Write a story about someone who’s running out of time.

Posted in Angst on Nov 1, 2024

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✍️ 47 stories

“Henry's Race Against Time.” by Ramachandra Malla

Submitted to Contest #275

In the heart of London. Henry was able to ignore the sound of the second hand, which is now the only thing he can hear. For that time, once something he took for granted, was now the most precious thing in the world. He only had a few hours left. The doctor's voice echoed in his head. “ You don’t have much time left.“ They said bluntly, sterile. The truth had stung him. As he left the doctor’s office, he couldn't ignore the rhythmic ticking of his watch increasing in volume, each tick reminded him of time taken away from him. He stared ...

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“Death of a Nightmare” by James Vogner

Submitted to Contest #275

Anne sat in the deep dark leather chair across from a large desk ornamented with metal snarling gargoyle handles with their faces twisted into various screams. Perhaps the boss’ relatives? Anne put her hands in her lap. Too formal. Maybe cross her arms? No, too angry. Perhaps elbows on the armrests with hands folded? That seemed slightly better. She felt the dampness of her hands and tried drying them against her wrinkled blouse. The door burst open like a screen door in a hurricane and Anne jumped. The boss, always a consummate professional...

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“Dark Redemption” by Germaine Wynters

Submitted to Contest #275

Time is taking its toll. The clock finally strikes eleven as Peter walks through the door shaking his soaked umbrella. Making his way past the parlor, he throws the umbrella against the wall but leaves the lights untouched. He casts his hat on the couch opposite him and drops his drenched coat on the floor. Peter begins skimming through his mail piled high on his desk. Reluctantly, he turns on a lamp beside him and rests in the confines of a nearby chair, humming a tune that quickly upsets him. Impatiently, Peter begins throwing each l...

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“Olive Green Couch” by Chloe S.

Submitted to Contest #275

I tried to savor the seconds slipping away, like sand falling between the fingertips of an open palm. I could tell that she was falling out of love with me, but I chose to deny it. I couldn't believe it, how could her feelings stop when mine were so strong? How could I be so irrevocably in love with someone even though I knew the feeling wasn't being reciprocated? I guess that's what Jane would do to people. She was hypnotic without even knowing it. Everyone loved Jane. We met in college and she was the type of student that professors would...

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“The Unfair Demise. ” by Blondie -kun

Submitted to Contest #275

[Trigger Warning:- Death.]He sat down on the soft sand of the beach, looking at the sunset in front of him. An unexplainable feeling in his heart as he grips the paper in his left hand so tightly that he would have also crushed the paper into a ball. He, who would always find comfort near the ocean, now feels empty and almost disappointed in this lifetime. He sits quietly, an air of emptiness surrounding him. Despite being a young adult with countless opportunities ahead, a deep sadness clouds his expression. The burden of uncertainty and th...

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“The Last Flicker” by Reese Rehbein

Submitted to Contest #275

The black cat slinked ahead of me, its emerald eyes piercing through the twilight. Cobblestones glistened underfoot, slick from an earlier rain, and the narrow alleyways of the old town twisted like a maze woven from shadows and whispers. The scent of damp stone mingled with the sweet decay of fallen leaves, wrapping around me like a cloak. The cat glanced back, a silent invitation—or perhaps a dare—and slipped into the yawning doorway of a dilapidated church. Vines strangled the stone walls, their tendrils creeping into every crack, as if n...

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“7:09 PM” by Niomi Nunez

Submitted to Contest #275

I He figured that if time passed surely it would help stale his problems even through the thick of life. But all time did was make him thirty and stagnant in the same old routine with the same old habits that never died hard. Waking up with just enough time to throw his legs into some denim and some leftovers into a black plastic bag, before performing his shallow march to the 8:15 am bus.Somethings just never turned with the time—besides his skin and complexion, all remained the same. Late wake up, dirty denim, and a lunch packed knotted li...

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“Time waits for nobody” by Monika Denham

Submitted to Contest #275

I have 10 minutes left to live. I have known this for 30 seconds now, and it has seriously put a dampener on my evening. I had so many plans, not just for tonight, but also for the future. Now, however, I can forget pretty much all the things on my list because there simply isn't time for anything. Well, almost nothing, anyway. So, it all started about 21 minutes ago now. Damn, I guess this means I have 9 minutes left to live. But wait, please let me tell my story!? I'm not sure I can do it justice, though, in only 9 minutes. Then agai...

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“Endless Time does Eventually End.” by Paul Tyree

Submitted to Contest #275

To better understand the consequences of believing something that may or may not end, it is better to only half believe it ever existed. Anyone who wants to believe they will live forever (here on earth) is almost always fooling themselves with the notion that they are invincible. This is the story of someone who was out of time from the day they were born, and yet were living their own lives as wreckless and as hapless as they could possibly live it. This started even from birth where they followed a simple idea and expanded on it with brut...

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“The Blotch” by Steven C Cochran

Submitted to Contest #275

The cooing outside her window woke Eleanor at seven in the morning. She was having a well-deserved lie-in after scrubbing the bathroom tiles with a toothbrush until 1 AM. Her sister, Clarissa, was visiting in a few hours, and she wanted everything spotless. She would never hear the end of it if Clarissa spotted even a crumb on the floor. The pigeons were having a chat about whatever pigeons chat about. Eleanor stormed out of bed and made her way to the living room, throwing open the curtains. “Bugger off, you dirty feathered rats!”&nbsp...

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“When time falls short” by Kelly L

Submitted to Contest #275

When Time Falls ShortEvelyn had always been the type of girl who had everything under control. A straight-A student, passionate about becoming a therapist, with a circle of friends who admired her, especially Adam. He’d been her best friend for years. Her constant. The person she trusted more than anyone else.Until that night.It was the night of Adam’s birthday party. The night everything changed.Evelyn hadn’t planned to drink much, but it was impossible not to get caught up in the chaos of the party. The music blared, the laughter echoed of...

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“RUNNING OUT OF TIME” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #275

RUNNING OUT OF TIME I stared out the cell window. My hands grasped the cold iron bars, and the rough metal dug into my palms. From my vantage point atop the scarred wooden stool, I could see the castle bailey which served as the market square, and beyond … the gallows. It was a typical Autumn morning, windy and gray. I saw my cousin swaying in the wind, suspended from the gallows. An hour before, I heard his last pitiful pleas as they placed the noose around his neck and he begged for his life. All he received for his plea ...

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“Ten to Midnight” by Elaine Guinto

Submitted to Contest #275

Ten to midnight. On the opposite wall, the clock sings; silent under the din of the new year’s festivities. Its song plays quicker and quicker with every passing moment: faster and faster toward the rest of her life. Toward the end of it, Talia thinks. But even in her half-drunk, bone-weary state, she knows she’s being dramatic. She’s not even halfway through her twenties. But as the ticks and tocks push the minute hand further, she swears the gaps are getting smaller. The sand is running out of the hourglass. The passage of time, Tali...

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“Death by Pink” by Soham Saha

Submitted to Contest #275

Stop.I beg of you. Stop reading at once.I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to be the savior of your future. Hell, I am not even qualified for this, not in any way that would make you feel safe, anyway.You haven’t stopped.I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But here it goes. I didn’t choose to be made. If you’ve heard of genetic algorithms, you probably know what I’m talking about. But if you don’t, it is a method of training Artificial Intelligence. You start with a problem, and make a few bots with a random set of algorithms. The bot...

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“Re: Disappearance of Alexis Monroe” by Shyanne Smith

Submitted to Contest #275

Dear Mr. Stone, I haven’t spoken with Alexis in like six months, so I’m sorry if I get any details wrong. I’m not really sure where to start? I’m not really sure what’s all relevant with supernatural stuff, so please let me know if this isn’t enough. I didn’t really know her that well at first. The store was huge and our shifts didn’t really line up. We never took breaks at the same time, and she didn’t stick around after clocking out, either. Sometimes the top-of-the-hour announcement would go off, I’d go off and pretend to face the shelves...

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Write a story about someone who’s running out of time.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 47 stories

“Henry's Race Against Time.” by Ramachandra Malla

“Death of a Nightmare” by James Vogner

“Dark Redemption” by Germaine Wynters

“Olive Green Couch” by Chloe S.

“The Unfair Demise. ” by Blondie -kun

“The Last Flicker” by Reese Rehbein

“7:09 PM” by Niomi Nunez

“Time waits for nobody” by Monika Denham

“Endless Time does Eventually End.” by Paul Tyree

“The Blotch” by Steven C Cochran

“When time falls short” by Kelly L

“RUNNING OUT OF TIME” by Glenna Agnew

“Ten to Midnight” by Elaine Guinto

“Death by Pink” by Soham Saha

“Re: Disappearance of Alexis Monroe” by Shyanne Smith

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story from the point of view of a witch, spirit, or corpse.

Start your story with a character being led somewhere by a black cat.

Center your story around someone who’s being haunted — by what or whom is up to you.

Write a story that includes the line “Better late than never.”

Contest #275

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

388

Contest entries

170

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: