Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.

Posted in Character on Mar 3, 2023

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✍️ 63 stories

“Your Choice” by W.S. Clyffesend

Submitted to Contest #188

CW: This story contains themes related to dementia and memory loss. When I was 15 and getting my learner’s permit, the DMV asked me to fill out my voter registration and asked if I’d like to register as an organ donor. I wanted to say yes, but my dad stopped me. He said that the hospital was more likely to let me die, since if they sacrifice me they could save several other people. I didn’t know if this was true at the time, and now that I’m older I’m pretty sure that’s not true. But I relented for my old man and declined to register.&nbsp...

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“A Mermaid's Tale” by Nancy De Beer

Submitted to Contest #188

I’m sitting on the rocks, braiding pearls into my black hair. The waves are getting rougher, with storm clouds darkening the sky. Closing my eyes, I focus on the birds chirping, making their way back to their nests to take cover on the small island hidden by the treacherous rocks. I listen to the waves and marine life under the water. There’s a ship headed straight for the storm, which will push it onto our rocks. I’m not the only who has picked up on this. My sisters appear on the rocks, staring at the ship in the far distance. Some of them...

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“The Eyes of Ignorance” by Lovga Keiser

Submitted to Contest #188

Past a field of Lollypocks, through a barren-leaf forest, under a festering mother tree, and between the red gates. A short trip. Our world and the veil was rife with all sorts of creatures, a malignant sprite to your left, a whispering fae to your right, an ugly abomination throughout, there was no escaping the interactions that would be made but I could do my best to ignore them, pretend that I was like any other human-ling, blind to their existence. When the man behind the wall told me I could rid myself of this vision, that I could be l...

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“Justice” by Robert Dyer

Submitted to Contest #188

Any attempt by Chester to conceal his feelings were betrayed by the turbulence of his laughter. “Listen, mister, I ain’t kidding about this. I need five hundred bucks and you’re gonna give it to me.” Chester took a monogrammed handkerchief from his inside coat pocket and wiped the tears from his eyes. The moment the stranger had been shown into the library, he knew what was coming. It was a scenario he’d grown to enjoy in his own perverse way. “I have no doubt about the sincerity of your attempt to get money out of me. You’re not the fir...

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“Almost Happily Ever After” by T C Milton

Submitted to Contest #188

Thirsty Clyburn sighed contentedly as he surveyed the environment in which he found himself, still barely comprehending his good fortune and the sheer wonderment of it all. Four hundred acres of rolling Kentucky bluegrass bounded by miles and miles of cream-colored post and board wooden fence, much of it in double course to contain the outrageously expensive thoroughbreds that lived there in the event a rubber-necking tourist missed a turn and plowed through the outermost rails. A barn more exquisitely turned out than most of the houses of t...

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“Complications” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #188

Complications Gary S. Crawford A bulb in the hallway ceiling light has burned out. It did seem a little gloomy in there with only one of two bulbs lit. Easy enough to fix, I think. So I head off to the dining room for a chair and to the pantry for a new light bulb. The glass globe is removed after the hard-to-turn thumb screws finally give up, requiring finding a pair of pliers to get them to cooperate. Then the bad bulb is unscrewed. The light fixture is a little loose, so after getting down and having to find a screwdriver, I get bac...

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“A Real Name” by Jim Razzi

Submitted to Contest #188

Jim Razzi The Great Plains, Early 1800s: Dreamer kicked his pinto into a trot and followed the hunters chasing the buffalo herd in the distance. He sniffed the wind that bore the scent of wild roses and crab apple and looked at the bright circle in the clear blue sky. Its warmth and the feel of his strong pony excited his senses. He smiled at the sprawling prairie before him. Dreamer, not yet 20, was strong and lean as a young wolf. His first time as a full-fledged Sioux hunter, he wore only breech-cloth and moccasins, and carried ...

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“Home and Away ” by Kate Dunn

Submitted to Contest #188

I've lived the better part of my life in Australia, Dorothea Mckellar’s much-lauded sunburnt country. From an age when my skin was considered sunkissed and not wrinkled. My face now resembles a texture closer to worn leather, closer to pension age, I am ‘too far from Australian?’ It was an internal conflict, externally broadcast. It would seem that I had contradicted every notion of appropriate contemplation expected from me by strangers and friends alike. I had never thought myself to be nationalistic, not even a patriot. Surely a lifetime ...

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“If It Wasn't For that One Thing ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #188

Horace Nathan Wright was digging the hot muggy weather of the southern Georgia coast. Dressed in his neatly pressed soldier’s uniform with his boots shined to a high gloss, he sat wearing the ribbon he had won for valor. It was June 1945 and all was right with the world if it wasn’t for that one thing. His mama, Shatilly, would be at the bus stop in Washington D.C. with his fiancee Louanne Maples. His future seemed to be lined with happiness for sure if it wasn’t for that one thing. Sure was pretty this time of year,...

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“Verified Author” by Nathan Landrum

Submitted to Contest #188

I asked my AI Ghostwriter to write the book my AI Outliner had drafted from my dreams. It took thirty minutes, which cut things close. I had an appointment with the AI Beta Reader Collective. (The online service is always in high demand, but I don’t have the hosting budget to keep a team of critics on my server.) I managed to submit the first draft in time. They didn’t like it, complaining that to plot was rote and the characters unrelatable. I almost decided to call it quits and start over. I’ve never been very good at taking criticism, b...

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“Leave the Moon” by Emily Pollock

Submitted to Contest #188

I looked over and saw the pillow caving to her form, her face turned down so that only the left cheek was exposed. I watched as the corner of her mouth blew open and closed, tiny puffs of air expelling as though they were bubbles reaching the surface. It was the only part of her that moved, the rest of her motions in a place far away. It was a different kind of peace, I thought, and she made finding it look easy. The moonlight leaked through the curtains and bounced off the skin of my hands. They were held by my lap as I sat upri...

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“Tuesday” by James Burns

Submitted to Contest #188

When you are waiting for something desirable, and which is certain to arrive, time slows. Despite the clock’s spiteful wizardry, as its hands trudge their way around the face, one cannot help but feel increasingly happy as the anticipated event draws nearer. But what happens to the time when you wait for an uncertain arrival? Ten chimes rang from the clock. A ping of happiness arose, then washed away quickly. I felt something was not right. Although the risen sun and polished glass coll...

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“Lottery of My Dreams” by Cadence Ng

Submitted to Contest #188

The moment I opened my eyes, I instantly felt an unfamiliar discomfort throughout my body, which I slowly realized were from the stiff cushions of a velvety red armchair that I sat in; My back was poised up by a handful of pillows which were in what seemed like all possible shades of pink. I looked down at my clothing and noted that a lace cuff was wrapped around each of my wrists on the fabulous cream blouse I was wearing. Below my blouse, was a long dark brown fish skirt that wrapped my hips, waist and legs perfectly, similar to the way wr...

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“Glory” by Daniel Williams

Submitted to Contest #188

“Why are you here? Did I not tell you to get lost for at least a month if you valued your job?” William jumped up and shouted at Steven, his associate whom he had almost fired yesterday. “No.” Steven looked hard into William’s beady eyes flooded by the rivulets of sweat that characterized his chubby boss. “Why should I leave my own office?” Steven said again, now with a smirk and then handed out an envelop. “In that letter, you will find that you are on vacation… permanently.” Steven enunciated the last words slowly. William q...

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“Dead and Alive in Paris” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #188

“What’ll it be? New York? London? Maybe that little cottage you two rented in Montauk the second year you were married?” Joshua asks enthusiastically. “Bristol, Rhode Island,” Tucker Tiempo replies. Joshua crosses his arms over his Giorgio Armani suit. “Again? You have so many wonderful memories. You only have one trip left and you choose to relive the moment you met your wife in college – for the tenth time.” “That moment never gets old,” Tucker replies. “Besides, this has all been about seeing her again.” “So, it has,” Joshua says indi...

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Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 63 stories

“Your Choice” by W.S. Clyffesend

“A Mermaid's Tale” by Nancy De Beer

“The Eyes of Ignorance” by Lovga Keiser

“Justice” by Robert Dyer

“Almost Happily Ever After” by T C Milton

“Complications” by Gary Crawford

“A Real Name” by Jim Razzi

“Home and Away ” by Kate Dunn

“If It Wasn't For that One Thing ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Verified Author” by Nathan Landrum

“Leave the Moon” by Emily Pollock

“Tuesday” by James Burns

“Lottery of My Dreams” by Cadence Ng

“Glory” by Daniel Williams

“Dead and Alive in Paris” by Michael Jefferson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that starts with the line “So, what’s the catch?”

Write a story about someone who is determined to not have their day spoiled — but the universe is trying their patience.

Write about someone who thinks they just got a great deal on something, only for them to realize…

Write about a character who’s attending a dinner thrown in their honor, but deeply embarrasses themself during their speech.

Contest #188

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

258

Contest entries

134

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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