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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 67 stories

“Better Late Than Never” by Allie Kratzer

Submitted to Contest #125

You don’t see it, do you? The way you have a tendency to tilt your head towards the sun when you walk outside or how to rest your chin on the palm when you think. You don’t see how your hair hangs just over your eyes and makes you look tough and adorable at the same time. You don’t see how you can light up a room with your smile or how you wrinkle your nose right before you laugh or how your lips form a perfect little O when you mouth I love you from across the room. You never could see the way your eyes and face glow when I walk in or how y...

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“Saved, But Only Just” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #125

The road from Alarston had been a long one, with only endless miles of farmland to occupy the mind. Luthar was frustrated and uncomfortable sat on Stepper for so long. Each night he would make the camp and prepare Chadwick’s meal for him, rub down the horses and try to sleep in the cold darkness. The only thing keeping his mind on the job was the debt he felt he owed Chadwick for the armour he’d bought him. They’d been on the road nearly a fortnight now, headed for the Port of Elliath, the most southern city in the three kingdoms. Chadwick...

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“Better Late” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #125

Lionel dressed in a hurry, which he often did when he wanted to get somewhere on time. He would put his tie on once he arrived at his destination, or get someone to help him with it at the church. It had been a long time since he had put one on, and he felt that he did not have the time to stumble through it now. He rushed out the door, and ran to the bus stop. Once there he kept tapping his feet while he waited.  His car was in the garage, so he had to take alternative means to travel the 90 miles to his destination. T...

6 comments 6
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“Red Flags” by Anne Sellers

Submitted to Contest #125

It was the longest night of the year. A strong, cool wind was stinging her face, rolling over the lake. There was a campfire somewhere in the distance, the smoke drifting through the trees. As she walked up to the cabin, the only sound was the pine needles crunching under her boots. This was it then, she thought. She was alone in a cabin in the woods. Numb. Empty.Last spring was hopeful. She was meeting her goals that were carefully laid out on her vision board. Things couldn't have been better. She was healthy, successful, and secretly in l...

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“A Bird with Teeth” by Hannah Barrett

Submitted to Contest #125

[Contains brief violence and fictionalized accounts of slavery and misogyny] It didn't take long for them to reach Bur-al-Mahdi. Careful star mapping pointed the direction, and by the grace of cool desert nights the journey was over in just three moons. But the journey was never going to be the hard part; convincing Pash Fazim to relinquish his claim on Jena was the task they all dreaded. Pash Fazim was a slight man with skin like wetted cowhide and tight, white curls. His eyes were rheumy but the color of cut emeralds, and because o...

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“The Void at the Academy” by Diana Alexia

Submitted to Contest #125

They were running now, taking the turns of the meandering hallway as it led them to the other side of the mansion. “What do you mean that the spell does not work?” Melanie glared at Julian as he scrambled with the lock on the door leading to the staff offices and pulled her behind him. “The spell does not work. I saw it backfire… that’s how we are here now. I’m sorry.” He said between breaths, “The school is going to succumb to the Void. There is nothing we can do now but try to get out. If we do not make it out in time, we will both die....

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“Birthday party” by Sérgio Gonçalves

Submitted to Contest #125

“Well, better late than never”, he said to himself as he looked at himself in the mirror while he was doing his blue tie. He knew he wasn’t going to make it on time. The party was set to start in fifteen minute’s time, at 20h00 but it would be impossible to get there before then. It would take him at least half an hour to get there. Steve was always late to any occasion and on this one, he had been invited by his friends to a party where, he was promised, would be many women. The party was in his honor to celebrate his birthday. Steve was 47...

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“Loom of Doom” by Courtney Cheyenne

Submitted to Contest #125

And there was plenty to talk about, but Anna had nothing to say. Her head rang, trying to gather simple words together. She was the shy type and did not do well socially. “What was she doing in this rich person’s house?”, she wondered. Maybe this was a sign of her future. “Better late than never!” She was already in her prime early 30s and felt she hadn’t moved a single inch on society’s ladder. She stopped swimming in her head and remembered the girl. The weird girl that drug her here for some family ...

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“The Red Bracelet resting by the door. ” by Bella Cole

Submitted to Contest #125

For the fourth time this week, I watched the sheriff place another notice on the board of City Hall. Sighing, he lifted his cap to wipe the sweat from his brow. As he lumped away, his heavy feet clumping against the hardwood, I stretched to read the notice from my creaky desk chair. The note was the same as the previous three, detailing a break-in that took place on Brakey Rd. The police were asking for any suspects, and to report all suspicious behavior.  You would think after the fourth robbery of the week the people of Trayville wou...

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“One's Needs” by Lashun Williams

Submitted to Contest #125

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I have to go.” Valarie watched her husband stand in the rain as they eyed each other wearily. She stood under her porch while he stood just inches from the house. The rain offered no solace to muddle out the silence of this impending moment. Despite the heavy rain, the heaviness and silence still hung in the air, as if her ears refused to listen to anything other than his voice. “Rocky…” “No, please, stop calling me that.” Valarie nearly laughed. “What? I can’t call you by your nickname anymore?” “Valarie–” “...

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“Better Late Than Never ” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #125

[TW: references to violence] Ketia pulled the pin from the grenade in her shaking, blood-stained hand. She closed her eyes in the moonlight. The beast with twelve legs lunged for her. Better late than never, she thought. The explosive went off between them. Its sound carried for miles on the crisp air. Visceral matter blew away in all directions. Caspian lowered his monocular. Fuck, another one lost. That makes six. She was so close to the gates and offered so much potential. He climbed down from the observation tower and buzzed his ...

6 comments 6
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“Stuck On the Roof” by Caitlyn Noelle

Submitted to Contest #125

It was the 4th of July and most of the family had already sat down to enjoy their hotdogs, cheeseburgers, and party potatoes. But in the backyard was a little girl, Millie, watching her big brother Gus, as he used their little jungle gym to climb up onto the roof of the house. Gus was always climbing things just to see if he could, the school flagpole, trees, fences, and this time it was the roof.   He climbed onto the top of the jungle gym and reached for the edge of the roof, then he pulled himself up unt...

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“The Crown She Wears” by Erica Miles

Submitted to Contest #125

Jenny dives into the chapel with her head down, eyes up just enough to give her feet direction, but not enough to meet the critical eyes of the older generation lining the back pews. She wears her purse strap like a sash across her chest, pressing the bag to her hip. The pressure keeps the purse in place, but more than that, it’s holding her up in an almost regal posture.  The opening hymn has been sung and the invocation given. A man in a dark suit and tie, standing at the podium, has just finished introducing today’s speakers. ...

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“A Dream Turned Reality” by Goddess V

Submitted to Contest #125

Drips of perspiration slid from her palms to the floor. Her skin was flush. It could rival the sun’s warmth. Misty eyes hid images in front of her. She blinked to bring them in focus. She wavered in her stance, losing her balance.  “Are you alright?” The young man who was no less than ten years her junior stood beside her, holding her up. She could hear the tiny voices murmuring in his right ear. His youthful face watched her with concern. Once she regained stability, he let her go.  “Would you like some water, ma’am?” Ma’am. H...

2 comments 2
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“Last Call” by D. L. Shanks

Submitted to Contest #125

INT. CHAPEL FOYER — NOONDAY BRANDY peaks her head into the chapel. People are checking their watches. Looking around. Whispering. GRANNY turns around from the front pew and makes eye contact. BRANDY Alright then. Brandy walks down the aisle. Her black dress just as typical as the other black attire around her. It’s her BOOBS, purple ombré MERMAID WIG, and RED STILETTOS that are the main attractions. She gets to the podium and looks out at the crowd. INT. CHAPEL — SAME DAY BRANDY Hello, everybody. Well, {giggle}, this is awkward...

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Contest #125

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This week's theme: Better Late Than Never

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Ended on 23:59 - Dec 24, 2021 EST

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Title: The Heart Specialist

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