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

“Beyond Repair” by Zea Bowman

Submitted to Contest #70

The man was broken. That was all there was to it.He was going faster than he should have, and he knew it.He never meant for the brakes to stop working. How was he supposed to know? If there had been any possible way to save his daughter that day, he would have done anything to fix it.Without warning, a small blur of sky blue dashed in front of the ATV, blonde hair blown straight back by the wind, waving her short arms wildly.After being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, he was carted away to the jail, alone and depressed. His only hope ...

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“Love is stronger than hate ” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊

Submitted to Contest #70

This is about Kevin when Rachel leaves, if you haven't read Regret and Mommy's girl you might not understand the story.Have a wonderful day or night!!!I remained shocked after she left, never in a million years would I have imagined her uttering those exact words. They would haunt me my entire life. ‘Rachel, don’t go… please’ I told myself, I wasn’t comfortable telling her.I tried to persuade her to stay with me but she stormed off all of a sudden after so many years of living happily with me. She was gone… left from my sight, vow...

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“The Damage Is Done” by Tyler Runde

Submitted to Contest #70

It took me years to realize why Garrett no longer came to family reunions. His parents still came, just without Garrett, and even at the age of five I could discern the grim, thin-lipped set to their faces, the way that they would laugh and converse with other family members, but would always keep themselves apart from everyone else at a particular distance. Me and Garrett were an odd pair. Sure, we were cousins, but he was so much older than I was and we each had other cousins who were much closer to our own ages. Yet, he’d chosen to hang...

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“The Mockingbird Bites the Dust” by Kate M

Submitted to Contest #70

As of late, I have been pondering the difference between “accident” and “mistake.” Accidents are not purposeful errors. Mistakes, as it would seem, can be the same way. But I’ve been thinking, and a mistake can also be a choice someone makes, and then regrets later on. I’ve made a mistake. A big one. It doesn’t matter that I have children; because I do. It doesn’t matter that I have grandchildren; because I ...

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“This Oak, These Skulls” by Amelia Bowen

Submitted to Contest #70

I thought, when I first saw him, that he must be a statue. His skin was the kind of gray you might see Michelangelo bent over- tooth chisel in his concentrated hand. His eyes, his hair, though -they gave him away. Both were dark, almost black. He sat on a bench by the side of the road I strode to school each day. I didn’t know how I could have missed him before; I reasoned that must have been his first day.There was a book in his hands. He was bent over it like it was the source of all truth, the fountain of youth, life blood- I suppose it m...

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“Small Acts” by Lily Joseph

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #70

Small Acts The milkman always leaves the bottles right in front of the door, right where Esther could trip over them, so I make it my job every delivery day to move them to the side of the step. I leave the house at six every Monday morning so that I can do this, sliding the basket carefully to the side so that the bottles don't clink together. Today I notice that the hanging basket above the door looks a bit dry. I'll come back later and sort that out. One thing less for Philip to do. ...

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“I Fly Away” by ℤ ℍ☮️

Submitted to Contest #70

The smoke makes my eyes smoggy. I cough up a ball of grey air and light the head in red flame.I hear a click and turn backwards. Her dark brown hair brushes past her eyes. Her large eyes are now the perfect size, fitting her face perfectly. She's wearing a pink barbie dress that goes just past her knees. I try to avoid eye contact, balling the cigarette in my fist."So- you must be my mommy." Her voice is so sweet and smooth like honey. It sounds happy and mocking at the same time."Of course I am." I cough. Who else could I be? For a second m...

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“A Lifetime of Joy, A Period of Sorrow ” by Elaina Goodnough

Submitted to Contest #70

A Lifetime of Joy Whilst A Lifetime of Sorrow Keltie sat on a rock overlooking the swirling, crashing cerulean sea. It twisted as if in a tempest, yet just the day before it was mollified cyan. She knew the cause of this, yet she would dispose of it to no one. Her almost red, not quite blonde, and nowhere near orange hair blew in the wind, it rippled as if it was a wave itself, and moved as if it was a body in itself. Her eyes were closed, but if she decided to exhibit them you would spot blue with a greenish hue. Suddenly, with a ...

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“The Plains of Namar-Sin” by Alexander Katz

Submitted to Contest #70

I did not mean to open the gate, but alas, it is too late for my misgivings. The thing is open. I alone stand at the precipice between our world and the Plains of Naram-Sin, a land of writhing darkness and many eyes. Long have the Plains waited at the doorway, never moving from the warded pillars made from bones of a creature so ancient, I shudder when pondering its flesh form. If there is a divine plan from a benevolent creator—as I spent the Sundays of my youth learning—these creatures indeed could not have been part of the script. No, I f...

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“Black and White and Red” by A. S.

Submitted to Contest #70

Dear Lena,I’ve never been very good at writing letters. Or liked writing letters. But this is the easiest way to explain.Your fingers clench and release the pencil formulating how to put the one person who was always there for you, through the inevitable pain. Shouting from high overhead bleeds through the floorboards. Angry steps rain cobwebs and dust on your head, sprinkling silver into your hair; snowing white like the ashes that covered the ground. Heaps of dirty laundry fill the corners of your room, once bright colors as pungent as the...

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“Hope” by Rachel Macmorran

Submitted to Contest #70

“It’s over, now. Hush. It’s all over, they are gone,” he murmured into her hair. Epimetheus gathered her onto his lap and used the edge of his toga to wipe her tears. He gently held his fragile mortal wife as she trembled with fear and horror. Oh, poor Pandora! These human vessels could not bear so much suffering, surely? She began to shake her head convulsively, denying her own thoughts as regret and guilt washed over her. He felt wretched, himself. If only he could have saved her this pain! Her eyes were still squeezed shut tight ag...

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“What's Lost Can Never Be Found” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #70

(This story followed the character Jack Corner who was introduced in my story Secret’s Aren’t For The Keeping [Part 2]. So, if you want to better understand this story, I would recommend going and reading that story first, but it is not necessary for you to do so. Hope you all enjoy!) “You’re free to go.” Jack Corner looked up as the guard opened his jail cell door. One month. That was how long he had lingered in this jail cell. He supposed he shouldn’t complain since it could have been m...

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“A Fateful Trip (to the Movies)” by Roxie Piatigorski

Submitted to Contest #70

Anzhelika Kravchenko had made a big mistake. She and her girlfriend named Gloria were dating each other for a few years and then one day, Anzhelika decided to join the “Gays For Trump” group, which led to a big rift between herself and Gloria. Now she deeply regretted her actions and decided that she would try to fix that mistake. So she called and texted Gloria and tried to apologize, but not a single answer was ever heard, so she called up her friend named Sarah. “Hello?” Sarah asked. “Sarah, listen,” Anzhelika said. “Do you know Glori...

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“Burned” by Black Raven

Submitted to Contest #70

Burned at the stake. I never thought that would happen to me. As a legitimate heir to the throne, I had seen this occur a thousand times. Never had I experienced it so close. I could smell the hay surrounding me. It reminded me of when I would visit the palace farms. Such a beautiful place... That doesn't matter now, though. Today, I'll get the punishment I have so long deserved. How did everything begin? We could say in my underground mansion.1 week ago"...and that's how I killed them." Theo said as he finished his story. We were sitting in...

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“Spiteful Little One” by Annette Lovewind

Submitted to Contest #70

I heard a knock on the door, which was unusual considering it was Halloween and children are impatient to get their candy and ring the doorbell. I hurry to the door and grab the bowl of candy that is next to it. I opened the door to see a girl about teenage age. Something about her was familiar and her makeup was killer. The trick-or-treater had bloody clothes, a light pink dress with a gray cover-up, and on her heart was this bullet wound. It looked so realistic. With her makeup on her face, you would think she was dead. With a semi-pale f...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 192 stories

“Beyond Repair” by Zea Bowman

“Love is stronger than hate ” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊

“The Damage Is Done” by Tyler Runde

“The Mockingbird Bites the Dust” by Kate M

“This Oak, These Skulls” by Amelia Bowen

“Small Acts” by Lily Joseph

“I Fly Away” by ℤ ℍ☮️

“A Lifetime of Joy, A Period of Sorrow ” by Elaina Goodnough

“The Plains of Namar-Sin” by Alexander Katz

“Black and White and Red” by A. S.

“Hope” by Rachel Macmorran

“What's Lost Can Never Be Found” by Trinity Womack

“A Fateful Trip (to the Movies)” by Roxie Piatigorski

“Burned” by Black Raven

“Spiteful Little One” by Annette Lovewind

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who’s so obsessed with a goal that it leads to the destruction of their closest relationship.

Write about a character who everyone thinks is guilty of something terrible, but isn’t.

Write about two people who know they’ve made a mistake, and one of them wants to tell the truth but the other wants to lie about it.

Write about a character who’s so afraid of making the wrong choice that their indecision ruins the very thing they were hoping to keep safe.

Contest #70

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

731

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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