Write a story about someone losing faith in an institution.

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 120 stories

“The Cheating Husband” by Kanika G

Submitted to Contest #102

Draping the pallu of my saree around my waist, I tucked the loose end of it into the petticoat to avoid getting ketchup and oil stains on it as I helped serve piping hot samosas, ordered fresh from Narula’s bakery in Indiranagar, into the Corelle plates. The whiff of the spicy mint chutney I dolloped into each plate made my mouth water. Next, I served vegetable spring rolls, paneer tikkas and semolina idlis flavoured with mustard seeds and curry leaves into each plate, adding chicken tikkas into the plates for the two non-vegetarians in our ...

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“The Perfect Dystopia” by J D Hernandez

Submitted to Contest #102

The city of Clouds in the country of the republic California was a peaceful place. Many believed it to be a perfect functioning utopia. However Jean Warren knew the truth dude to a quick she inherited from her father. She would ramble and often repeats herself something at which the elders would steadily annoyed over. She would often try to hold her tongue in something in her brain which blurred it out. Today she had done it infront if her teacher and he had gone off. Dragging her to the principal his suggestion was that maybe just maybe she...

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“One of the Willing” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #102

Content Warning: Sexual Context, Drug and Alcohol Use, Death, Suicide, Apathy towards Suicide and Death.The following narrative does not mirror the author’s perspective on these subjects. It is a character perspective from someone who lacks empathy.Everyone has questions.Some people have answers.The real question is, how many people are willing to accept all the answers?Nydia was willing.The flash of the LED lights always gave Nydia a headache, echoes of shitty club music pounding within her skulls. Today was a terrible day to run out of Adv...

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“Nothingness” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

Submitted to Contest #102

True love is a myth and I’ll tell you why: He called me at 2 am to ask if I could come over. He was drunk or at least I thought he was. I cradled the phone in my hands as he pleaded, hearing as his sloppy words pooled at my feet. The phone was cold against my ears, almost feeling like a prison and an addiction at the same time. He told me he would be leaving for Portland in a few days and that he wanted me to stop him. I loved him, had never stopped loving him. So I agreed. It was 2 in the morning but I agreed because I wanted to see hi...

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“A Teacher's Dilemma” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #102

“Should we get started?” the principal suggests in a cheery, singsong voice, tapping on the microphone. “People? Please take your seats. Excuse me, people?” Her smile is brittle as she grips the microphone a little too hard. She stands alone on the Cafetorium stage, a space that doubles as both a lunchroom and a theater—and permanently smells of soured milk.The throng of veteran teachers summarily ignores her, continuing to talk more loudly to one another, mainly about expected retirement dates. They help themselves to off brand cookies and ...

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“Letter of Resignation” by M. Sawan

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #102

Temple President Silver, As you know, I joined the Church as a custodian—the Sanitation Specialist II. It was a fancy way of saying that I pushed a mop and didn’t have to do toilets. I was happy to have the work, and I again thank you for the opportunity, but it was just a job. I’ve had many like it, and I kept my head down. Some of that was because it’s what I’ve always done, but I can admit to more: I was nervous about the Church and its members. We all know the prejudice of the outside world, and I was no different. So I mopped. I heard ...

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“Trapped From The Inside” by Theodore Matiu

Submitted to Contest #102

T/W: paralysis, depression, suicide Trapped From The Inside I remember the day so vividly. I was a youngster playing around with my toy soldiers and watching TV. It was Sunday, my sweet day off. No working, just playing and fooling around all day long. “Samuel it’s time for breakfast!” My mother yelled across the house. I got up slowly and reluctantly. I put my toys in a pile at the corner of the room and turned off the TV. I started heading toward the kitchen. I was just a few steps...

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“Artificial Connection” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

TV sets are turned on. Sunday “Breaking News. This is Aspen Woods reporting for HVVM Channel, your channel. Although this year’s drought has been increased by the global climate change, authorities found the cause for this year’s wildfire in California: experts concluded it was detonated by a match… Believe it or not, after many laborious hours of investigation, specialists from the California Fire Department claimed to follow a firing track, as they called it, to an area by the roadside, where they found the remains of a match, probab...

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“All is not well” by Aditya Kaundal

Submitted to Contest #102

He was scolded; he was threatened; he was dragged out by collar many a times; he was beaten on few occasion; he was taken in custody thrice for a night still everyday for many days this old fellow, short in stature; skinny in build; with overgrown eyebrows above sunken eyes on the deadpan face was stubborn to do it again and again so today was no difference, little bent he came again donned in grey pants and off white shirt, shirt not tucked in , with a banner in right hand and a tiffin hanging to left shoulder and a water bot...

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“Sia Reyes Murder Case” by Keya J.

Submitted to Contest #102

The doorbell chime filled the anxiety spilt air. Clemency and I both exchanged nervous looks. We both knew who it was. I walked up to the door while she arranged a few drinks. “Oh Welcome Mr Wright. Please take a seat.” I greeted the young man. He was wearing a blue suit and tie, left parted hair and a shaved beard. Mr Wright sat comfortably on the foam, glaring at the drinks in front of him, but did not dare to have one. “So you’re Clemency Cook?” He asked, cocking a brow towards me. I left a foolish chuckle and pointed ...

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“A Butterfly Tattoo” by Brittany Weaver

Submitted to Contest #102

It all started with a butterfly tattoo. And I guess that started at O’Maleys. And that started with Jack, this guy I met on the hospital shuttle. He was dying. Had been dying his whole life. Just like me, I suppose, only he felt it more that day. I was meant to go to Ward 6, the Cardiology department, as I did every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. He was meant to go to Ward 11, the Oncology department, where he lived. Only, he meant to never go back. He told me this as he pulled on the loose strings poking out of the seat in front of ...

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“Secret Love Song” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #102

The roar of the audience faded into a gentle post-show hum as the curtain fell and stayed closed for the final time that night. The atmosphere backstage was electric as usual; the audience had been fun, the rigging had worked flawlessly, and everyone had had a great time. Two weeks into the pre-Christmas run of Hairspray, and already the vibe was good. The show was a sell-out nightly, and the rush line was always packed to bursting from three in the morning. New York approved of the show, and for good reason. It was a cheeky take on the clas...

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“The Puppeteer” by Jon R. Miller

Submitted to Contest #102

The sight of the puppet’s severed head paralyzed Sayuri Ando. The torso—a mutilated lump—lay on its back with the head teetering on its chest like a grapefruit-sized logan. Loose strands of jet-black hair bobbed in front of its alabaster face, reminiscent of a weeping willow. The dismembered appendages fanned out within a three-meter radius and reminded her of the gristly leavings of a carcass abandoned by a sated beast of prey. A gothic still life, the scene oozed ghoulish tranquility amidst the razzle-dazzle of Neo-Asuka city’s nightlife.S...

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“The Institution of Marriage” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #102

Trigger Warning: Murder THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE “The institution of marriage, my fat ass.” Leah slumped back in her chair, and looked across the table at her husband, Leo. “Leah, I sense some hostility,” said the other woman in the room. “No shit, Caroline. There is definitely hostility.” Leah shot Caroline — or Dr. Winter as she preferred to be called by her patients — a withering look. “Do you care to explain Leah?” “Sure,” she said, still defiant. “When we got married, we promised each other that w...

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“Faithless” by Martina Ifeoma Ogiji

Submitted to Contest #102

I was so sure when I came here two ago. So sure that it was what I wanted but now everything blurs my mind's eye with uncertainty. I wonder now how that proud certainty dims now in lost faith. Before I came here, I used to sit on Father Sunni's step and listen to him talk about philosophy. he was the young priest that the bishop had sent to our village, one of those missionaries who came to rural people. I loved that he spoke clear and good English. Not like the broken, rotten one I tried speaking in our rural primary School. He wore ...

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Write a story about someone losing faith in an institution.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 120 stories

“The Cheating Husband” by Kanika G

“The Perfect Dystopia” by J D Hernandez

“One of the Willing” by Lynn Penny

“Nothingness” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

“A Teacher's Dilemma” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Letter of Resignation” by M. Sawan

“Trapped From The Inside” by Theodore Matiu

“Artificial Connection” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

“All is not well” by Aditya Kaundal

“Sia Reyes Murder Case” by Keya J.

“A Butterfly Tattoo” by Brittany Weaver

“Secret Love Song” by Amy Jayne Conley

“The Puppeteer” by Jon R. Miller

“The Institution of Marriage” by Tricia Shulist

“Faithless” by Martina Ifeoma Ogiji

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a metaphor about human nature.

Frame your story as an adult recalling the events of their childhood.

Write about a character with an unassailable moral compass.

Write about a mysterious figure in one’s neighborhood.

Contest #102

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

712

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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