Write a story including the phrase “Better late than never”.

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 67 stories

“The Heart Specialist” by Shuvayon Mukherjee

The esteemed Dr Maharaj was the only cardiologist at St Agatha’s Hospital. Although I met him many years after he first arrived from Kashmir, the nurses told me everyone had taken to him right away. How could they not? There was a sincerity in the way he spoke; a strength in the hand he put on your shoulder. And when a patient’s heart was beyond repair - because there was no way he could save them all - he held their hand and promised to help them through until the very end. Dr Maharaj was the doctor that patients would kneel next to thei...

143 comments 143 WINNER 🏆

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“Medic” by Alex Sultan

According to the Geneva Convention, firing at a medic wearing a clear insignia is considered a war crime. The rule, by no means, rendered medics invulnerable. Rowe sprinted across the battlefield. Frozen branches snapped under his boots. Snow broke beneath him, artillery fire shook trees, and the rattling of machine guns echoed throughout the forest. Bullets struck the ground beside his feet as he ran.He held onto his medical kit, slung around his shoulder, light and low on supplies. Rowe ignored the calls to take cov...

72 comments 72 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Christmas dinner” by Ruth Porritt

Note: This story is a funny, Christmas-themed horror tale. Trigger warning: Self-harm, and mental health. However, these themes are not the primary themes in this tale. Story rating: PG-13 until the end of the story, which I give an 'R'.*****"I honestly don't know what takes you so long, sometimes," said Brian. "It took fifteen minutes for you to put the goose in the oven.""Really?" said Naomi. "You were counting? Don't you have anything better to do?""Why don't you let me help you?" said Brian, as he started t...

41 comments 41

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“In Sickness And In Elf” by PJ Aitken

“Did you get the red onions?” asked Jackie surveying the items she had put into the fridge in the last five minutes. “What are you talking about?” Matt looked in the fridge over Jackie’s shoulder trying to compute his girlfriend’s latest line of questioning. “Don’t you remember? I specifically told you to get some red onions.” Jackie pointed to the list Matt had discarded on the kitchen table. Matt picked i...

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“Memories of Time” by Emerald Lace

The freezing salt-water splashed his face as he pushed his tired arms through the surf. He’d been swimming for what seemed like forever---his heart was racing and breath struggled out of his lungs. The soaking wet tuxedo he wore only managed to make it harder for him to propel himself through the water. Thomas had been traveling from his home in England to a new adventure with his bride-to-be, an American woman...

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“Sunset” by Elisa T-K

[CW: Character death (not particularly graphic, but still)] “You took,” says the young person in the garden, looking up through the fronds of the willow tree without any particular expression on aer face, “A very long time.” The lady stands on the outskirts of the tree’s branches, lit up by the fading sun. The shadows from the willow smothered her face, but ae know she is beautiful. “Bett...

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“The Colombo Drug Heist” by Bruce Friedman

I burst through the door of the security office of the cruise ship, breathless and without the courtesy of knocking. I was in a panic mode and dressed haphazardly, wearing the thin grey cotton jacket of a cabin steward with tuxedo pants. I was also pushing a metal cart with a laundry bag sitting on top. In the office were two of the ship’s security officers and a man in a business suit. They were startled by my sudden intrusion.“I need help quickly,” I blurted out. My life is in danger.”One of the two g...

7 comments 7

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“MY DAILY EMBARRASSMENT. ” by Akinbinu Temitope Samuel

I woke up to the beam morning light, blissful breeze find it way in through the half opened window, still lying on my bed sprawly, and receiving the pleasure of the beautiful morning with my fluffy pillow, it's day break again. Very difficult to get up, I get this fever every morning and I could not help it. It would have been so fantastic to continue the sleep but work would not permit, not work this time ...

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“Omicron International” by Michael Regan

[Pablo Picasso is reported to have said “good artists borrow, great artists steal.” While I would NEVER consider myself a great writer, the idea for this story was stolen from Isaac Asimov’s “A Loint of Paw".]Omicron International’s stock was in trouble, which meant, as CEO, Randall Ivanson was in trouble. The stock price was steadily falling for no other reason than it had the same name as the latest COVID variant. The board wanted answers and they wanted them yesterday!‘Fuck the board a...

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“Fairyville's Special Assignment ” by Melony Beard

Easton stood on a rooftop leaning against a chimney and studied the map his father had given him. He scratched his head, wondering how he’d managed to land at the wrong house again. He recalled his father’s instructions about this special assignment. He had to deliver Jack’s first lost tooth to Pearl’s Refinery by sunrise before its magic power disappeared. Every child’s first lost tooth was more valuable at Pearl’s Refinery, because a child’s first lost tooth held the magic power needed to keep Fairyville alive.It was Easton’s fir...

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“The War Table ” by Grace Gerrish

Reuel rubbed his temples at the arrogance. All six Western kings and queens gathered at once, yet only bickering and arguing was heard. There were bigger problems to be considered now, not petty troubles from a hundred years ago. A hundred years ago… a time the Eastern kingdoms had been foolish and young and unreliable. Their rulers had been old men incapable of seeing reason or of feeling remorse. ...

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“Exactly The Way It Is” by Shari Tiedens

Arlen didn’t know that graveyards could close. Yet here she was, idling at the front entrance of Holy Hope Cemetery, iron gates frowning at her tardiness in an all too familiar way. Brick posts blushed and glowed in the sunset, embarrassed on her behalf. “I want something in time for her birthday,” Mom had said. “It’s just so hard to get out there, with the shut-downs and holidays coming.” “It’s fine, Mo...

6 comments 6 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Day I Met the Wind” by Eric Miller

Have you ever met the wind? If you'd have asked me that yesterday, I'd have probably answered "no".Well, first I'd have probably looked at you funny, and asked you "what do you mean? Have I ever been outside on a windy day ? Or, felt the wind blow? Well, sure. Sure I have."But, to answer the actual question directly, I'd have had to say I never actually met the wind. That was, until today.It started when my Garmaw took us to the prairie. (By the way, 'Ga...

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“Slow and Steady” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“It’s got a lot of torque, you see,” Peter Hareman gestured with his hand, as if his brand-new car parked in the office in front of the crowd of his assembled co-workers. “That’s why it’s so fast and, what was it the dealer said? Efficient.”Many of the people nodded, sloshing the punch in their hands as they hung on Peter’s every word. Leo Sheldon, however, turned toward the coat closet.“Leaving so soon?” called out Peter, abandoning the attention of the assembled audience and rushing ...

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“Twinkle, Twinkle” by Halle Schaffer

I’m at the swimming pool today, sitting over the edge with my feet dangling in the water. I sit and I look down into the chlorine at the red and blue stripes on the bright white tile, and I think about lines. How I forgot to draw them. Love is lined. There’s a line between the friends I love and the lovers I can’t live without. The line between ‘getting coffee’ and ‘getting coffee’. A hug versus the arms that keep me warm for the long winter nights. It’s like walking around the rim of a slippery pool. How close t...

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This week's theme: Better Late Than Never

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Title: The Heart Specialist

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Write a story including the phrase “Better late than never”.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 67 stories

“The Heart Specialist” by Shuvayon Mukherjee

“Medic” by Alex Sultan

“The Christmas dinner” by Ruth Porritt

“In Sickness And In Elf” by PJ Aitken

“Memories of Time” by Emerald Lace

“Sunset” by Elisa T-K

“The Colombo Drug Heist” by Bruce Friedman

“MY DAILY EMBARRASSMENT. ” by Akinbinu Temitope Samuel

“Omicron International” by Michael Regan

“Fairyville's Special Assignment ” by Melony Beard

“The War Table ” by Grace Gerrish

“Exactly The Way It Is” by Shari Tiedens

“The Day I Met the Wind” by Eric Miller

“Slow and Steady” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“Twinkle, Twinkle” by Halle Schaffer

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character who is always running late arriving somewhere just as it closes.

Write a story about a late bloomer.

All clocks suddenly stop. Write about what happens next.

Set your story in an airport, as someone rushes for a flight.

Contest #125

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

168

Contest entries

115

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: