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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story with the line “Don’t tell anyone.”

Posted in Angst on Oct 18, 2024

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✍️ 80 stories

“The Thief” by Peter Sides

Submitted to Contest #273

Theme – Don’t tell Anyone THE THIEFThey say you regret the things you could have done but didn’t. What about the things you did? Those unnecessary things, those things you shouldn’t have done. I regret those more. Lost opportunities are lost. But your past stays with you, till you die. You hope. You hope your blighted past is forgotten, never to be discovered, as its unlikely ever to be forgiven. And as all true secrets are, they are only secrets, as long as you don’t tell anyone. But of course, you cannot un-tell it to yourself. You ca...

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“Hidden Confessions” by Dave Bede

Submitted to Contest #273

      “The Greyhound station was deep in the worst neighborhood in town, but aren’t they all?” I recited as Jeff poured the wine into each of our coffee mugs, the closest thing to a wine glass we had in our room. “I didn’t care. My dad’s long-discarded Chevy wasn’t going to attract any thieves, that I knew.”            “Not another story about some scumbag,” Jeff interrupted.            “Write what you k...

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“The curse of the dragon’s child ” by Bogdanka Kos Ilić

Submitted to Contest #273

It was December. The wind was mercilessly swinging dry branches of the trees, whipping them against the hospital windows. On that Friday the 13th, a newborn baby's cry was heard among the faded olive-green walls of the maternity ward. Hands wrapped in surgical gloves handed her the shrunken but strong body of a screaming male child. Exhausted and sweaty from giving birth, his mother held him firmly but carefully, whispering gently into his ear: "Cry, my child... Cry out all of your tears now. Wise people say that when a c...

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“Solitude behind glasses.” by Atan Solp

Submitted to Contest #273

Twilight spilled across the sky with dark ink, gradually plunging the city into darkness. The work day was over and the residents of the metropolis rushed to take seats in their cars and mass transit to quickly get to their homes, where a well-deserved dinner and rest in front of the TV awaited them. Many people were stealthily glancing at this guy. Some with condemnation, some with casual interest. But without any wonderment - no one can be shocked by pink hair sticking out in all directions and black glasses worn over his eyes, despite the...

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“A Friends Promise” by Brian Bosader

Submitted to Contest #273

It seems like only yesterday when my pops approached me, his eyes wide, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “We’re going on a trip,” he said, his voice trembling with excitement. “A cabin deep in the woods.” The words buzzed in my ears, sending a rush of exhilaration through my chest. My heart raced at the thought of an adventure, something we hadn’t had in so long. This would be our first vacation since Mom passed. But, as things usually do, it came with a catch. My cousin Jamal, whom I never got along with, had to join us. We were as differ...

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“Whisper of Wings” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #273

The Whisper of WingsThe night fell quietly over the small town of Crescent Hollow, where the stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across velvet. It was the kind of town where nothing extraordinary ever happened, where life moved at a slow, predictable pace—until the angel came.Nathaniel had been sent to Earth with a purpose, though he wasn’t told exactly what it was. Angels rarely were. Their missions were delivered through feeling and intuition, through a deeper understanding that lay far beneath the surface of human reasoning. All he kn...

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“A Volitional Act” by Alyssa Terese

Submitted to Contest #273

TW: self harm, cannibalism, bad therapist, blood, smoking, mentions of drugs.  Anna: I didn’t mean to. It just happened. I glanced at the time, aware of the night ticking away slowly. My job should be over, I should be glued to the couch, letting the lovely jingle of some brain-dead television knock the stress from my bones. I should be away from this desk, but I had a duty, I went to school for this, I got licensed for this. My laptop pinged again; the darkening screen lit back up– my pupils dilated.  Anna: It's habitual now, I th...

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“The Long Weekend” by Aimee Lavigne

Submitted to Contest #273

(Note- mild foul language in addition to scary themes and violence) Thursday “We could meet tomorrow before school,” Laura suggests.  “No, I won’t be here tomorrow. Josh and I are headed to Deschutes Lake for the weekend. The Cascades are gorgeous in the fall. His cousin has a cabin out there,” Nicole says. “Is that the cabin where Josh did some work last spring?”  “Yep! He replaced the gutters and updated the drainage system. There’s landscaping rock around the edge of the house to keep water away from the foundation. It’s really ...

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“International Spy ” by Molly Alderson

Submitted to Contest #273

I've just received a letter, a letter in the mail.The letter asked thatIJoin the League of the International Spy.Yes, you heard that right. Me.A spy.Internationally.The first one in my family.What an honor, what an achievement. They've asked me to keep it a secret.So, it's important that you don't tell anyone, not a soul. If you do - I'll find out.When I'm in my next role.What's that, you ask? Well, let me tell you - I've been thinking of a plan - but keep it between us two.I will quit my job at the bank. No more bank telling for me. No tell...

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“I've got a secret Don't tell anyone” by Bertha Blankenship

Submitted to Contest #273

I had been working as a receptionist for a local Dentist office for the past year. The schedule being Monday through Friday working 8 am to 4 pm works perfect for me. Especially with me having weekends off and all major holidays. Plus, the staff here is amazing. During the past 2 weeks Doctor Davidson has a male Dental Assistant working with him that is so dreamy and very handsome. He is an all-around great guy from what I can tell. I would love to get to know him, but I am just so afraid of being rejected and heartbroken. I decided to speak...

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“Dear Diary” by Charlie Strickland

Submitted to Contest #273

Dear Diary, Go fuck yourself! Seriously. Despite all you have done for me, I am going to throw you onto a bonfire and laugh as each blackened corner of your pages burns away slowly. You were supposed to help. My parents said it. My therapist said it. Even Kate had said it. ‘Write down what’s bothering you. Writing it all down releases the pressure in your head. If you won’t talk to me, or anyone else for that matter, then why don’t you start a diary?’ Kate had insisted I buy a large one. I think she was implying that I had been thundering ar...

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“Vein” by Sam Hollis

Submitted to Contest #273

‘Don't tell anyone,’ Taff Wallace half-whispered to his assistant, Brienne Sykes. ‘But the Prime Minister is going to resign.’ His eyebrows bent along with his head, and the purplish vein buried deep inside his forehead’s skin looked fit to burst.   It took a moment for Brienne to take in this information, for the stale aroma of morning coffee had just wafted out of Taff's mouth and into her nostrils. They flared and she flinched, and in doing so her boss, the Head of Communications at Number 10, stepped back.  &nbsp...

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“The Dead Don’t Talk” by David Inkling

Submitted to Contest #273

He sits still staring at the picture. It is flat on the floor in front of him. It is a picture of three young men dressed in dark and sombre suits, plain dark ties, with their hair neatly slicked back. Underneath someone has written: Robert, Henry and Joe. They wanted to look their best. Of course they did. He barely moves. He stares at the picture. Sometimes he holds it, but mostly it sits square and flat on the floor in front of him. Nothing moves. ‘I don’t understand why he is naked though, do you?’ ‘It’s a thing. Don’t read too much int...

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“Don't Tell Anyone” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #273

Don’t tell anyone. That’s all he said. Don’t tell anyone. Then he turned around and walked away. He went across the street and walked into a shop. When I went over to ask what it was I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone I found that the door to the shop was locked. Upon looking in the window it appeared that the store was vacant, with nothing but cobwebs and debris occupying it.         So, what was it he wanted me to keep to myself? Maybe he didn’t want me to tell anyone that he disappeared through a...

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“The girl and I ” by Ky Lev

Submitted to Contest #273

“Don't tell anyone,” I whisper, to the girl in front of me. I turn around anxiously trying to make sure no one heard, as cold sweat breaks out on my skin.  She nods, slowly at first, then faster, when she sees my trembling hands. She knows I'm scared. She tries to reach out, tries to comfort me. But I pull away- I…I don't need her comfort. The rising sun peeks in and out of the swaying trees, casting fleeting shadows in my room. They dance a peculiar dance, trying to invite me into never-ending darkness, tendrils of black stre...

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Contest #273

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