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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#133: Chocolate Box

Next Monday is Valentine’s Day, which means chocolate boxes are popping up in stores everywhere. The sweet association between cocoa and romance began with the Mayans and Aztecs, but it only became a hallmark of Valentine’s Day when British confectionery giant Cadbury introduced the first ever heart-shaped gift boxes in the 1860s.

Today, chocolate is inseparable from this occasion in many parts of the world: in Japan, some give homemade chocolate to their loved ones; in Ghana, February 14th is National Chocolate Day. And we’re joining the fun with this week’s set of delicious chocolate-inspired prompts. Take your pick!

This week's prompts

Write about someone going on a search for a specific type (or brand) of chocolate.

Middle School – 24 stories

Start your story with a character finding an old heart-shaped box in their house.

Valentine's Day – 78 stories

Set your story in a confectionery shop.

Middle School – 40 stories

Write a story about someone making a gift (chocolate or otherwise) for a loved one.

Valentine's Day – 36 stories

Write about a character who finds Valentine’s Day sickly sweet.

Valentine's Day – 26 stories

Stories

“A Thousand Lost Boys” by Ophelia Baker

Submitted to Contest #133

CW: mentions of blood Too many people believe in the old gods. They give everything they have, just for the dream of a warm meal, a happy marriage. But the crops are too dry and the winters are too cold for such silly sacrifices of wine and cheese and firstborn sons. Mama says she can’t recall a time when there wasn’t fear of the old gods, their sensitivity and blood-soaked promises. And yet, the other towns talk of a time when there was no sacrifice, no Valentine’s Day… A time when there were no fights or robberies; when no one paid att...

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“The Heartless and the Solitary” by Kat. L Haywood

Submitted to Contest #133

Thana let out a belch and slammed her empty tankard to the benchtop. A table of men at her right chuckled, then grew quiet at her pointed stare. Most knew better than to even cast a look her way, but drink made men brave. Thana didn't. Thana made men edgy and curious. Their instincts at war with their better judgment. Ordinarily, she enjoyed watching the battle play out behind their eyes. Enjoyed observing the slow death of sense and reason before they came to her like a fly to honey. But not today. Today, she was Nightshade. Poisonous. Fat...

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“A Chocolate Tradition” by Annette Bay

Submitted to Contest #133

Jackson Andrews looked down at his watch in alarm. Shit! How the hell was it already after six? He hurriedly grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and hastily pulled it on.“What’s the rush?” his co-worker, Steve Prescott, looked at him quizzically, holding up a half-full glass of beer. “He’s gotta get home in time for dinner or Sarina won’t give him any.” Scott Quinlan, another co-worker mocked.“Shut up.” Jackson scowled at him irritably. The three young men had stopped for a few drinks at O’Shea's, a quaint Irish-style pub locate...

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“To the Ends of the Earth” by Daniel Harder

Submitted to Contest #133

“I must have the worst luck in the world,” the exasperated Steve Williams moans to himself. “How did I get myself into this mess?” he grumbles under his breath, continuing his conversation with himself, as he awaits the approaching officer that he spies in the side mirror of his 2013 red Honda Accord. He tries to think of some positive thought to comfort himself with, but he knows this doesn’t look good for him. “I’m not built for prison. I don’t think I can survive it,” he thinks, getting more worried with each step the motorcycle police of...

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“Happy Birthday to You” by Mickalia Kington

Submitted to Contest #133

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ezra, happy birthday to you-“ “Liz, stop, you’ll embarrass the kid.” “Move! Let me finish, Brian… How old are you now? How old are you now..” An uncontrollable smile lit up my face as I rewatched my mother's video to me from my birthday last year. A hand reached out and yanked my phone out of my hand. “What’s this?” “Give it back!” I yelled. “Your mom still sings you happy birthday?” the girl laughed. “Give it back, Julia!” “No,” she said, sticking out her tongue and rushing...

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“An old heart-shaped box of chocolates” by Bill Soest

Submitted to Contest #133

“There you are Grandpa, did you enjoy my college going away party?” his eldest granddaughter asked. “Yes, Miss Payton, I have. Although, I have to admit to not understanding most of what you and your friends were discussing. Before you go, I need a few minutes of your time. Can you please join me in my study in ten minutes? I have something for you.” “Of course Grandpa, let me say goodbye to Ashley, then I’ll be right in.” Her grandfather made his way through the old family home to his study. As he passed the pictures lining the old hallway ...

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“Lost and Rediscovered” by Delaney Howard

Submitted to Contest #133

He unearthed the heart-shaped box from under a pile of sweaters that had been in a grimy cardboard box in his spare bedroom. It was fourteen years ago, he’d given this particular red silk box to his wife, Sarah. Their seventh married Valentine’s Day. Shaped like a heart, it had been filled with Godiva truffles. His impeccable memory recalled that Strawberry Crème Tarte Truffle and decadent Black Forest Cake Truffles were a couple of flavors. How she savored those chocolates! Only allowing herself one or two a night while she read to make the...

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“The Old Wooden Valentine ” by Sheila Sarrett

Submitted to Contest #133

My story begins with an old wooden heart shaped valentine box that was a sign of love to an entire family. It started when my dad explained the story of Valentine’s Day which happened many years ago when Saint Valentine signed a letter with the words Be My Valentine. He told my mom and me that Valentine Day comes every February 14th. It is a day to celebrate love. Cards, flowers or gifts show their love to another person. He was giving us a surprise gift. I was a cute four year old girl when my dad came home from work holding two packages....

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“The Tattered Attic” by Aurelia Moon

Submitted to Contest #133

TW: Mention of Suicide/Mental Health and SwearingJune 28th, 2004.Mason burst into my room without knocking, "Mom called me. We have to clean out the attic. Apparently the Taylor's never cleaned it out." We had recently moved in a couple of months ago to this house. Apparently a family used to live here many years ago, in 1987, but they moved when their nineteen year old daughter, Willow Taylor, was shipped off to a mental hospital since she was suicidal. The daughter died five years after that. Ever since then, it's been on sale and abandone...

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“SIGNS OF THE PAST” by Irena Buha

Submitted to Contest #133

The long, eerie staircase that wound up to the attic seemed steep and gloomy. I had a distinct impression that someone was standing at the top . I reached the top stair and found a tiny heart-shaped box on the floor. I squinched at it for a moment and left it there without any compulsion to satisfy my curiosity. This misapprehension left a slicing chill in the air. Probably just my crafty imagination getting the better of me. The faint howling of the wind made me shiver as I reached for the doorknob to open the attic." Come on Lanie, get you...

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“Nostalgia Stiches for Broken Hearts” by Tasha Tolson

Submitted to Contest #133

Just as my favorite Valentine’s Day mug reaches my mouth, I hear a thunderous collision of falling boxes; followed by a yelp from my sister. Ugh, I moan inwardly to myself. I haven’t even experienced this exquisite coffee yet. I slowly meander to the attic. My sister is seated on the floor with an array of spilled boxes around her. She smiles up at me attempting to appear innocent. She sheepishly admits to getting a little carried away. She gazes across her mess of memorabilia and realizes she had way too many boxes on her trek across the at...

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“Love Bites” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #133

“Hey, Babe, look at this.” I glance up, sweaty and flushed, to see my wife holding up a heart-shaped box, colored a sparkly red with some kind of fancy writing on it. It’s the sort of thing you find lining shelves during the build-up to Valentine’s Day. To me, it’s another distraction, and just what we don’t need. “Could you maybe just toss it in the trash can?” I say, gesturing at the mess around us. “We’re kinda busy here.” We’ve been at this for hours now, rummaging around in Grandpa’s attic, trying to sort out the junk from the stuff wo...

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“A Perfect Swarm” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #133

ENVELOPE NO. 1“Hi, my name is Jared Blass. I am nine years old. My mother is called Belinda and my father’s name is Anton.”I popped the pencil in my mouth, reviewing what I had so far. Do we need such backstory? I tried remembering if Curt’s keepsakes had any sorta private information like that. Like, did he write an introduction anywhere, or did he, like my father would say (knowing it pees my mother – a veggie – off), “get right to the meat of the matter.” Things got wavy when I tried to think back.But then I didn’t want to think of the co...

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“You Have to Open the Damn Box” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #133

“Okay, babe, yes, that sounds good,” I pass the phone into my other hand, glancing at my reflection in the mirror still hanging on the wall. I listen to Rob talk about dinner plans and what we would do tonight when we arrived at the new apartment. I mumble my agreement as I take the mirror down. I try to not look at my eyes, missing circles of age, or my forehead, smooth and youthful, or my hair, which should’ve been greying years ago. I tell my fiancé I love him, and to drive home safely from work. I walk into the living room,...

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“The Heart Of The King” by LaKeisha Hart

Submitted to Contest #133

Meren, Princess of Sand and Sea, admired the box between her small, pale hands, nearly drunk with self-satisfaction. She had always known the legends were true and there she stood with the proof itself. The box was golden, heavier than expected, and heart-shaped. It was shaped like an actual heart with black diamonds and rubies inlaid as the intricacies of the veins and valves. Princess Meren was as fascinated with the craftsmanship of the box as she was in awe with what was inside it. It was a handsome box, a royal box. A box fit for the He...

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$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

121

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 18, 2022 EST

Won by Stephanie Kaye 🏆

Title: Mythes

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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