Write a story about someone seeking a fresh start after a difficult year.

Posted in Christmas on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 32 stories

“Harry's remorse” by Jim Cowles

Submitted to Contest #126

HARRY'S REMORSEJames L. CowlesSnow flurries were flying and the temperature was rapidly dropping. Christmas eve had finally come to the little Kentucky township of Lyndon. Harry Tindal had just turned sixteen the past summer and was thinking about girls and cars and not much else. Those who knew him well, knew he was always thinking, "What's in it for me?" but now, as Christmas approached, he had become even more self-centered. Yes, as usual, Harry was thinking more about what he might get for Christmas than what he might give...

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“Not a Moment Too Soon” by Shikha Dhawan

Submitted to Contest #126

She couldn’t believe it was the end of the year already. She had thought this year would never end. Rekasha was sitting in a café in her home city on a solitary table outdoors, staring out blankly at the city, walking by in a rush. She was cold, but she would rather be here all by herself, than inside the café with the crowd of noisy people. She wondered if disasters truly came only in threes. She hoped that they did. She had already experienced more than what she had thought she could ever handle. It was enough to make her quit her job,...

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“Endings” by Geo M

Submitted to Contest #126

It was, as usual, a dreary New Year’s Eve. It hadn’t snowed since the beginning of December, though it had been raining since Christmas. The sky was a morose shade of sleet gray, and the clouds above seemed to gather and mumble as if debating whether or not it was worth it to throw a tantrum of a thunderstorm. They’d been debating it, Tess thought; the winds hadn’t quite been gale-force, but they’d come close enough to sweeping her scarf clean off of her neck that she wasn’t in the mood to use any gentler descriptors. If she were the kind...

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“Mother Nature” by Laura Pamenter

Submitted to Contest #126

*TW MISCARRIAGE* Mother Nature By Laura Pamenter I caught Andrew watching me from the kitchen window. His eyes tracked down to the pile of china plates drowning in the bubbly sink when our eyes met, terrified, as he often was now, to face me. I suppose it was my bark—hoarse like a heavy smoker—that always trailed after he said anything to me. ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘Fine,’ I’d snap. ‘Do you want to eat something?’ ‘No.’ I was aware of how bitter I’d become, turning cold like the season, crisp like the fallen leaves, and chilling like the...

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“The Dark Cloud” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #126

It was quiet as the sun rose behind him, the warm rays hitting his back, and a light breeze bringing the earthy smell of spring. Jonathan gazed out at the field beyond the swell that rolled and sprawled all the way to the wood line, and the edge of his property. He shook his head, staring out at what he thought was a beautiful landscape. His eyes shifted to the farmhouse, their farmhouse, covered in a green metal roof and brown vinyl siding. A few pieces of siding hung loosely from a windstorm over the winter, but that was all. Jonatho...

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“The Freshest Start of All.” by Scoop Rittersblock

Submitted to Contest #126

I had moved to Mirror Lake, like every other newbie in town, to get a fresh start and breathe some country air away from the smog and mad rush of the city. I was going to move a bit earlier but had to postpone my plans due to the death of my beloved wife, Gisselle. Gisselle was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and she died in my arms only three months after the doctor delivered the shocking news. It was Gisselle’s idea to relocate to Mirror lake, her lush femininity longing for a homecoming into the abundance and fe...

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“New Year, Same Me” by Meredith Moyer

Submitted to Contest #126

There are 365 days in a year. 8,760 hours that we spend turning and waiting on a globe. We wait for the next year to fix what was broken by the previous year. We hope for better days in the next one to come and we pray that we will not feel the same as we did. If anyone knows anything about the desire to change on that first day of 365 to come, it is me.I have years that I consider to be my best and more that were my worst, but overall, I always beg for a fresher one to come. I think of what I will be next time. I make lists and change my di...

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“Train to the Future” by Maria Skager

Submitted to Contest #126

The world flew by as I looked out of the window of the train, my suitcase hitting my shin lightly every time there was a slight change in elevation. There was snow covering the ground as far as I could see, It still fascinated me, before today I had never seen even a flake of snow. I remember being young and asking my mother what it was like, she had told me that it was much to cold and overall quiet unpleasant. I haven't been able to get anywhere near it yet, but just looking at it makes me unsure if my mother was telling me the truth, from...

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“One Last Guest” by Amara Campanini

Submitted to Contest #126

Disgraced. Unworthy. Failure. Words seldom uttered amongst kings. Except for every would-be king since Old King Angus decided that a puzzle should determine who would next take the throne. Prince or peasant—no matter, as long as they were smart enough to solve it. Angus was one for fair play. “And curse him,” Smith muttered. “Devil of a man.” The canary in the tower corner chirped. “Well, curse you too,” said Smith. “You haven’t helped at all. And I fed you.” Smith remembered, on several occasions, the dead canaries that f...

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“This Year...” by Aspen Ahern

Submitted to Contest #126

Ten... This year, I’ll be good. I’ve made the promise a thousand times. Everyone has. But this year I swear on Ol’ Mazie’s soul that I won’t do the same thing again. I’ll learn from my mistakes. I’ll remember what my mom told me when I was little. I won’t forget like I did last year. I promise I won’t. Nine... New year, new me. That’s what they say, when the spinning ball falls. But this time for real. No more hiding or lying or cheating or scamming or digging up the neighbors' flowers or sabotaging the school dan...

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“Ouroboros Part Three - The Kindling” by Nova Smith

Submitted to Contest #126

Author's Note: There's more certainty with this one, but I still have some pretty big doubts here, like whether or not should I now provide a better description of our main character. Advice or criticism or the like will very much be appreciated. In the numbness of sleep, Ophi could see a blur of a familiar red standing before him. It was a callback, an icon for the much more innocent past, something sturdy that perhaps bulky Ophi could still hold onto. He turned to the thing and tried to get closer. Branches tugged at Ophi’s mane. That ...

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“a gambling man” by Brooke J

Submitted to Contest #126

I shuffled through crowded tables at half past six, searching intently for a red haired woman who might possibly fit the picture on my phone. I’m color blind and my depth perception is nearly nonexistent, so I didn’t trust my ability to match the picture with any remote accuracy, but my pride and nerves kept me from texting her to request her whereabouts even though that would be a completely acceptable move on a first date. I imagined my fresh start as bold and romantic: striding confidently into the restaurant with eyes for only her, walki...

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“New Beginnings” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #126

New Beginnings is just the medicine Iris Garcia needs, a fresh start where no one knows who she is, some place where Iris can be her true self. Iris started a new life in the Pacific West coast, Seattle, a new job, a new house and new friends. The old life she lived this past year is one Iris would love to forget, but with all the new changes going on in her life Iris can't seem to forget what she left behind. 2021 began like any other year with hopes and dreams. Iris had big dreams of making it in the music industry. She loves to sing...

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“the turbulence of Marco” by Dustin Eubanks

Submitted to Contest #126

We are gripping the chain-link fence together, feeling it vibrate as it holds the runways in and keeps us out. Planes scuff the pavement, puff rubber clouds as they touch down, slit lines of silver through the humidity with their wingtips as they pull up and away. Marco has grown old since I’ve seen him. He is chiseled chin and arms, with just the slightest excess of weight left at the hips. His skin is the same color it’s always been, though darker in this dusk; he is the color of figs. His facial hair grows in uneven spurts. The black hai...

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“From Bike Ride to New Ride” by Carlie Shaw

Submitted to Contest #126

"I am so sick of riding this bike." I complain as if anyone can hear me. It is 10:30 at night. Not many people are out on this old dirt road. I have peddled three miles to get to my friend Cameron's house. She is throwing one of her famous New Year's parties. Basically, we call it a "party", but there will only be six people there. Really, we should just call it a "meeting". I can see her home up ahead. A small, brick cottage. When I lost everything this year, this was where I stayed. I slept on her couch. Her house has only one bedroom, ...

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Write a story about someone seeking a fresh start after a difficult year.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 32 stories

“Harry's remorse” by Jim Cowles

“Not a Moment Too Soon” by Shikha Dhawan

“Endings” by Geo M

“Mother Nature” by Laura Pamenter

“The Dark Cloud” by Douglas J. Veverka

“The Freshest Start of All.” by Scoop Rittersblock

“New Year, Same Me” by Meredith Moyer

“Train to the Future” by Maria Skager

“One Last Guest” by Amara Campanini

“This Year...” by Aspen Ahern

“Ouroboros Part Three - The Kindling” by Nova Smith

“a gambling man” by Brooke J

“New Beginnings” by Melinda Madrigal

“the turbulence of Marco” by Dustin Eubanks

“From Bike Ride to New Ride” by Carlie Shaw

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or end your story with one or more characters shouting “Happy new year!”

Write about a character reflecting on the previous year.

Write a story about two people who don’t know each other but bump into one other on New Year’s Eve (either once or every year).

Write about a character setting an unusual New Year’s resolution.

Contest #126

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

100

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: