Write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone.

Posted in Character on Jul 26, 2024

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✍️ 61 stories

“The Art of Gratitude ” by Heather Congrove

Submitted to Contest #261

Sally and Bob were a typical American family, four kids and a dog, with a two-story house and a white picket fence. They were the picture perfect example of the American dream. One evening, Bob noticed that Sally had been under the weather lately and decided to treat her with a special surprise. “Maybe a day trip to the beach will show her how much I appreciate her and give her a break from the mundane household chores.” He thought.He brought the idea to Sally, who smiled and quietly agreed. She drained the water from the sink and pushed the...

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“The Flavor of Gratitude” by Xiao Shan

Submitted to Contest #261

Showing the necessary emotions for appreciation wasn’t Yingjie’s strong suit. Most of her life was filled with manipulation, backstabbing, and constant planning. There was no time to think about a relationship, so when she found herself in one, it would provide somewhat of a challenge. No, it wasn’t maintaining or arguments that the woman had issues with, but it was simply trying to show her appreciation. Her partner never made an issue of that, nor did he complain, yet it made Yingjie feel an inkling of discontent with her lack of action. T...

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“Liftoff” by Tess Ross-Callahan

Submitted to Contest #261

She had always been early. Of course, she was already here. Jacy saw her faster than he wanted to, if he was being honest. Some part of him had, in rehearsing this moment in his head the night before, expected to have to search the room for her. But his eyes leapt to her as if magnetized. She was gnawing her thumbnail, wearing the jean cutoffs he had helped her make when the hole in the knee of those pants had torn so wide that she’d had to hold it together to walk up the stairs. Now they sat a little tighter on her hips, the zipper curving ...

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“Echoes of Gratitude” by Derek Macleod

Submitted to Contest #261

Chapter 1: The Weight of the PresentJames stirred from a fitful sleep as the first blush of dawn crept through his bedroom window. It looked very muggy and overcast. It was probably going to rain again today. His old bed was less forgiving than the memory foam mattress at his studio apartment. Only a few more days. He rubbed his eyes, he swung his legs over the bed and got up.The kitchen welcomed him with its familiar warmth. He went about fixing breakfast for him and his mother. Cracking eggs into a bowl, he then whisked them up with ease. ...

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“The Stained Dagger of Gratitude” by Nora Gabriella Molnar

Submitted to Contest #261

[Content warning: this short story includes symptoms of physchosis and other mental disorders, mention of domestic abuse & violence, mild graphic descriptions of violence, gore. Reading is not advised for readers who might be sensitive to any of the mentioned.]I have arrived.The weight in my chest dragged my entire being down, and my legs sank weakly into the ground; I anchored myself like an ancient tree. My roots spread through the earth, weaving beneath the foundation of the house, entwining it completely—twisting, branching, and endl...

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“He got them back” by Joey Curtis

Submitted to Contest #261

“For the final time, I would now like to hear the defendant’s alibis for each and every one of these murders.” I suck a sharp breath in as a cold fear grasps hold of me. The defendant. Steven Gunnarson. Me. An indistinct, blue-eyed, blonde haired middle-aged man. Pretty much the spitting image of half of Iceland, which is exactly what my job requires. Seven children from my small, Icelandic town, Selfoss, were found dead; one on each day of last week. Since the overpopulation of mainland Europe decimated the international trade industr...

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“The Heart Wants What It Wants” by Sam Butterworth

Submitted to Contest #261

The Heart Wants What It Wants ‘So, how long did you work with Ben for?’I try to avoid eye-contact as the man questions me. His obnoxiously sweet cologne pervades my nostrils. I step back slightly.‘A few years or so,’ I reply. I look to the left of his face, scanning the crowd. I can’t see her anywhere. The man smiles at me, sadly. ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’I knew that sneaking into a funeral wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect to feel this level of discomfort. When I saw the date and time in the local newspaper, it seemed achievable. And ...

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“The Perfect Gift” by Bill Cusano

Submitted to Contest #261

"Can I help you?" I hear a woman's voice, but I don't look up. I noticed someone behind the counter when I walked in, but I didn't want to bother her. "I'm not ready for help yet," I say."OK," she says, "My name is Elsa. If you have a question, just ask for me.""And you will get the sale, right?" "I can handle the sale, but we work on salary, not commission, so anyone can help you. I was just being nice.""That's what I need, a way to be nice. I'm not good at that.""You're not good at being nice?" She asks, turning back and then standing in ...

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“Sincere Gratitude ” by Destiny Barnes

Submitted to Contest #261

The following story includes testimonies of real life experiences dealing with but not limited to; drug addiction, alcoholism , and forgiveness . Contrary to the unfortunate circumstances, gratitude lacks no bearing whatsoever!Sincere Gratitude I should have done this sooner, I must admit. Sometimes I get so caught up in my ways I often forget. I become overwhelmed by all the things I feel like I have to do. I ask God for all these things but I never express my sincere gratitude. No wonder all my worldly hunger was of such high mag...

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“Gratitude” by Pei Pei Lin

Submitted to Contest #261

I step out of my cozy shed and enjoy a big stretch. The wonderfully scrumptious fish dinner is still keeping my belly happy, and today, I'm going to venture out to the outskirts of my territory, where I last spotted a precious prey. I haven't been around there in a while, so I must be cautious. Strutting through my usual route, I start to recall on how I found myself in my lovely situation. It was not too long ago when my mother left my siblings and me, “Go explore this wonderful world now, my dear children,” she said. And so, one by one, ...

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“Of Greif and Greatfulness” by Roz Larson

Submitted to Contest #261

Trigger Warnings Include: Death of a mother during childbirth, death of a child The phone rang. I didn’t pick it up. The phone rang again and again. I never picked it up. Instead, I rolled over in bed and put pillows on my ears. I knew who it was. I knew why she was calling me. If I picked up the phone, I would be brought back into a life of pain I had escaped three years ago. I turned over in bed and looked at Daniel. His pack-and-play was too expensive to check with our luggage, so my little son had to sleep in the hotel’s king bed with m...

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“Because of You” by Angie Lucas

Submitted to Contest #261

Arthur Flannigan is fifty-nine years old and perpetually grumpy. He is currently sitting in the back pew of a church he hasn’t visited in a year, listening to a pastor talk about a God he doesn’t believe in. It started when his wife died, exactly one year ago today. Even if it wasn’t a holiday, an easy date to remember, Arthur would never forget the day he lost his best friend, maybe his only friend in the world. He finds it ironic that today is called Independence Day, a day to celebrate freedom, when the death of his wife tether...

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“A Stranger's Kindness” by Steven C.

Submitted to Contest #261

Liam, a traveler from Canada, wandered through Da Nang, captivated by the city’s vibrant chaos. The air was rich with the aroma of sizzling street food, the sounds of motorbikes weaving through narrow streets, and the laughter of locals enjoying their evening. The warm golden hue of the setting sun bathed the city in a soft glow, casting long shadows that danced with the rhythm of life around him. Each corner Liam turned revealed something new—a bustling market, an old temple, or a quiet alley—offering fre...

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“Gifts of Gratitude” by Amaya D'Agostino

Submitted to Contest #261

Sage wasn't accustomed to receiving gifts. He was used to people holding out their hands and expecting things from him due to his truthful tongue which only made for toxic company. While some say his truth telling tongue was a blessing, he believed it to be an un-useful nuisance. He wasn't used to compliments, or people getting to know him, but he was especially not accustomed to gifts from Ruen. The High courts son was unbearable. Sage would rather die than actually have to thank an utterly disgustingly handsome being like Ruen...

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“Gratitude Unbound: "A Quest for the Perfect Thank You"” by Omenda Musa

Submitted to Contest #261

The rhythmic tapping of keys filled the air in TechNova's open-plan office, a digital symphony of productivity. Amid the sea of focused developers, Alex sat rigid, his fingers hovering motionless over his keyboard. His mind wasn't on the code in front of him, but on a memory that refused to fade — a flash of steel, a cry of pain, and crimson spreading across a stranger's shirt. "Alex? Alex!" A voice snapped him back to reality. It was Sarah, his project manager, standing by his desk with a concerned look. "You okay? You've been staring at th...

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Write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 61 stories

“The Art of Gratitude ” by Heather Congrove

“The Flavor of Gratitude” by Xiao Shan

“Liftoff” by Tess Ross-Callahan

“Echoes of Gratitude” by Derek Macleod

“The Stained Dagger of Gratitude” by Nora Gabriella Molnar

“He got them back” by Joey Curtis

“The Heart Wants What It Wants” by Sam Butterworth

“The Perfect Gift” by Bill Cusano

“Sincere Gratitude ” by Destiny Barnes

“Gratitude” by Pei Pei Lin

“Of Greif and Greatfulness” by Roz Larson

“Because of You” by Angie Lucas

“A Stranger's Kindness” by Steven C.

“Gifts of Gratitude” by Amaya D'Agostino

“Gratitude Unbound: "A Quest for the Perfect Thank You"” by Omenda Musa

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a creative nonfiction piece about something you're grateful for.

Write a story about a cynic who has been told to start a "gratitude journal," and does so — begrudgingly.

Write a story about an unsung hero.

Write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards.

Contest #261

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

97

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: