Write about a character who isn’t nostalgic about their past at all, and show readers why.

Posted in Angst on Feb 2, 2024

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✍️ 55 stories

“Frozen Lemonade” by Jennifer Fremon

🏆 Winner of Contest #236

Trigger warning: Contains underage sexual content, mentions of assaultYou know the movie Dirty Dancing? The one where Baby goes off to that fancy resort with her parents for the summer, and in the beginning she is a good, sweet girl who loves her daddy, and then by the end she is still a good sweet girl who loves her daddy but now she is kinda sexy too and can dance like a pro and is totally in love with that beautiful dance teacher. Why doesn’t anyone talk about how that teacher is clearly much, much older than Baby, and despite Patrick Swa...

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“Sixties Teen” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #236

Sixties Teen My husband, star of my epic love life, “Hey, Hon. Let's get Sirius.” “Let's see. We have been married going on twenty-eight years. We've combined our retirement benefits. We have been looking into purchasing adjoining cemetery plots. How much more serious can we get?” He who claims to love me, “No, I mean the XM streaming service 'Sirius'. Might save us overall on our entertainment package.” “I can barely operate the TV now. Change it again and I'll never be able to run the remote control. What happened to the good old days of c...

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“Nostalgia is an Illusion” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #236

Dr. Sean Dalton sits by the porthole as the space station orbits the Earth for the 483rd time. This shift has been a long one. The curvature of England's south coast is visible through the domed acrylic. Home is down there, and so is she. It is 3 days until his return.He pushes himself from the wall with his feet, and his chair rolls on its wheels to a nearby desk. He clicks the mouse, and a video plays."Hi, Sean. Hope everything is going well up there. I miss you lots. I read in the garden today. I like it out there because I can sense you ...

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“From the Ashes” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #236

TW: bullying, high school. Craig’s terrier, Barkie, was the first to smell the fire. He loved the park’s main loop, but when he started pulling towards Jackdaw Hill and wouldn’t let up, Craig conceded and they climbed. The acrid stink of burn hit his nostrils and he narrowed his eyes. Technically you weren’t supposed to have any open fires, even if barbecue season was right around the corner.As they climbed the trampled path, worn by countless feet over the decades, and flanked on either side by bushes and trees, Barkie sniffed furiously and...

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“The Railroad along the River.” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #236

Triggers of war, death, violence.Before the world falls apart, life in Kidiri is good. During the harvest, work on the sugar plantation is 'round the clock with long shifts. But the rest of the year, life is good. With a lovely wife, a one-year-old son, friends, tennis and plenty of G&T. And servants who take care of everything.After the bombing on Pearl Harbor, after the fall of Singapore, it is just a matter of days before the rag-tag reservists, who have few arms and even less ammunition, surrender. By Japanese standards and morals, s...

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“The Dawn of My Discontent” by Mike Panasitti

Submitted to Contest #236

Stephanie Bournias was a spicy Greek-American girl who enjoyed doing something none of my previous girlfriends had. It was one of the reasons I loved her and she was kind enough to love me back. I had hooked up with her after starting a fight that almost became a riot at a Greek dance party in L.A. The shindig was held at the El Rey, a venue where I had seen Human League, a musical group from Britain, when I was in high school. With “Don’t You Want Me,” Human League was one of many 80s New Wave one-hit wonders....

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“Rags, Riches, Romance and a Reunion” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #236

“Is a necktie necessary?” “Oh, no not at all. Comfort is essential when forced to attend an event you have no connection to other than being my loving, supportive plus one.” “Thank you, Babe. You know I hate them. I find it curious that such an uncomfortable adornment has stood the test of time, never eradicated by fashion trends or famous designers. Although they aren’t as often required, those torturous slivers of silk are always an acceptable symbol of distinction.” “You’re being rather dramatic, don’t you agree?”“Maybe, bu...

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“Dough-ty Walker” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #236

It was a dreary midnight and a ravenous snowstorm wailed mournfully outside. Dougherty Walker sat in his old armchair by a lit fire as he read a curious, ancient book from his weathered library, deep and focused. Though it was an interesting book in its own right, Dougherty had started to nod off and fall into a late nap for the night. As his head slowly drooped down, he heard what sounded like a faint, sing-song voice coming from the other side of the chamber door in its lockdown. He anxiously turned his ...

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“Imposter at Heart” by Michaela Mencacci

Submitted to Contest #236

How lovely the nightmare seems when you awake to an even more horrific reality. I jolted up in bed and tried to catch my breath. In the darkness I realized my eyes were covered in silk fabric. I have never owned a sleep mask and yet here I am peeling one off my head. Terror took over as I scanned the room. Where am I? I immediately squeezed my eyes shut thinking my sight had deceived me. Peeking with one eye after a moment and a few breaths, I realized that the large windows with long flowing white curtains and the mahogany bed pos...

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“Dear Reader” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #236

“I remember your mom always had milk and cookies ready after school. I was so jealous of that.”“Oh yeah?” I mumbled on automatic as Carolann’s voice drifted away settling somewhere in the background. My thoughts were far from milk and cookies, but rather on the floor underneath the table. “My glasses, my glasses.” Clear as day I heard my brother’s cry after a fight with our father. I never left my room that day, so I didn’t know what had happened exactly, but I remember those words. “You broke my glasses.” ...

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“Neurosurgeon” by Marina Nugent

Submitted to Contest #236

The sun pierces through the crack in my dark turquoise curtains and burn holes into my eyelids. I scrunch my eyes and turn to my side, away from the sun. The clock reads 6:35am. I roll out of bed and smack my head into the corner of my bedside table. “Fuck!” I sit up and hold my head in pain but still have go to the hospital. I cover my eyes, laying on the antique wooden floor as I let out an exasperated sigh. I crawl off the floor after my cat comes yelling at my face. “I get it! When are you not hungry?” The automatic food dispenser goes o...

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“Kray-zy in Love” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #236

‘Oh, hello stranger’ bellowed a familiar voice as Tilly made her way around the maze of book displays in her favourite bookshop in town. The book selection was ok, a bit too mainstream for her liking but the café was pretty cool and the waft of grinding coffee beans was the ultimate pick me up.‘It hasn’t been that long but give me a hug gorgeous’ Tilly sank into a huge hug from her friend Vicky.‘Vic, where on earth did you get this coat? You look like Elizabeth Taylor and why is your make up always immaculate?’‘Well it kills the time, shoppi...

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“Dreaming of You.....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #236

Two am, it was Lord Bow Wow again. Sighing, the senior nurse on night duty in the Urology Unit answered the buzzer. Sally's feet were aching, it was a busy evening. Still, she smiled as always, fully competent and proficient in all her nursing obligations. Fate had seen Sassy Sally divorce her husband's roving eye and abuse some years before. She had long ago decided he did enjoy being miserable, so she had brought their two offspring up on struggle street. Her children were all grown up now, off to their own careers and futures. She was nev...

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“Remembrance” by Fatima Jawaid

Submitted to Contest #236

(Note: this story contains strong language, alcohol use, and hints of past violence)The olive was not only a revolting neon green but a wily bastard, Lena thought as she aimed her toothpick. Holding her hand steady, she geared up for her next shot, the olive wobbling slightly in her cocktail glass. As the olive stilled, Lena seized her opportunity and lunged forward. But before the toothpick could make impact, the olive shot further away from her toothpick, taunting her all the while.Of course, not even a simple snack would be easy for her t...

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“Two Chairs Remain” by Bradley Miller

Submitted to Contest #236

"Two chairs remain" by Bradley Miller Everyone has a god. In this place or person, they find safety from the wickedness of men turned to monsters and monsters living in men. Safety, security, solitude. Should I continue, please know my lips should never dare to speak such a story, so I prefer to write it. When a small child sees the darkness in men, that monster in the hallway, no words have been instructed for such a sight. Mother rests her feet on one of three kitchen chairs. Her eyes bloodshot from the graveyard shift an...

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Ended on 23:59 - Feb 09, 2024 EST

Won by Jennifer Fremon 🏆

Title: Frozen Lemonade

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Write about a character who isn’t nostalgic about their past at all, and show readers why.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 55 stories

“Frozen Lemonade” by Jennifer Fremon

“Sixties Teen” by Mary Bendickson

“Nostalgia is an Illusion” by Tom Skye

“From the Ashes” by Michał Przywara

“The Railroad along the River.” by Trudy Jas

“The Dawn of My Discontent” by Mike Panasitti

“Rags, Riches, Romance and a Reunion” by Myranda Marie

“Dough-ty Walker” by Nicholas Thomas

“Imposter at Heart” by Michaela Mencacci

“Dear Reader” by Hannah Lynn

“Neurosurgeon” by Marina Nugent

“Kray-zy in Love” by Rebecca Detti

“Dreaming of You.....” by Julie Grenness

“Remembrance” by Fatima Jawaid

“Two Chairs Remain” by Bradley Miller

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character finding a retro piece of tech they don’t recognize.

Write a story about someone finally gaining access into their family’s very old computer.

Write a time-travel story where a character from the present finds themselves in the 80s or 90s.

Write a story about a grown-up sharing their favorite childhood video game with their child.

Contest #236

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

184

Contest entries

83

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: