Write about someone who realizes they're on the wrong path.

Posted in Character on Jan 13, 2023

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✍️ 69 stories

“would we be happy ?” by Gisele U.C

Submitted to Contest #181

7:00 am alarm getting up, 7:07 get ready, 7:30 coffee, 7:40 car, 7:45 traffic, arriving at 8:05 arriving at work. Now from the thousands of people living in New York City can you guess whose very original routine this is, well in general more than 2,000 human beings but today in this very moment in that 2,000 give or take, it's also our very own Ava Adlers routine. “You have a zoom call with Mr. Daiki at 2:15 and the new Peral calendar is coming out today,” said Carly as Miss. Adler entered the building, she sounded like her t...

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“Johnny Gets Stuck” by David Weller

Submitted to Contest #181

Johnny slowed his breathing. Panicking would do no good. He tried moving his hands to get a feel for what he was up against. They were both stuck. Johnny closed his eyes, more for the psychological effect as it was pitch black in here. He kept his breathing slow. A bead of sweat made it’s way down his back. Fucking Robbie. All he wanted to do was help Robbie out of a tight jam. Now he was in one himself. And where was Robbie? Probably halfway home by now. With the money. Again. The rock was cool and unyielding against Johnny’s cheek. The pai...

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“No Mountain to High” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #181

She turned around to take a final look at the place she had called home for the past six months. Her new found friends were all standing waving their goodbye’s. She had done all the hugging earlier. Tears had flowed and promises of ‘keeping in touch’ were said to her. Marni knew there was just one person she would keep in touch with – Jacki had taken her under her wing from the beginning and was a kind and caring friend. The others meant well but she knew in her heart that a lot of them would be back at Mincham House within a few months of l...

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“UNKNOWN DESTINATION ( WALKING ON THE WRONG WAY)” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #181

UNKNOWN DESTINATION ( WALKING ON THE WRONG WAY) The road ( path) was that, but sure. He recognized the stones, even the vegetation was the same. So WHY that feeling of being lost suddenly? With a few more steps and on the right he would have found the oak tree confirming that he was on the right path. But why wasn’t the oak there? Why couldn’t he arrive at the oak tree? The oak couldn’t have disappeared if the road was the right one. If the oak wasn’t there it meant that he had gone the wrong way. Yet he was sure he was...

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“The Next Chapter” by Zoë Page

Submitted to Contest #181

Why does the night before of important or special things always have to feel like forever? It gives you too much extra time to think and to doubt myself. I fall into that strange phenomenon where I have so much I should be doing I’m overwhelmed into feeling as if I have nothing better to do than slouch around thinking. And thinking gets me nowhere. Sometimes it just makes me anxious or impatient for dawn to come, but sometimes it makes me regret things. Wonder if I’m on the right path. I mean, everyone doubts themselves from time to time, an...

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“Fly Away” by Logan Hessek

Submitted to Contest #181

Fly away. Fly away. Those are the words that hummed in my head and would stick with me forever. I took a good look at the winding stone path in front of me which was surrounded by a rolling expanse of bright green. Groups of flowers dotted the landscape and a flock of squawking birds flew over the blue horizon. In the back of my mind, I thought of all the memories from so long ago - the memories that would help me get through this journey. Taking a final look back I said my mental goodbyes to the rocky path leading up from civilization. ...

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“Chasing Waterfalls” by Ginny Karry

Submitted to Contest #181

I needed a change. A change in scenery, a change of pace, and certainly a change of people. The suitcase landed on the bed with a muted thump, which was quickly followed by the sound of clothes being thrown in haphazardly. I moved through the room like a tornado, throwing anything I might need into the lavender suitcase. The rushed and angry motions soon led to tears that blurred my vision. I stopped my mad packing and sank to the floor. How had it ended up like this? We had been so happy, hadn't we? I did everything right. I was loyal...

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“A fork in my path” by Richard Kroyer

Submitted to Contest #181

Eddie unlocked the door to the shop he’d managed for eight years and worked in for the ten years before that. As he closed the door, Eddie thought to himself; I can’t imagine what I missed all these years I’ve worked in this shop. It would probably make me sad to know what I missed, but I feel it’s entirely essential to my evolution as a human being to understand. Most every day for the past few months, he would have similar ponderings. I think I’ve taken a wrong turn, and now I’m on the wrong path. Putting his code in to disable the alarm,...

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“Cookies on the path between highs and lows” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #181

-"My mother was always stuck in her puberty." she says as she storms in. -"Okay." I say surprised. She drops onto the couch and sigs: "Yeah!" -"And what led you to that conclusion? Did something happen?" I ask curiously. -"She's emotionally stuck in her teens. That's probably a leftover from her Catholic upbringing." she spits angrily. -"I do not follow you." I gently let her know. -"Her family has always swept trauma after trauma under the rug." I was eager to ask for an explanation but decided to keep my mouth shut and let her vent. ...

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“Path of Clues” by Julie Pruitt

Submitted to Contest #181

“This doesn’t feel right, Mac.” “Look – another cigarette butt!” Deputy Mac Sanders retrieved a half-smoked cigarette from the brush. The other deputy shined a quavering flashlight on the butt pinched between Mac’s index finger and thumb. “Yep, it’s a Lucky Strike … half smoked,” Mac said with a grin. “It’s our man.” “I think we need some back-up,” Deputy Skip Conway r...

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“A Misguided Warrior’s Walk in The Forest” by Deon Ferrer

Submitted to Contest #181

On a dreary night, where the moon ruled in the sun’s stead, a thick fog was casted upon a forest, deep within the mountains. Within this forest, an armor-clad warrior could be seen, walking a lonely path amidst the rampant fog. His fiery gaze from the golden eyes he possessed stared forward, housed in the face of a young man, with messy black hair tied into a ponytail. This warrior was unaware of the path’s end, yet ever watchful for what lies ahead.‘They send me here…to kill a person that they could never find? I’m growing restless of the m...

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“From Bird to Blessed ” by Elle Christe

Submitted to Contest #181

Ray was the oldest Sobota cousin, a few years older than Lizzie. The two cousins had always gotten along well and had a really special friendship. Although he is older than Lizzie in years, Lizzie was definitely older than him in maturity, sensible thinking and intelligence, “probably because I’m a girl” she’d often think. Ray’s entire sophomore year in high school consisted of Lizzie finishing his algebra homework for him. Even though Lizzie was an 8th grader at the time and had homework of her own. She would stay up with Ray, until...

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“At Least There's a Goal” by Mark Caza

Submitted to Contest #181

Devon leaned against the metal railing with an envelope clenched in his hand. He gazed at the traffic below him. The city lights bounced off of the wet roads and advertisements jutted out of the surrounding buildings. The light proved too much for his eyes to handle so he turned his attention to the night sky. With no visible moon and a sky blanketed in clouds, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, enjoying the cool feeling of rain drops pattering against his skin. Exhaling, he says to himself, "well this sucks." After a couple of mo...

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“Drop That Dwarf” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #181

The annoying ring of the telephone stirs Vanessa Akin from her sleep. She curses under her breath as her husband, Trey, rolls over, groaning. “Well, are you going to get that?” she asks. “You know it’s for you.” Trey reaches for the phone, nearly knocking it off the end table. Smiling apologetically at Vanessa, he wonders when she’d cut her luxurious midnight black hair into a bob or when the circles under her once sparkling eyes had begun to dominate her looks. Glancing down at his stomach, he ponders where the extra pounds he’s carrying ...

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“The Wrong Path” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #181

I left school cutting through the fence at the back of the playground that had been torn open to the field. Mrs. Bottrell had kept me after my Grade Four class for some offense I could not remember. She was big, thick, and old, and she was my favourite teacher. Dad would not be happy. It was his way. Sometimes hugs, sometime angry, always a smell of alcohol and aftershave. The field was coming onto Barton Street. It was getting dark quickly. It was only a quarter to four. No, it was after six ...

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Write about someone who realizes they're on the wrong path.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“would we be happy ?” by Gisele U.C

“Johnny Gets Stuck” by David Weller

“No Mountain to High” by Valerie Preston

“UNKNOWN DESTINATION ( WALKING ON THE WRONG WAY)” by Mara Masolini

“The Next Chapter” by Zoë Page

“Fly Away” by Logan Hessek

“Chasing Waterfalls” by Ginny Karry

“A fork in my path” by Richard Kroyer

“Cookies on the path between highs and lows” by F.O. Morier

“Path of Clues” by Julie Pruitt

“A Misguided Warrior’s Walk in The Forest” by Deon Ferrer

“From Bird to Blessed ” by Elle Christe

“At Least There's a Goal” by Mark Caza

“Drop That Dwarf” by Michael Jefferson

“The Wrong Path” by David B Fraser

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who has to “move mountains” to get what they want.

Write about a character who’s climbing a mountain, whether internal, external, or both.

Write about a character who, for whatever reason, retreats to a remote cabin.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Contest #181

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

125

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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