Write a story about someone who's haunted by their past.

Posted in Character on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 252 stories

“Nightmare Manifestations” by Mandy Baker

Submitted to Contest #51

Not again … Gavin’s thoughts were racing as the familiar noises and smells began once again. He rolled over onto his back, and threw his arm over his eyes. Stop it, stop it, stop it. He hadn’t slept in days and all he wanted was one good night’s rest, but he could tell that was simply going to be too much to ask for. The noises grew louder and the smell stung his nostrils. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed they would just go away and leave him be. He could already feel the familiar sting of tears in his eyes, and knew it was going to be a...

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“My dad and I” by Kasey Saunders

Submitted to Contest #51

It always comes back to me, I can't even sleep at night. Why me? Why can't I ever stay away from it? It hurts! It all started when I was 3. My parents were already split up. I lived with my mom most of the time but every second weekend I went to see my dad. I don't like him at all. He hurt me a lot and sometimes to the point where I had marks for weeks. It's really scary going there because I don't know what's going to happen next or what he's going to do to me. ”Kasey?” Mom yelled out trying to find me. ”I don't want t...

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“Doña Lebrón and the Tobiano, April, 1989” by J Acheson

Submitted to Contest #51

“They call it a tobiano,” the girl says and we both look at the pony. Sun dapples the plantain leaves, big broad leaves curling up on the sides, forming the sole shape of enormous shoes. Banana trees and their leaves, larger still, line the road below, but those palms don’t have this odd shape where it narrows and then gets broad again.“Yes, I remember now.”Everything had changed and nothing had changed. Forty years collapsed into a single moment as I see her with the pony among those trees. The animal walks toward us, maybe toward the girl,...

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“all my fault?” by Jared Murphy

Submitted to Contest #51

[TW: mentions of suicide and self harm] “You know,” she said, leaning over from her seat on the white leather chair. “It’s not your fault.” A lie. Typical, really. I mean it was her job, being a therapist and all. Because that’s all they really did. Tell fragrant and flowery lies to convince people that what they do has no consequences on other people. But it was my fault. All of it. Every single warning sign, every single joke I didn’t take seriously. I might as well have been the one who killed him. “S...

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“The List” by Alexandra Grenier

Submitted to Contest #51

Dear Diary, I went to my therapist today. She said I should keep a journal. For my 'problems'. I told her I already had one. She was surprised. She didn't know I could show organization skills. I am actually very organized. Others used to call me maticulate even. Her 'task' for me. Is to right down 200 things/thoughts about me. -Owner. Dear Diary, Here are 5 facts about me: . Light is bright, pure, and is everything I'm not. I don't mind it. but I don't like it either. I prefer the dark. I'm a hoarder. I like keepin...

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“The past and present of David Mitchell ” by Jess Murphy

Submitted to Contest #51

21st July 2015.Equinox Village, Vermont.The time shown on David Mitchell’s digital alarm clock was about 5:00am. It wasn’t a completely unusual time to be awake, but it would be much better if he could sleep allot longer. David’s eyes were sealed shut but his mind was wide awake, and he knew trying to get some more shuteye was a waste of time. He flung off his blankets and rubbed...

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“Mrs Smith” by Marcie C

Submitted to Contest #51

Mrs Smith hobbled to her front window and pushed the lace curtains to the side. She had put them up when she first moved into the cottage as a newly-wed. The material was good quality, and in the early years of her married life she had taken them down regularly and washed them in the bathtub, hanging them out to bleach in the hot Melbourne sunshine. As a widow she had gradually lost interest in such things, assisted by the deterioration of her eyesight, which had hidden many signs of accumulating grime. Now her wrinkled fingers worked the gr...

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“Time” by Michelle Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #51

July 31, 2025Emma couldn’t stop her hands from shaking no matter how hard she tried to steady them. Curling her fingers into a fist, she felt the ever growing sweat and wiped them off on her damp jeans. She hated this time of the year. It all started three years ago, random anomalies popping up around the world. In total, scientist counted 10 identical anomalies. They would remain open for one month and then disappear, only to reappear five months later. It was like clockwork, as if they had a schedule. It was only until two years...

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“Donovan's Demon” by Claire Broschinsky

Submitted to Contest #51

Living in today’s world necessitates a certain degree of survival. Primarily, it requires navigating a veritable social media maelstrom. One wrong move- a poorly-timed rant or public meltdown of your offspring- and you’re an instant internet sensation or hecatomb on the altar of mass scrutiny. We’ve all seen the drive-thru jerks, the dolts berating a barista or the checkout line clods who undeniably deserve chastising, then there are the thieving pillocks who steal gas station victuals, porch packages, and even family pets. These callous sub...

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“Mothers Don't Wear Orange Nail Polish” by Rachel Wilcox

Submitted to Contest #51

It was hot. Cara remembered why she never took assignments in Florida in the summer. It was too damn hot. She lifted her mass of curls off the back of her neck and fanned her face with a crumpled magazine. A family trooped past her wearing matching Hawaiian shirts and fantastic sunburns. Cara did a quick glance in her bag. Sunscreen. Got it. She squinted along the line of cars, watching the sun glint off the windshields, when she spotted what had to be her sister’s car. It was black, of course, and not a speck of dirt on it. The ve...

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“The Threshold” by Gebi Sihotang

Submitted to Contest #51

Today is someone's birthday. It's her birthday. It's that woman birthday along with her nonsensicality. You don’t exactly understand why you do this, but you don’t do it. You just stare your phone with such distinct dispassionate. It makes you out of love with your day and you don’t even care anymore. That silly little group blast up with unstoppable notifications. It explodes with constant rapid fire. The 'ding sound' irritates you and as it displays a numerous kind words to wish her well. Most of them are lacking in purity. They are insi...

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“Woman in Red” by Dylan Heath

Submitted to Contest #51

Mark walked into Joe’s place and sat down next to nobody. Joe’s place was a dark bar on a small street in the part of Mark’s neighborhood most people didn’t spend much time in. It wasn’t the closest bar to his apartment or the cheapest place in the neighborhood, but it was the only place that still let him drink. He understood why he couldn’t go to the other places. He’d get drunk and start a fight and they’d kick him out for the night. The bartenders all are understanding but do that too many times and they can’t let you ...

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“the haunting of god” by June S

Submitted to Contest #51

The light in the main room is flickering. It has been since Friday morning, and Niles has been meaning to fix it, of course, but sulking got the best of him. Always has. That's probably one of the reasons she dumped him. The vicious yellowy light in the room is flickering, with hints that split his eyes, and just like he does his drink, Niles is starting to nurse a headache. He and Lana had met through a colleague in common, Dean Archer. Back when he was still a brick agent at the...

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“Mother always knows best” by Yuliia Burlaka

Submitted to Contest #51

Like most of her days, Maya was woken up by a scream. For several seconds she just lay there; her heartbeat echoing in her ears; her body cold with fear. The cries only grew louder. She got up. A pile of dirty dishes was lying in their kitchen sink. The stove was smeared with something that looked a lot like porridge. Mother, dressed in a dressing gown that should had been thrown away ages ago, was sweeping broken glass of the floor as Eva cried her lungs out as if being tortured. It probably said a lot that Maya wasn’t even surprised....

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“Horror?” by Jaanvi Harnal

Submitted to Contest #51

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream If you see a crocodile Don't forget to scream! A small chuckle escapes from a middle aged woman who is stirring a small spoon gently, her face reveals a small smile which can only be mistaken for a welcoming sight. Her attire is simply dressed in a white as pearl nightgown adding a gist to the scene of some horror panel. Did I forgot to mention she's sitting on a rocking chair? well, here you go. A simple middle aged woman sitting on a rocking chair busy stirring her tea with a creep smile reg...

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Write a story about someone who's haunted by their past.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 252 stories

“Nightmare Manifestations” by Mandy Baker

“My dad and I” by Kasey Saunders

“Doña Lebrón and the Tobiano, April, 1989” by J Acheson

“all my fault?” by Jared Murphy

“The List” by Alexandra Grenier

“The past and present of David Mitchell ” by Jess Murphy

“Mrs Smith” by Marcie C

“Time” by Michelle Reynolds

“Donovan's Demon” by Claire Broschinsky

“Mothers Don't Wear Orange Nail Polish” by Rachel Wilcox

“The Threshold” by Gebi Sihotang

“Woman in Red” by Dylan Heath

“the haunting of god” by June S

“Mother always knows best” by Yuliia Burlaka

“Horror?” by Jaanvi Harnal

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Write a story that involves a mystery — it doesn't need to be crime-related, it should just include something that remains unexplained until the end.

Write about someone who returns as an adult to a place they last visited as a child.

Contest #51

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

1248

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: