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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write about someone trying to atone for a mistake they’ll never be able to fix.

Posted in Angst on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 192 stories

“She never knew” by Lizzie The-great

Submitted to Contest #70

I honestly just thought... this was a stage, you know? Every parent, every mother goes through this. The mother does everything they can to, to raise them right while the ungrateful daughter spouts unnecessary words of hate and slams doors. Every mother goes through that. But, no one ever told me, that there was a chance I was the one in the wrong. We were supposed to laugh about all the times we screamed at each other, my daughter getting older seeing my good intentions. My husband, all my family scoffed and laughed with me, taking noth...

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“She sold her children” by Akinwahs Lemon Sauce

Submitted to Contest #70

She sold them, her babies. She sold her children. A woman, with two children; a boy and a girl. She sold them and went on a cruise with the money. Took her damn fiance too.  I grew up with her. Our moms were friends who met at work. We would go over to their house for parties. Their home was called the "party house". There were always people there constantly. The people always seemed random. How could any family know that many people and why were they always around? When I went over there, I ‘d feel uncomfortable around the older men....

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“Moment of Clarity ” by YEMISI B

Submitted to Contest #70

Nate rubbed the ring around his finger impatiently. It was time to go home. The wear and tear of school and bartending at night was starting to weigh on him. He used his hands to press against both sides of his face, resulting in a resounding crack that left him with gave him overwhelming relief. “You’re gonna need to get that checked out,” his last remaining patron added. “It doesn’t get any better when you get older.” The last remaining patron’s name was John Knippenburg, who went by Kipp for short. He was a faithful customer at the Cam...

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“The Price of Vice” by T MM

Submitted to Contest #70

It started on a Tuesday in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Early in the morning before the sun woke, still half-asleep, Olivia rolled her neck and ran her fingers through her persistent tangles. With a wince, she turned onto her side and fumbled for her phone. Usually waking before eight meant a faulty alarm or an impending disaster.The screen’s sharpness sparked tears, and she wiped at them aimlessly while she thumbed through the latest texts; there were four new ones from her mother all dated within the past hour. Swearing, she sat up and dialed th...

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“Leave a Message” by Brianna Schott

Submitted to Contest #70

"This is Edith, I can't come to the phone right now but if you leave me your name and number, I will get back to you ASAP." The beep comes on cue, a  painful reminder that his Edith is no more. "Hey Edith, It's James. I just wanted to let you know that I love you and always will". They had had their highs and lows like any couple, but James hadn't expected things to end the way they had. It seemed like the flames of infatuation were smothered as soon as they began.  Securely tucked away beneath his duvet, he felt the full extent o...

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“Self-Infliction ” by Donnelle Halls-Alexander

Submitted to Contest #70

I was drowning in a river of pain.  Guilt and betrayal was the boulder strapped to my ankle.  I prayed……. To be numbed, as I traverse through the bitterness of life. But there was no numbing. I had to endure the unadulterated agony of my transgressions. I was silenced. There was no room for comforting, self-soothing words or self-pity Daggers were thrown at me left and right, and they all bore the labels of my offences. There was simply no rest, for the wicked. I can get three hours of sleep, if I fall asleep right this minute....

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“The choice” by Anna Shonka

Submitted to Contest #70

Chapter one  It was the first week of October my friend Kelly and I were walking down the hallway together. When the head cheerleader Megan came up to us with a smile on her face. "Hey guy’s so me and a bunch of other people are going on out for a drive in the country.  Want to come?” Megan asked. "We'll think about it" I say hesitantly. "Okay well let me know your answer. Hope you guys decide to come" she says joyfully. She then flips her long brown curly hair and walks back down the long ha...

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“Broken” by Monishka Wahane

Submitted to Contest #70

Trigger warning: suicide   "Autophobia is the fear of being alone or of lonliness. I've had this since I was 13 years old; when my father had suddenly passed away due to an accident. And probably the main reason why I am single, well leaving my addiction. Hi I'm Haylee, I'm an alcoholic." saying my share I sank back into my seat and wandered through the past few months that led me to an AA meeting.   Six months ago.   The blood drained from my face as I stood there in the bathroom holding the test, my boyfriend Smith saw my p...

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“What it means to wear White Gloves” by Writing Banda

Submitted to Contest #70

"I'm sorry, he didn't make it." His tired, raspy voice reluctantly uttered the words no one wanted to speak or be heard spoken, nonetheless, they were still words he spoke many times, gaining much experience over the gradual course of time, developing much resistance, but never an immunity. I stood behind his back as he told her the words, his formerly blue dress riddled with scarlet marks of new blood and splotches of dried maroon blood covered the rest of it body, his white gloves standing quietly upon his hands, covering those trembli...

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“Last Christmas” by Emma Lee Schrams

Submitted to Contest #70

It snowed heavily that year in Stowe, but nothing could distract the girl curled up in an armchair by the fireplace, twinkling white lights reflected in the window behind her and a crumpled letter clutched tightly to her chest. Dear Sarah, it started. I’m sorry. She hated the words––sorry wasn’t good enough––but that didn’t matter. Those words were all she had left of him, and a small part of her still needed them. It wasn’t the first letter she’d gotten; one had come every December for the last five years, though she’d never replied. It wa...

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“My Road Trip” by Nithu Raj

Submitted to Contest #70

MY ROAD TRIP I had a sumptuous dinner of Indian flatbread, side dishes, salads and yoghurt. Prayed dutifully and started towards my bedroom. The very sight of my bed created mild tremors in me, for they give me the nightmares which I dread of. I’m getting them for few months now. I meditated today, as suggested by Megha, my best friend. I tried to sleep. But after about an hour, the demons started to overpower me. They made me shiver, quiver and shudder. And then at last I woke up screaming and trembling. I sat down on my bed, perspiring...

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“ROYAL FLUSH” by Dolapo Omoleme

Submitted to Contest #70

The family cried as Charlie Edwards’ coffin was lowered into the grave. His death came as a shock to everyone because of how sudden it was. An allergic reaction to food had spiraled out of control and claimed his life. It wasn’t the first time he would be suffering such allergic reactions, so they had expected it to blow over very quickly. They were astounded when they received the call from his brother, Shawn, announcing his untimely death. The family was very suspicious of the circumstances that surrounding his death, so they had the pol...

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“Wayward Son” by Ashley Wilson

Submitted to Contest #70

Wayward Son "It's been two years Brandon, almost to the day. Is the anniversary bringing up any negative emotions that you would like to talk about?" Sharon said as she leaned forward to put her elbows on her knees closing the distance between her and her patient. Brandon was laid back on the forest green suede couch, eyes to the ceiling to recount the off white titles that ran from one side of the room to the other. "Still just 145 titles, same as last time" Brandon thought to avoid Sharon's gaze and question. " I don't need the annivers...

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“If only I could turn the clock back” by Book Worm

Submitted to Contest #70

Anita sat alone in a corner of the room as she did every evening and tried to rehearse the events of the last few months. Had she acted in haste? Had she taken the right decision? She asked herself this question everyday but could not find an answer. The sound of the doorbell yanked her out of her ruminations. Suraj had returned after playing with his friends. She asked him to change while she went into the kitchen to bring him a warm glass of milk with his favourite cookies. She listened, with a doting smile, to his excited chatter about...

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“The ABANDONED” by Oliadia Honey F

Submitted to Contest #70

"Sussy, mother is sorry.She is to blame for all the suffering you're going through. If I could turn back the hand of time,I will stay with you and listen to you,Honey. Mum is sorry,so sorry.She can never atone for all the pain, suffering and hardship she has cost you,Angel.Am so sorry, sorry!!!",a woman who looks so sick and pale cried painfully. "Mrs Greens,I called you here to notify you on something concerning your daughter", a Doctor said and there was brief silence, before he continue saying, "It being eight years now that Miss Sus...

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