Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 320 stories

“Ranting in My Radius” by Konest Atranger

Submitted to Contest #98

I said it outloud tonight because I couldn't write it down. I spoke in my comforting writing voice and tone. I managed a smile as I hugged my knees to my chest, in the wrong corner of my bed, watching a familiar body breath its sleeping breath. I said out loud, like this: “Dear Diary, Today I saw everything around me, but that was not reciprocated by my environment. The people, and the things, were oblivious to me. The laws of physics and gravity ignored me, and even matter decided not to give me any attention. So naturally, I tho...

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“100 Years Away” by Jeffrey DeShon

Submitted to Contest #98

Part 1: Decisions “Why do you have to go?” “Kate, we’ve talked about this,” Alex said. His wife sighed as she snuggled closer to him on the couch. “I’m the project’s leading scientist. They need me there, heading up the expedition.” “How am I supposed to be without you? And the kids?” Kate raised her head and looked up at him. “You’ll be fine,” he stroked her hair, “you’re strong.” She laid her head back down. “Just think of it as me dying.” Kate sat up this time. “Don’t say that. I’ll know you’re out there, somewhere.” “At least...

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“Humanitarium” by Trevor Jacobs

Submitted to Contest #98

“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Mom sang from downstairs. Ethan groaned. He cracked open his eyelids and groped through the action figures and knick-knacks on his nightstand until he found his glasses and phone. He put his glasses on, looked at his phone, groaned again, and sat up. “Sorry, Mom! My alarm didn’t go off.” Ethan stumbled from bedroom to bathroom and back again until he was dressed and ready, then made his way to the kitchen. Sunlight filtered through the venetian blinds. His mom stood by the microwave and his dad sat at the table reading...

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“113 Days” by Julia Coleman

Submitted to Contest #98

It was a Saturday morning in chilling November when a girl's life would do another 180.Her mom had asked her the day before if she had wanted to go to the hair store with her and her older sister. She was finally started to not feel left out for the first time in 4 months. The happy girl, her sister, and her mom all go to McDonald's to satisfy their hunger and came home joyful. The girl goes to use the restroom and when she comes back, her other mom gets in the truck and says, "We are going on a trip!" The girl asks, "Where are we going?""It...

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“Of all the ways to run away” by AJ Ball

Submitted to Contest #98

He still has $358.20 left. All in cash of course. Recent experience has told him that hes not the type of person to have a credit card. If he had one of those, he'd probably be home right now. Wherever that is. The dusty building in front of him will be the third cheap motel he's stayed in since he woke up at the rest stop after getting off the first bus. That was a week ago now. ... A week ago, he'd lifted his head from the wooden picnic table, chips of paint falling from his head in pale blue flakes. There had been no car...

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Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 320 stories

“Ranting in My Radius” by Konest Atranger

“100 Years Away” by Jeffrey DeShon

“Humanitarium” by Trevor Jacobs

“113 Days” by Julia Coleman

“Of all the ways to run away” by AJ Ball

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.

Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.

Set your story on (or in) a winding river.

Contest #98

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

751

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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