Write a story about someone who wishes they could turn back time.

Posted in Character on Jan 19, 2024

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✍️ 70 stories

“A Eulogy to my Love” by A. L. V.

Submitted to Contest #234

If you had warned me of this tragedy, of the unforeseen inhumanities of what I have and will do, I would have 1) Not believed you, and 2) Would have been appalled at the great lengths I had violated my duty and right as a doctor to ethically serve the sick and injured.It's not that I had malicious intent, not truly. I have saved hundreds of people, worked day and night to help people! I never would intend to do such a thing; you have to believe me!Oh, that annoying bitch of a maid we hired. Milly always coined the term "Cleaning Assistant", ...

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“Time Machine” by L Bragg

Submitted to Contest #234

(Sensitive content regarding a child drowning). If I could I would. If only I could turn back the hands of time. Things right now would be so different. You my darling would be able to see the pretty vibrant sun every single day. I would get the pleasure of being the old me that I once was when I was so very happy, and you were so very happy about life. I would get to be the old me who got the honors of seeing your pretty, big smile. To be able to hear your little sweet voice would just be the perfect music to my ears shall I say. I w...

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“Can't Go Back” by Helen Waterman

Submitted to Contest #234

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” My brother kept completely still, staring into his phone like it was his very lifeline. “No. It’s okay, just go without me.” He turned away from me, signaling that he was done with the conversation. With a sigh, I closed his door behind me, walking downstairs to see if Mom was ready to leave yet. When she saw me return to the kitchen without Tyler, her face fell and she shook her head. “Well, we can’t make him go.” “He should go, mom. If he doesn’t say his last goodbyes, he’s goin...

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“Ticker and the Reset” by Donnadeen Kao

Submitted to Contest #234

Ticker spent half her life trying to decide what decision would be best, and half her life wishing she had chosen differently. This was the time for her to reflect on most of those decisions. She sighed as she started on this road of self-reflection. She thought about when she was really young. The kids in her class weren’t bad kids, but they did seem to look for trouble. Trouble without being caught, that is. Ticker always felt like she was on the outside looking in. They seemed so very cool to her, always...

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“Neon Burnout” by Hadley Thompson

Submitted to Contest #234

Still and humming, the world moves slower here. People talk to not be heard and listen to find there’s nothing to hear. Even the kitchen is tired, too heavy eyed to clatter plates together, whirl machines, or break glasses. There aren’t many orders anyway. My back hurts from standing behind the long counter, wrapping around me and my coworkers like a restrictor, but one of the night, alike all the other people in it’s apathy for the fast pace of time. Somehow even the neon of signs of one liners and brand names are faded to a more average co...

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“The last stop” by Laura Haffenden

Submitted to Contest #234

Nigel, in his blue corduroy trousers and grey waterproof, climbed aboard the 214b from Coventry central. The warm air of the buses heating a welcome reprieve from the chilled October morning. “All day ticket please” The young bus driver granted his wish and the ticket was printed out for him. He perused the available seats and chose one half way back. Not too close to the front, not too close to the back with a lovely view of the City hustle and bustle. It was Nigel’s intention to ride the bus all the way to the end of the line and then all ...

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“Death Row” by S.d. Schwarz

Submitted to Contest #234

Jeffrey Lockwood. Jeff. My man. Best man who was my Best Man for mine and Rita’s wedding. Mr. Lockwood: wealthy-ass motherfucker who drove a run-down SUV. DJ Lock: best underground DJ in lame ass Utah who simultaneously coded in the basement of his standard two-bedroom townhome. The man who made me famous. The man who got my name--first AND last--out across the whole state (maybe the whole US). Gotta love him.I’m sorry, Jeff. You deserved better.The day I met Jeff, I was ditching PE Sophomore year of high school to get high in the handicappe...

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“Old House” by Marie Maher

Submitted to Contest #234

I gazed up at the old house, which lay mellow in the morning sunlight, its ancient walls covered with ivy, and I wished with all my heart that I could turn back time. From far overhead came the raucous cries of the sea-gulls as they circled in their endless quest for food, while in the background was the ever present surge of the sea, and I remembered. At the landing window I looked out and sighed with pleasure. It was going to be another beautiful day. The sun, already high in the sky, shone down on the streets which were thronged with tou...

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“Snow Angel” by Rachel Harrynarine

Submitted to Contest #234

“I’ve always hated the snow.” I glanced up from the floor where I sat cross-legged, leaning against the couch and mindlessly drowning marshmallows in my hot cocoa with a teaspoon. “What did you say, Grammie?” She didn’t reply, and I followed her gaze to the window on her left where pillowy snowflakes gently pelleted the cold glass. I sighed softly, my eyes trailing back over to my grandmother, who seemed lost in a faraway place. Delicate tendrils of gray framed a petite, sweet face etched with wise wrinkles and laugh lines that tol...

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“Redemption” by Lucius Doon

Submitted to Contest #234

“One hour.” Sheriff Walls sat with his feet on the desk reading the Brady Gazette. The usual drab and familiar reporting did nothing to excite his senses. He scrunched up the paper and threw it at the waste paper basket. It rimmed out and landed on the floor. The man to whom the words were spoken said nothing. He paced back and forth in his cell. Ten feet by eight feet. It was a miserly existence and had been for some time, ever since he was arrested, charged with and found guilty of murder. His name doesn’t matter because soon he wil...

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“A Rose by Any Other Name” by Jeremy Stevens

Submitted to Contest #234

My world was shattered, I was torn apart/Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart.“The eighties put out some great music, but this is not that.”“You’re kidding, right?”“No, not at all.” The evening has worn on me; my patience is done. I snap off the radio. “I think we should just play a game.”“Do-you-want-to-play-a-game?” Her voice is computerized. “Okay, name that movie.”Sigh. “War Games. How about—“Ding ding ding. Winner winner chicken dinner. I had such a crush on Matthew Broderick. Who was the girl?”Don’t answer. It’ll jus...

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“Twice Twenty-one” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #234

Sitting at the bar in Tavernier’s Pub, Arlene stared at the glass of ice that had held her drink. The place was nearly deserted. She wished she was elsewhere. ‘What am I going to do?’ Wiping glasses, Ken, the bartender eyed her. She signaled for another. ‘What can I do? What happened? Too much to wish for a second chance?’ She thought about her twenty-year marriage to Charlie. ‘So much promise gone south… What did I miss?’ Ken replaced her empty with a fresh drink. He wiped the bar top. Arlene said, “Thanks, Ken.” Returning her look he coc...

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“Wishful Thinking” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #234

“I blame myself,” Martin murmured.They sat on the porch of the old cottage, the toads in the nearby pond providing background music for their conversation.“She wasn’t well though, was she?” John said by way of moral support. “There’s not much you could’ve done.”“I could’ve been with her.” Martin picked a stone out of a plant pot and threw it towards the pond; the toads stopped their croaking momentarily.“But you live in another country,” John insisted. “You have a job there. You couldn’t have just dropped everything, could you?”He took a lon...

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“Mother of All Evil” by Caroline Pinsonat

Submitted to Contest #234

I hated him from the first second I laid eyes on him. Thirteen hours of grueling labor and nine months of pregnancy and this was my prize. A shrieking, ugly, detestable baby. The greatest, most unbearable pain of my life was all for this? If I could turn back the clock and stop this pregnancy, I would in a heartbeat. I lay crumpled on the hospital bed, feeling relieved that it was over but at the same time, a dense sense of dread bearing down on me. Dread for the next eighteen years that I have to sacrifice for this creature. T...

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“You Can't Go Back” by James Seamone

Submitted to Contest #234

Trigger warning: Mental Health, Abuse, Self Harm Looking back at the happiest day of my life, my wedding day, I realize how blind I was. I wish I could go back and warn myself of the hell I would put myself through. She was beautiful, still is considering what she put me through. Beautiful but crazy. Her whole family was for that matter. I was blinded by those pretty eyes and that playful smile. That playful smile it turns out was the inner psycho anticipating hurting me. There were signs of course. A major shift in mood here...

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Write a story about someone who wishes they could turn back time.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 70 stories

“A Eulogy to my Love” by A. L. V.

“Time Machine” by L Bragg

“Can't Go Back” by Helen Waterman

“Ticker and the Reset” by Donnadeen Kao

“Neon Burnout” by Hadley Thompson

“The last stop” by Laura Haffenden

“Death Row” by S.d. Schwarz

“Old House” by Marie Maher

“Snow Angel” by Rachel Harrynarine

“Redemption” by Lucius Doon

“A Rose by Any Other Name” by Jeremy Stevens

“Twice Twenty-one” by John K Adams

“Wishful Thinking” by PJ Town

“Mother of All Evil” by Caroline Pinsonat

“You Can't Go Back” by James Seamone

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone whose time is running out.

Write about someone taking advantage of some unexpected free time.

Start or end your story with someone saying, “We have all the time in the world.”

Set your story in a place that’s frozen in time — literally or metaphorically.

Contest #234

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

340

Contest entries

132

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: