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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story about a character who starts out as a pessimist and ends as an optimist. (Or vice versa.)

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 47 stories

“Accidental Magic” by Tori Routsong

Dahlia and Finn both looked up in shock at the chandelier that hovered a few inches above Finn’s head. A red glow shimmered around the edges. “Magic,” whispered Dahlia. She’d grown up with the stories from her ugogo and evils of witchcraft, but she never really believed in it. “Magic,” said Finn, looking at Dahlia, shocked. Her face was bathed in a red glow, and Dahlia thought she could see the same red sparks dancing in Finn’s hazel eyes. The chandelier still looked menacing dangling over Finn’s head, so Dahlia w...

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“Golson McGuterson” by Daniella Cressman

It was a dreary Monday afternoon. The clouds in the sky were full, and rain was about to come down like teardrops. Golson McGuterson sat in his office, staring at the computer, blanking out, and wondering what to do with his life. He had been working for this agency for many years, as an accountant. He was alone, for now, and his thoughts were rolling around in his head like marbles with no container. His heart was blue on this particular afternoon. He wore a black suit, with professional-looking shoes, a black tie, and a black fe...

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“The Street that Never Ends. ” by Rima ElBoustani

I sit here alone, gazing out of my window. I stare upon the abyss that is the view from my window seat, feeling a deep optimism at the beginnings of my new life with this child. The baby living inside me kicks, reminding me that I am very nearly due. My belly, pregnant with this growing child, pushing my stomach to extremes and discomfort, tugs at my mind and with it, my conscience. One day soon, this child will be born; but into what world? I wonder, what will he see with his young eyes, hear with his young ears and who will breathe the ...

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“Unknown Mission” by Tiffy H

Like all simple rescue missions, ours was the same. Get to the planet, rescue any humans left alive, kill anything or anyone that gets in the way, and then get out. Simple, right? Nope. In the year 2019, scientists found a black hole. Everyone was happy, this was huge, major. In the year 2030, humans wanted to know more about the black hole. First, they sent robots to explore it. To our surprise, the robots were able to send back information that inside the black hole was a stable solar system similar to ours: planets, a sun, stars, air, ...

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“Another five hours” by Marte Van Der Linden

The world is ending tonight but it’s no big deal. The clock on the wall says we have five hours until the nuclear warhead detonates. It’s currently lodged near the magma chamber of a super volcano. The explosion will result in a crater the size of a continent. Next, a cloud of flammable gases and particles will engulf the atmosphere. It will ignite a few minutes later. The final result will be like the earth turning itself inside out and catching fire. If you’re a doomsday prepper with a bunker under your house - congratulations, you migh...

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“The Lonely Hermit ” by Kaysie Davis

June 21, 2020 I think I am the only person left alive. Maybe just in my city, it could also be that I am the last person alive in the world. I have decided that I am going to make a record of what happened. How the world came to an end. Maybe this is just so I don’t go crazy from loneliness, perhaps it is for other people that might still be alive and will find these journals someday. My name is Olivia Reid. I worked at home as a website designer. I never would have thought that being a hermit would have helped save my life...

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“The library book” by Solstice Poon

I love books. I spend hours hiding under my covers, soaking in every word, knowing there isn't possibly a thing that could go wrong. Riding an endless roller coaster, continuous adventure. The one time I can feel completely safe, knowing I am securely strapped to the seat, no matter how thrilling the ride. The insufferable optimist, knowing no matter how bad things can be, they will always get better. There's nothing that can take away that sense of security I had every single time I walked to the library and checked...

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“Birthday Visitors” by Deborah Mercer

   Emilia prided herself on her positive attitude. She did not actually go as far as intoning those I am fifty tomorrow, thought Emilia Snodgrass, as she snuggled down on her comfortable memory foam mattress and pulled her duvet around her. It was a strange thought. Still, what of it? After all, fifty was the new forty, or whatever the current version of it was. It was all only a number, and life was good to her. She had a job she loved in a bookshop, good friends, her health, and was comf...

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“Silver Lining, by Kymberly Jensen” by Kymberly Jensen

Heather lived in a run down apartment that matched her look. Her grey-blue eyes were seemingly dull and lifeless. They had dark circles beneath what used to be vibrant eyes. She was tired. Tired of making excuses for not answering her “best friend” Janie’s phone calls. Tired of her job, tired of her boss, tired of her Mother always calling and nagging, tired of her nosy neighbor Margarete, who lived next door and was always in her business. Tired of feeling used by men, tired of trying to keep up with the rent, tired of shut...

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“The Lyon's Tale” by Eric Olsen

25 December 1929: Crocodile River Farm - Transvaal."They're scared of me," boasted Cestshewayo."*Hennie tried to think of a reply that would elevate his status in his friend's eyes. He couldn't.Henry Claridge-Lyon's ancestry might have given him an interesting pedigree, but Ouma's** reassurances didn't mean much to a six year old. The mischievous child with sun-bleached hair looked up at his Zulu friend, four years his senior. "I'm hot. Let's go and swim in the river."A frayed rope dangled from the branch o...

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“Jesus, tetherball, and Spot” by Linda Hallstrom

Edith Glimshire was afraid of Jesus and Lily couldn’t understand why. At her church, Edith said, Jesus was mad at everybody and planned to send all of them to hell. That’s what the minister said anyway. Jesus was more mild-mannered at Lily’s church. He mostly wanted people to recite his prayer every week, sing hymns about the old rugged cross, and try not to trespass until the next week. Lily was sure that Jesus followed her family home after church to hover over the roast beef and listen to Lily reci...

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“He turned the Globe Over.” by John Steckley

He Turned the Globe Over He turned the globe over, and then flipped it back again. It had been a much loved Christmas gift when he was a child. Steve still enjoyed watching the golden specks swirl around the black swan with the crown on its head. It was like some kind of magic winter scene, in some fairy world.   Now, as he watched the specks fall, with the swan emerging more and more clearly, until it stood alone, he felt differently. There was at this point just the emptiness of the water surr...

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“Late Night Calls” by Gianna Rocca

“You have reached the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, also servicing the Veterans service line. If you are in emotional distress or suicidal crisis or are concerned about someone who might be, we're here to help. Please remain on the line while we route your call to the nearest crisis center in our network.” The silence after the message was promptly replaced  with music. ...

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“The Pohutukawa Tree ” by Carol Coupland

The sun was glistening on the water as the taxi drove over the harbour bridge. The yachts had their sails set with the spinnakers ballooning by the wind at full speed. No it was not for Gerard Bradshaw. He hated the ocean.  He hated the water and everything about the city.  It was a nightmare to think that he had lived there most of his life and now he never felt welcomed to be in the place he had once called home.  ‘It’s a great day to be out on the water don’t you think?’ ...

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“The Sun Will Rise Again” by Christina O'Connell

Wesley’s alarm was rude enough to wake him up at 5 a.m.—such an ungodly hour. The sun hadn’t even broken through the clouds yet, his room still bathed in darkness. Wesley rolled over, pressing one of his pillows to his ear. It did nothing to drown out the incessant, high-pitched beeping of the alarm. He checked his phone, and groaned. Why wasn’t it Friday yet? The weeks always seemed to drag—it was as though Wesley was slugging through honey, his footsteps agonisingly slow. He rolled out of bed—it was closer to 6 a...

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