are desperate and you know that old saying about desperate times and desperate measures. I remember the first time it happened, it was a sweaty, hot August night up in the Bronx. I just finished my first delivery. When I got back to my truck a cold piece of metal met my temple. My brother, being the man who got me the job, felt it his responsibili...

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“Sometimes You Just Gotta Make Your Own Rules” by Barbara Nosek

Submitted to Contest #238

Language, plus implied violence, physical abuse and substance abuse“But wouldn’t this be very dangerous if . . .”“Yes, Chrissy, it could go bad, disastrously bad. But I have to do this.”“This is really scary, Alex. I’m going to be so worried about you.”“Well, we just have to hope the plan on paper holds true for the plan in action.”“Believe me, I’ll be hoping that with all my heart until your mission is over.”* * *Born and raised in this city, and yet in all my 43 years I’d never set foot in this part of town. Even law enforcement didn’t wan...

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“Therapy Session” by Sofia Fleming

Submitted to Contest #238

“What’s troubling you?”“I…I had a panic attack earlier today. Because…of something really fucking stupid…” I bitterly laugh. “Of course, it’s fucking stupid. It’s me.”“What was it, if you don’t mind me asking?”“No. You should ask. It’s the only way I’ll force myself to spit it out. It…” I inhale deeply through my nose. “Lipstick. Someone was wearing dark red lipstick, and it reminded me of…my-” I have to force myself to finish the sentence. “…my mother…”I pause for a moment that seems to stretch forever. The pressure of further elaboration w...

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“Fuck You” by Jla Starr Johnson

Submitted to Contest #238

“Psssssttt. How many bad words do you know?” Izaak’s six-year-old voice whispers during reading time. “You don’t have to say it out loud. Just show, with your fingers,” he points to his left hand.Mom wouldn’t approve of this conversation. But, I set my book aside and form a fist anyway. I start to count. Our restrained giggles grow and the reactions on our faces become sillier with the more fingers I put up. “Twelve?!” Izaak gasps. His jaw sinks and he glares in amazement. “How many do you know?” he swivels his ...

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“Sweet Girl” by Zoe B

Submitted to Contest #238

(Warning: Story contains physical violence, abuse, gore and CSA. ) The golden twinkle of fairy lights glistens through the trees. The loud chatter and laughter of my family and friends rambles throughout the venue. A love song is being loudly played by the DJ’s speakers on stage. I can feel the vibrations in my chest. I start to feel the sweet familiar buzz sweep over my mind as I sip on my 5th or 6th champagne. David chats away with a distant aunt of mine when our gazes meet and he throws a charming smile and signals for me to waltz ove...

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“100% (Part 2)” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #238

The park was quiet, with only one or two people passing Lana on occasion as she sat on a small wooden bench and re-read her favourite book for the fifteenth time. Sometimes she looked up as something in the book made her want to stop and think, idly staring without seeing at the gravel path, dewy grass or sparsely-grown birch trees in front of her. The only sound came from the courting song thrushes singing their sweet tunes high up in the branches of the trees, and the soft thump of footsteps of people enjoying a leisurely walk in the thoug...

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“Jimmy and the Dogman ” by Tamar Katz

Submitted to Contest #238

WeeeeeooooooootThe sound came again, like the trill of a beached whale drying up amongst creosote and sagebrush.“What the hell is that?”“No doubt some kind of flying insect or other,” Jimmy tried to reassure his wife, Deborah, who was half-covered by a quilt, hair threaded through pink plastic curlers.“It’s driving me up the wall. Can you make it shut up?”Jimmy pivoted off the bed. He pulled his legs through a pair of Levi's, securing the buckle of the belt he’d left inside its loops. Given the nature of mountain lions and dope fiends – he o...

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“Joint Guard Duty” by Robert Battin

Submitted to Contest #238

Two soldiers smoking pot while on guard duty in VietnamJoint Guard Dutyby R. A. BattinAuthor View The author has placed a warning on this post for violence. The author has placed a warning on this post for language. The author has placed a warning on this post for sexual content."Guess whut I's gots in my pocket, n' you can….."Crawhorn didn't give a rat's ass what the man had in his pocket. What mattered to him was the four hours of guard duty in a stinking, hot, 8' X 8' wooden tower, some thirty feet above the concertina...

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“The Happening ” by Christine LW

Submitted to Contest #238

It happened again your too taken by surprize and shock to say anything at the time. About the rudeness of others. Well she walked right in front of me towards the checkout in the supermarket. Some would have said "This lady or gentle man was first." She look around slowly opening her purse checking her club cards, before handing the assistant a fifty pound note. Not enough change in the till. Hence having to wait for the till to be checked. All because rather than argue, or kick up a scene, I did the decent thing or so I thought. By letting ...

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“Go Get Dressed” by Season C

Submitted to Contest #238

“It’s not only because he’s there, it’s just….” My chest tightened and the words just stopped. Tears poured down slowly onto my chin and then silently dropped into my lap. My hands were folded tightly and the back of my hand felt wet from it—the loss coming out in salty release. Marlene just stared at me sympathetically, her icy blue eyes examining mine.“Listen, remember how I told you what he did to me as child? The whole pond story? Ya know, almost drowning?” She nodded...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 93 stories

“PHOTOSYNTHESIS” by David King

“Lost” by Ann Martin

“Lay Down The Highway” by Giulietta Villalobos

“Obsessions” by Cheyenne Spicer

“The Thief” by CC Watson

“What’s In The Box?” by Peyton Fleek

“Sometimes You Just Gotta Make Your Own Rules” by Barbara Nosek

“Therapy Session” by Sofia Fleming

“Fuck You” by Jla Starr Johnson

“Sweet Girl” by Zoe B

“100% (Part 2)” by Khadija S. Mohammad

“Jimmy and the Dogman ” by Tamar Katz

“Joint Guard Duty” by Robert Battin

“The Happening ” by Christine LW

“Go Get Dressed” by Season C

🌟 Similar prompts

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.

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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