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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Your protagonist walks past an intriguing stranger, then turns around to take another look at them. The stranger turns around, too. Write about what happens next.

Posted in Character on May 19, 2023

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✍️ 61 stories

“The Guardians of Yin and Yang” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #199

“Slow down,” Burton Bradshaw says, watching Matt Omar down his third vodka tonic. “Just getting my shore legs back.” “You think so?” the suave English bartender says. “Another one of those and you won’t be able to feel your legs. I think it’s odd that you work on a ship with unlimited booze- which you never touch - then you come here to drink like a fish.” “Maybe I like the company better.” “What company? You watch ESPN and drink alone. How was the cruise?” “Uneventful.” “There wasn’t a single dowager for you to prey on?” “No, I didn’...

15 comments 15
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“Returning home” by David Neumaier

Submitted to Contest #199

It has always been easier to keep my head down.  These crowded streets were the home of thousands of eyes searching to meet another pair, to beg them for something few had to offer: attention. These crowded streets were the grounds I must tread to make it home at a decent hour.  Most who walked the same streets kept their heads down, too. Somehow, it was easier to tell where the crowd was moving just by following the feet in front. Keeping my head down meant I was not interested in what that food stall was selling, or the man wi...

5 comments 5
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“The Duality Journal: Entry 1” by Ryan Ephraim

Submitted to Contest #199

Angie (15) lets out a deep sigh as she walks through the luxury retail store section of the mall for what feels like the thousandth time. Her mother, Jen, has a big church conference coming up where she is the guest speaker and has to find the perfect elegant outfit to suit the occasion. After six hours of window shopping and a missed sunset, the fatigue ripples down Angie’s back as she stretches out her legs. Sitting by the waiting area in the aromatic fitting room, her stomach lets out a brash growl. Angie approaches the fabric barrier sep...

0 comments 0
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“What a Privilege to Know You” by Maddie Wiest

Submitted to Contest #199

It certainly is a privilege to know people. “Thanks, Troy, I really owe you for this.” The car comes to a screeching halt a few blocks from my next meeting destination. “No problem. Do you want me to put it on your tab?” I opened the door into the busy street, “That would be great. Thanks again.” I squeeze myself onto the sidewalk and slam the door. Most people dream of knowing the famous such as Jeff Bezos, Mike Bloomberg, or Oprah Winfrey. I don’t dream of meeting or knowing the famous, although I do know several, including the aforementio...

3 comments 3
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“Not Knowing” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #199

It wasn’t like I knew any better. How could I? From the time I first knew anything about how the world really worked, it seemed normal, to walk into a roomful of people my age and have three or four girls staring. They were so careful about it. But it got so, I would surprise them with a look of my own when they least expected it. Then the floor was their friend, or the person they were talking to got so much more interesting.But the stranger they were to me, the stranger I was with myself. It was like a knife that cut both ways. I want...

7 comments 7
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“Friends” by Cosmic Neon

Submitted to Contest #199

This story includes violence, alcohol, and mild memory lost... read at your own risk PUNCH; Most people don’t start their stories with an action but I thought it was more than appropriate for this little story. Picture this, six men in their early 20, one of the men are up against a wall he has light skin, black hair, and amber eyes, this is Tyson (the first main character of our story). Tyson had started studying abroad to escape his terrible past – you would want to too if you were him - but it seemed bad things just followed him. Another...

2 comments 2
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“Her Smile” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #199

   Nancy was on her way to Red’s office only to find him buzzing open the front door to let in a man in a lumberjack shirt.    “Just leave it on my desk.” Red called as they passed Nancy.    Nancy turned to watch the man go by. As Red reached the warehouse doors the man looked back to look at her with his head a little down and a shy grin. Nancy gave him a crooked smile and the man was gone with Red.    Nancy touched her cheek where the permanent crease was beside her mouth. She re...

0 comments 0
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“Evolution Gone Wrong” by Clark Graham

Submitted to Contest #199

Olivia walked through the forest as a shortcut to her night class. She knew better than to come this way, but she couldn’t be late again after the teacher’s last warning. As she walked down the path, she stopped suddenly. A man sat on a fallen tree, head in his hands. “Ahh, you scared me.” “Sorry.” Wiping his eyes, he gazed up at her. She let loose a blood-curdling scream at the sight of his oversized eyes and grey complexion. “Wait,” he said as he grabbed a face out of his bag and slipped it over his head. “Is that better?” He now appeared ...

0 comments 0
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“Someplace” by Brian Mossa

Submitted to Contest #199

It starts with a slight nod. Two men, passing each other on the street—both of a similar build, similar height, around the same age—accidentally make eye contact. One man gives one of those automatic, nods you give to strangers to be polite. The other mumbles a hello. They both continue on their way. And then, simultaneously, they halt. A whiff of familiarity has been detected. The man wearing the hat turns to look back and sees the man with glasses turning to look back at him. Two weird half-smiles form on two puzzled faces. Neither man has...

2 comments 2
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“Niizh Manidoowag: “Two-Spirit”” by Wade Douglas

Submitted to Contest #199

Niizh Manidoowag: “Two-Spirit”5/26/2023By Wade DouglassMikaere turned again to take yet another look at the teenager he just passed with her lobster-claw hand, absent right arm, wearing a pirate outfit and carrying her violin. She appeared to be heading to Treasure Island."Vegas!" he chuckled, slowly shaking his head. He was impeccably dressed, as always. Today he was in his brown, cashmere tuxedo. He shifted his violin from his right hand to his left hand and resumed his walk to the Bellagio.He glanced at his watch. Thomas an...

0 comments 0
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“Disjointed Melody ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #199

The large reptiloid pulled the cloak he had found around himself. It was a bit of providence that he had found a cloak big enough to wrap himself up in among all these mammals. The rain was coming down in sheets, as it usually did in Vulane, and if he didn’t stay warm he would die very quickly.  It was providence that he had escaped from the fighting pits too: he and the black bear he had been fighting crashed through a wall into a clock shop with a startled raccoon within. He’d taken the opportunity and ran into the night.  Be...

24 comments 24
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“Like Emeralds” by Sophie Howe

Submitted to Contest #199

  Crisp autumn leaves fluttered down from the dying trees, coming to rest on the damp ground. Occasionally they stumbled over my blood-red heels or drooped atop the never ending train of my dress.   This dress was my favorite of those that I owned; a blend of gold and white fabric, intertwined in a gorgeous display.    With each step I ascended, the weight about what was about to be done pressed heavier upon my shoulders.  *Queen. Queen. Queen.* I thought, drilling the title into my head. *Queen. Queen...

2 comments 2
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“FINAL CONNECTION” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #199

FINAL CONNECTION It was Matt’s first venture out after so many weeks in Manhattan General, followed by enforced convalescence at home in his apartment. Although he had been walking the block or so to his rehab sessions each day, this would be his first real excursion and he planned to stroll the six blocks to Broadway, slowly browse Rizzoli’s for his usual Christmas gift of a book for his brother, James, a tradition that he had continued since childhood, then walk back home. The time in Rizzoli’s would allow his body to recuperate ...

0 comments 0
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“The Wind at the Beach” by Angie Brocker

Submitted to Contest #199

A cool Florida evening on the coast is like an invitation to a spa experience. Stopping at the beach for a front row sunset view is enough to regulate my anxious breaths, but adding in an ankle-deep stroll in shallow, warm and salty water enables me to breathe deeper than I have since my last visit. Tonight, I stay later than most, because the moon is full and glowing softly on a barely windy night. The sound of waves rolling toward me feels like a bassinet rocking back and forth, lulling me into an almost sleep-like state. Closing my eyes, ...

4 comments 4
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“Burn” by Sarah Xin

Submitted to Contest #199

Our eyes met the moment I turned to look. Like magnets, our gazes snapped together, our bodies rotated on the same axis, spinning around to reclaim their path towards each other. Perhaps I had been on that path this entire time, wandering as I loved to do on hazy nights in the city, under the glowing stars and street lamps. The path to this moment, through a maze of purposelessness. There weren’t many people out so late, after all—which was one of the main reasons for my old habit. I loved being able to just breathe for once, alone and f...

2 comments 2
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Contest #199

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