Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Posted in Character on Jul 19, 2024

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✍️ 31 stories

“STEERING” by Josiah Mporampora

Submitted to Contest #260

“SHE’S COMING! EVERYONE REPORT TO YOUR STATIONS NOW!”No one had ever seen the famously calm general so riled up. It did, however, make sense that today would be the day that his men would see him in a panic. Despite his words, his loyal soldiers stayed where they were. They would stare in silent shock from across and beside the central table in the command room. Finally, his lieutenant spoke up. “Sir, if she is coming, then she is coming for you. We can’t leave you here unguarded.”“NO! We ...

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“Lift Up Your Head” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #260

Content warning: Physical violence, not graphicThe metal pitcher trembles as I clutch the handle. Ripples spread on the surface of the yellow-green-hued wine inside. I want to close my eyes, but I must not, for one of the beloved might call for my service at any moment. The guest—I do not even know his name, only that he is the son of the brother of the lord of the house—is standing over Odod, kicking him. The dull sound of the young man’s foot striking Odod pounds in my ears like my heartbeat. I flinch with every thud, but I do no...

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“The Break” by Hannah Ryerson

Submitted to Contest #260

I sat at the table, balling up and unfolding a napkin in my hands over and over while I watched my friend waltz effortlessly around her kitchen, chopping vegetables, measuring ingredients, adding spices and salt to a bowl. Kylie complained about being single, but all things considered, she had it together a lot more than I did.“I can’t believe this happened a month ago and you’re just now telling me,” she said as she handed me a plate with a chicken sandwich, salad, and grapes on it. I felt my stomach rumble. I’d only eaten half a sandwich a...

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“Kaleidoscope of Paradoxes” by Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #260

Today was a new day. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Even though hope felt elusive, Robert told me to fake it. “That’s how everyone does it, dear Effy. No one really has any hope.” I imagined the sentiment was meant to make me feel better, yet I found myself standing in our brand-new kitchen peering at our newest addition with dead eyes. The Meal Prep Master Pro. Everything a kitchen needed. There was no need to touch anything now. All the shiny knives were tucked away out of my reach. Wouldn’t want another accide...

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“Joan of Domrémy” by Ben Hulme

Submitted to Contest #260

1425‘Joan?’The earth is rising. She looks up to see the sky; pale, half hidden by a wall of rolling black. Her stomach lurches and she sits up, wiping the dust from her hair. The sheep bleat, circling around her. Sunlight warms her cheeks. ‘What happened?’‘You were shaking,’ says her Mother, blocking out the sun. The sheep are running, the small lambs bobbing up and down behind their mothers as they flee across the field towards the trees.‘Where am I?’‘Home,’ whispers her Mother, kneeling to take her by the hand. The tips of her fi...

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“Unwritten Future” by Derek Macleod

Submitted to Contest #260

Chapter 1: Alex's Growing UneaseAlex walked to the backdoor of the community hall, his eyes scanning over the wedding preparations. It had been a long day in the fields, and he wiped the caked dirt off his clothes. The pristine white tablecloths, neatly arranged floral centerpieces, and gleaming silverware should have filled him with anticipation. Instead, a knot formed in his stomach.Leah glided over, her steps deliberate. "There ya are, Alex. What d'ya think of the decorations? Our families worked so hard on 'em."He conjured a grin. "They'...

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“A Twist of Destiny” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #260

The moment she popped out of her mother’s womb, she was destined to be a superstar. Or so the family thought. Her father was an accomplished concert pianist, and her mother sang opera at the Met. Her grandfather had been the composer for the stars and her grandmother, an accomplished actress. How could she not make her mark in the arts. Even her name Star screamed success. She was an adorable baby with blonde hair and blue eyes. As she grew her beauty only increased. She reached puberty earlier than most of her peers and was a fashion model ...

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“Possessed by the Skies” by Fred Bickham

Submitted to Contest #260

The sky framed by the window of my dormitory room is as blank as a sheet of paper. It is my third year at Durham as a math major. It is also a bitterly cold Saturday morning, and I’ve been plotting derivatives since about eight on what started out as another blank sheet. To cool my brain down, I bundle up and head over to the university library in search of nothing having to do with math or science or philosophy. Nothing cerebral. Searching the humanities stacks, I find a collection of poems by Dylan Thomas and bring these back to my room, m...

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“Writer’s Rules [LoE]” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #260

CW: This piece contains swearing and overall dark themes. Viewer discretion advised. I may not fully understand the concept of love—they sure don’t—but I’m fairly certain it’s not being called someone’s ‘pride and joy’ only for them to turn around and torture you because they’re ‘bored.’ I mean, I cut them some slack when they were a kid—nine is quite young—but they never grew out of it, rather, they fully embraced it. I’ve been with them for years, likely before they had more than one solid friend. I’m the reason they made their first ...

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“Of Castles and Cages” by Andrea Krist

Submitted to Contest #260

Richard adjusted himself in the saddle and stared across the English countryside. The rolling hills calmed his spirits whenever things did not feel right, but today they were as ill-at-ease as he. A cool wind blew the grass and ruffled his cloak. He pulled his chaperon lower upon his head and glanced at his companion. Penelope was a few years older than him--although she had never confided her true age. She was mature in her mannerisms, suitable to be a bride, yet remained unwed. Though he assumed she was no more than sixteen many in court ...

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“The Cards We Draw, The Ones We Play” by Monique Lewis

Submitted to Contest #260

Fire embers dance towards the midnight sky as the orange glow of the fire flickers shadow and light across his face. The face I had grown to love over the years. The face that will continue to be etched with memories and smile lines that stretch from the corners of his eyes, begging for more moments of shared laughter. I wonder if the lines in my face would give away the gnawing guilt and pain that ached my bones and the nausea that swelled in the pit of my stomach. “Marshmallow?” Felix asks, drawing his half-burnt marshmallow from the fire,...

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“Refocusing” by S.G. Williams

Submitted to Contest #260

Nothing prepared Jim for the revelation that his whole life up until his thirtieth birthday had been a hazy of choices not really made by himself. The illusion that he had been the driving factor in the course of his day to day life faded away when Dr. Steinburg gave him the news. “Thank you for coming in Jim, we got the test results back,” Dr. Steinburg said as he looked back over Jim’s charts. The synthetic leather chair of the plater white walled room squeaked slightly against Jim’s faded jeans as he shifted in it. An uncomfortably long s...

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“The Wheel of Dùghall” by Even Andrews

Submitted to Contest #260

Dùghall strummed his mandolin as the rain pelted the bridge above. He played to a small band of travelers seeking freedom from the raging storm above. Dùghall sang “Thunder clashed, the heavens wept, As sword and claw in battle swept, The dragon's roar shook earth and sky, But the knight stood firm, with battle cry, Beast and man intertwined, Bloodstained ledge,…”. The sodden travelers appreciated a free show and a chance to be liberated from the ensuing storm. Dùghall found the entertainment of the lesser folk first-rate advertisement for t...

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“Danni” by William Siebold

Submitted to Contest #260

This hardwood forest has the fragrance of safety and peace. Silent, except for the early spring breeze wishing through the leaves, the curious rustling in the underbrush and the enormous gentle sound of the birds in the trees. I’m sitting on a bench in a woodland clearing, with a panoramic view of greening hills and hollows rolling into the deep distance, as far as the eye can see or the mind can imagine. A lifetime. The boundaries of mortality are thinner, less durable. This body has contained me for so long and so well. Soon it will be ti...

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“Cuttings” by K CT

Submitted to Contest #260

"No! Don't use your left hand, use your right hand", pounces onto Hana's mind. She lowers her, half raised, left hand and exchanges it for her right as she picks up her coffee. "You shouldn't use your right hand, go for the left", intrudes on Hana's thoughts as she attempts to open her car door. "Don't listen to this song, skip this song", Hana tries to find music to listen to on her commute to work. "Not this one either.. damn, I really love this song though. It should be fine if I listen to this one.. no, no, let me not.", she skips anothe...

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Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 31 stories

“STEERING” by Josiah Mporampora

“Lift Up Your Head” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“The Break” by Hannah Ryerson

“Kaleidoscope of Paradoxes” by Samantha McWilliams

“Joan of Domrémy” by Ben Hulme

“Unwritten Future” by Derek Macleod

“A Twist of Destiny” by Rudy Greene

“Possessed by the Skies” by Fred Bickham

“Writer’s Rules [LoE]” by Fern Everton

“Of Castles and Cages” by Andrea Krist

“The Cards We Draw, The Ones We Play” by Monique Lewis

“Refocusing” by S.G. Williams

“The Wheel of Dùghall” by Even Andrews

“Danni” by William Siebold

“Cuttings” by K CT

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story with a big twist.

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Contest #260

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

429

Contest entries

132

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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