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

Posted in Character on Jan 13, 2023

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✍️ 69 stories

“Who Is Amanda Jane Riley?” by Patricia Merewether

Submitted to Contest #181

. Sunlight washed a blaze of color through the stained glass, across the white marble floor, and onto my Ruth Smith's white casket. I now found the many lilies and roses surrounding her cloying and oppressive. As I sat alone with her one last time, I heard echoing footfalls grow louder as they approached. I'd hoped for some quiet time to say goodbye. The footsteps stopped next to me at the end of my pew, and an unfamiliar male voice asked are you "Amanda Jane Riley?" I did not turn, "Yes," The man handed me a manilla envelope and ...

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“New Hope” by Keith Maynard Jr

Submitted to Contest #181

4:15pm - The town is in sight, yet I fear I won’t reach it. Dragging myself along this path, I have survived but my life will soon vanish it seems? In the end, I have failed. *** 4 hours earlier (12:15pm) - “Remember that most tech doesn’t work here.” “...” “GPS and that stuff is a luxury, alright. Take this map.” “...” “Now this is the path you need to take, you’ll need to look out for the sign. No one's been there for a long time cause… just be extra careful. Even you won’t last if you take that “shortcut”.” “I unders...

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“More than what you bargained for” by Kaelianna Mcmillan

Submitted to Contest #181

I've always seen these mountains as the edge of the world - a fine line between another world and the mundane activities of salt drying meat and choping firewood for the upcoming winter. Beyond the purple mist that wreaths the evergreen branches and the the rays of sunlight filtering through the branches, there always seems to be... more. When the pathway from the cottage to the treeline fades from crunching gravel to the crackle of dried leaves and snap of branches underfoot, the woods seem to hold their breath. The birds quiet for a split ...

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“Sometimes” by David Van Uffelen

Submitted to Contest #181

Sometimes it’s easy to see what’s about to happen next. You put on your running shoes and as you step outside you notice the rain clouds in the sky. You have a choice now. Better yet: you have an excuse. Tomorrow those rain clouds will be gone and that gives you the opportunity to do something else today. Something fun.But as soon as you kick off those running shoes all the other chores on that dreadful to-do list suddenly pop up in your head. You regretfully start to wash the dishes and it doesn’t take long before going out for a run seems ...

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“An Awakening” by Timothy Boyle

Submitted to Contest #181

Alan awoke to find himself enveloped within the dense green budding trees of the deep and expansive Virginia mountains. Oh, how he loved the smell of the woods in spring! Everything returning to life churned up a wondrous sense of renewal in himself. Only out here in the wilderness did he have a sense of being grounded, aside from his dull existence among the monotony and relentless drive of man. This weekend escape was just that- a blissful opportunity to abscond from the strains of life, and after months of planning and...

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“The Other Path” by T. Roe

Submitted to Contest #181

The Other Path Here’s a moment from what I imagined my life would be like: I’m at a cocktail party in a Manhattan penthouse. A tuxedoed gentleman is playing Cole Porter on the baby grand; guests in Dior and Versace are chattering in groups, toasting each other with champagne flutes, admiring the penthouse owner’s recently acquired Picasso. I swan across the room in, oh, I don’t know, vintage Halston, something black and slinky, the sort of thing Liza might have worn to Studio 54 back in the day. “And what do you do, darling?” asks a silver-...

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“It Takes a Village” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #181

Diana surveyed the scene with a critical eye, enjoying the lull before the evening rush started. After two years of blood, sweat and toil, Java Music Cafe was finally making a profit and had a steady group of patrons. She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. The walls were decorated with paintings by local artists and colorful posters, illuminated by strings of soft lights. Melodious music played in the background. A few customers were working on their laptops or chatting over coffee, ensconced in the comfortable armchairs and couches. ...

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“Split Decisions” by Gregg Punger

Submitted to Contest #181

Ithel stood in the middle of a blizzard staring through a wall of whiteness at the dark mass of mountain that loomed before him regretting his decision to leave the village, but he quickly shook his fur cap covered head. He knew that this was the risk he took when he left, but he also knew the lingering stares he was starting to receive told him the risk was greater to stay. Unfortunately, he could not remember if the trail went to the left or right around the mountain, and all traces of it had been lost in the whiteness. Too many bad thing...

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“In The Clinches” by Deni Bee

Submitted to Contest #181

The gathering crowd, and consequent buzz of voices, was impossible to miss. Feigning interest in her book, Adelin’s eyes shifted to her right where several older women had gathered, their body language screaming agitation. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she fought the urge to join them, not wanting to get pulled into their drama. What was it Tevye had said in the musical, Fiddler on the Roof?— “Good news will stay, and bad news will refuse to leave.” Well, whatever it was, it wasn’t good news, and she wanted to deal with it without an...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“Who Is Amanda Jane Riley?” by Patricia Merewether

“New Hope” by Keith Maynard Jr

“More than what you bargained for” by Kaelianna Mcmillan

“Sometimes” by David Van Uffelen

“An Awakening” by Timothy Boyle

“The Other Path” by T. Roe

“It Takes a Village” by Bettina Karpathian

“Split Decisions” by Gregg Punger

“In The Clinches” by Deni Bee

🌟 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 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: