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

“All the Stolen Moments” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #234

“Can I help you?” I come back to myself with a start, surprised as always that I lost track of time. It’s happening more and more lately, as I slowly lose control of the gift that I turned into a curse. “Oh, uh, just this.” I place a carton of a dozen eggs on the counter, careful not to set them down too hard. Such fragile things, eggs. A bit like hopes. Or dreams. “I don’t know, mister,” the smiling woman behind the counter says, eyeing the eggs like I’ve set an uncut diamond in front of her. Her nametag says “Melissa,” but I don’t need to ...

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“Aladdin's Cave” by David Cantwell

Submitted to Contest #234

The opening lyrics from If I Could Turn Back Time, start to echo in my head the moment I’m told to make my wish. My inner musician cringes for a moment when I realize I’m quoting a Cher song. Sure, Sonny and Cher were cute back in the day, I loved that variety show they had. I just can’t help but think how their lives verged madly away from each other after they got divorced. If I could turn back time with a single wish, maybe I would reset them to their earlier days. That isn’t what I’d wish for though. Given a single wish, what would any...

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“Dizzyland” by Kathy Jeffords

Submitted to Contest #234

Abby has to use a stool to climb into bed with me. She puts her chubby hands on my cheeks, her blonde ringlets falling into her blue eyes. “My mommy.” “My baby,” I say. She wants snuggles, so I pull her close. When I glance at it, the clock has only ticked forward six minutes. But the child next to me is longer, her face not as round, her curls looser, shoulder-length. “My, you’re growing fast, Abby!” “I’m a big girl!” She sits up, stretches. Didn’t her pink nightie used to have ruffles on it? Abby scrambles down the bed. She hops onto the c...

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“No Secrets” by JOHN GORDON

Submitted to Contest #234

*Disclaimer - this story contains sexual themes and graphic descriptions of violence. Churches are strange places. The Church of St. Augustine’s in the small village of Ramswick-on-Tye was one of the few churches that hung onto its Norman origins. It had beautiful ornate stained glass windows, hand carved pews and a golden lectern that would make the pope green with envy. One Saturday morning, after the completion of Mass, Father Luke was praying quietly at the altar when he heard the heavy wooden doors swing open. He ended h...

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“Ice Breakers on a Monday morning ” by Rory O'Dell

Submitted to Contest #234

I hate icebreakers. I don’t want to break the ice. The ice can stay firmly intact for all I care. I don’t want to get to know any of these people. It’s 9am on a Monday morning and my boss wants me to join a project about the reintegration of systems for the financial something or other... I wasn’t listening. I’m sat behind a stout balding man of about fifty. Counting the hairs on his head is the only thing keeping me engaged right now. It can’t be more than sixty, I don’t think. I wish he would just shave them off because that tragic combove...

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“Wake Up Call” by Gray Mediocratic

Submitted to Contest #234

The highway glimmers with light rain, the dark evening’s street lights reflecting in the ripples. The car’s heater breaks the soundless drive. The restaurant was a busy shift tonight, and Dave had worked an event evening for a local wedding party. Whilst he drove the long highway towards home, his phone rang with a familiar ringtone that signaled it was his son calling, Avery. He reached blindly into the glove compartment, retrieving the ringing device and answered it, putting it on speaker. “Hey,” He gree...

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“Only One Take” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #234

Take 2 Josephine thanks Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan for the money as she exits their two-story brick home after breakfast. The kids are still in their pajamas, but they’ve eaten well – Josephine prepared them homemade pancakes – and now they are watching Saturday morning cartoons. She’s done her job well, and the parents are happy. As she heads towards her car, she feels the fatigue draping ove...

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“Forged By Blood & Mist” by Jade Nichole

Submitted to Contest #234

As she entered the mausoleum, her cloak billowed down the large spiral stone staircase behind her. As she came to the last step, candles and arrangements of flowers were set out before the coffin but no one was in sight. Good, right on time she supposed. She preferred to be here alone. After her father King Throian Stormforge died fighting their kingdom's enemies, Selene took it upon herself to uphold the battle he left behind as she was his only heir. There are no enemies left to cross The Kingdom of Shadowmyre. Although many would s...

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“Nominative determinism” by Matt Newbury

Submitted to Contest #234

Arnold’s eyes flicked open as he regained consciousness, but that was about the only part of his body he could easily move. His nose was squashed into his face by a wooden board and all he could feel with the rest of his body was hard wood. When he had fully recovered his senses, he realised he was entombed in a wooden crate. Arnold had mixed feelings about his predicament. Although he wished he could turn back time, he had to admit, this was, so far, the most successful of all his Get rich quick schemes. ...

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“The Unimagined Life” by Luna Lin

Submitted to Contest #234

Annie looked over at the two young women by the SK-II counter, about five metres away from her own Bobbi Brown one. They were probably in their late twenties, perhaps now looking for ways to slow down the inevitable changes that time brings with age. They were pretty, each in her own way. The taller one–Annie decided her name should be Suzy–has big, hooded eyes and high cheekbones. Annie noticed she had long dimples when she smiled. Her hair flowed down nearly to her waist, shiny and in big wavy curls. Her makeup looked very natural,...

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“Life Is a Funny Fickle Thing” by Mandy Fischer

Submitted to Contest #234

Life is a funny thing. A fickle, funny thing. Time ticks by. Second by second. Moment by moment. Everyone is always chasing something in life. Fame, fortune; health wealth and happiness some say. But what is a life? How do we measure a life’s successes? Is it the time spent creating a life saving measure? Is it the family you have built and helped to grow? What is a life, that is the question. *** Life for me began one fall day in 1937. Five months earlier was the Hindenburg disaster. And the Golden Gate Bridge opened. But during the year I ...

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“Carousing in Your Arms” by Jean Ballard

Submitted to Contest #234

Evelynne darted her eyes back and forth at the people nearby and discreetly wiped the bit of drink she had spilled on the bartop without them being any the wiser. Moonlantern Bar was her happy place. She was best friends with the bartender and often came to keep her company and people-watch to see if she could find some inspiration for her writings. "You will not believe who I just saw walk in upstairs," Diana leaned down to tell her. Evelynne waited for her to say who, but Diana always needed dramatic pauses. "Aiden from high school!" The n...

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“Regret's a Funny Word” by Audrey Schatz

Submitted to Contest #234

The Simplicity and Love of Charlotte Rose Drinking tea with the charming yet well-spoken upcoming romantic-comedy actress as she opens up about platonic love, regret and advice.ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JILL ANDERSON for Styles Savvy Landing her first movie at age 22, Charlotte Rose soon became the latest upcoming romantic-comedy actress. Detail-orientated, charming and friendly, Rose is known for lovingly leaving ‘thank you’ cards for everyone who she worked with on set, including well-known co-stars that can’t help but spark rumours of potential ...

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“Closure” by Chase Clemens

Submitted to Contest #234

It’s been a year since my brother Nolan died in a car accident. Climbing this mountain was something we always wanted to do together, but his time was just too short. So I was climbing it alone instead, because I just couldn't let go. His accident was so sudden that I'd never gotten a chance to say goodbye. I'd never gotten the closure I wanted. Closure I needed. I'd reached the top. Wow. The view from the top was amazing! If only my brother were here to see it with me. I desperately wished I could turn back time to see him again, just fo...

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“The Pirate Jig” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #234

“It’s two o’clock! Time for my eye drops!”Aye! Aye! Captain,” I said. “What you be wantin' is just a little rest and cheery talk. Mind I be talkative is sure!”“Just get the bottle! And don’t forget to wash your hands!”“Alexa, how many pirates be washing their hands?”“I don’t know that one,” that Alexa says.It was the new bedroom furniture that I be barkin’ my shins on as I round the bed. Maple Dark, expensive wood there be, suited for any pirate’s water-logged chest, too. If I had the gold to show fer it!“I’ll mind me hands and squirt l...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 70 stories

“All the Stolen Moments” by Ian Gonzales

“Aladdin's Cave” by David Cantwell

“Dizzyland” by Kathy Jeffords

“No Secrets” by JOHN GORDON

“Ice Breakers on a Monday morning ” by Rory O'Dell

“Wake Up Call” by Gray Mediocratic

“Only One Take” by Elizabeth Sloughter

“Forged By Blood & Mist” by Jade Nichole

“Nominative determinism” by Matt Newbury

“The Unimagined Life” by Luna Lin

“Life Is a Funny Fickle Thing” by Mandy Fischer

“Carousing in Your Arms” by Jean Ballard

“Regret's a Funny Word” by Audrey Schatz

“Closure” by Chase Clemens

“The Pirate Jig” by Joe Smallwood

🌟 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: