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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#137: Albert Einstein

On March 14th, 1879 one of the greatest physicists of all time was born. Of course, Einstein is known for his theory of relativity and his Nobel Prize. But Einstein lived a full (and often dramatic) life outside of the world of physics.

He fell in love with a professor’s daughter while at school, and years later — while married to another woman — confessed his love for her, and the mistake he made not courting her when he had the chance. In 1933, he emigrated to the United States, knowing he’d not be able to return to Germany while Hitler was in power — he and his family were Jewish. After Einstein legally renounced his German citizenship, his Berlin cottage was turned into a Hitler’s Youth camp.

In light of his upcoming birthday, this week’s prompts are a reflection on the complex and storied life of this remarkable man.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a scientist.

Science Fiction – 40 stories

Write about a character who gets called an Einstein ironically.

Middle School – 18 stories

Write a story about somebody in love with someone from their past.

Romance – 79 stories

Write a story about a character forced to give up something important to stand up for what they believe in.

Character – 26 stories

Write a story about someone forced out of their home.

Narrative – 54 stories

Stories

“Regret Is A Four Letter Word” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #137

Regret. Regret is one of those crappy feelings that we could really do without or at least, have it last for only a short period of time, right? Lucille Ball was quoted saying ‘I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done’. It’s similar to what people say before their pending death, especially when it involves people. Why can’t we see clearly enough to avoid regret or at least quickly rectify it?! Instead, it’s usually something that creeps up on us over the years, when it’s too late to do anything about i...

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“may(day)” by T. Powers

Submitted to Contest #137

…MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY DH4 LIBERTY7 I'M ROLLING, ROLLING I SEE IT, IT’S COMING RIGHT FOR ME, I'M GOING TO CRASH AH---OH MY GOD---HELP--OH MY G... * Whistling sound intensifies into a piercing guttural moan......static* ǂ "Dylan....Dylan....hello?" Chelsea pokes my shoulder with her pointy, manicured nail trying to get my attention. To be fair, I'm not paying attention at all. I don't want to be here, I don’t want to sit on this crusty, itchy couch, listening to her bitch and moan. This room is stifling, especially in this August...

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“First Love” by John Walsh

Submitted to Contest #137

“John, they're going to put me in a place.” “No, M, nobody’s going to put you in a place.” M. had been having trouble at work. We were no longer going out but I was still her best work friend, so I was driving her to the psychiatric appointment the employee assistance program was making her keep. When I told her she was not going to a ...

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“Love Always” by Rebecca Himmel Glassman

Submitted to Contest #137

Katherine and Adam had known each other since childhood. Katherine’s family had moved into the house next door to Adam’s when he was nine and she was eight. They became fast friends, always playing together, in one house or the other. By the time they were in high school, they were considered an item. No one could get in between them, and everyone knew, that when the time was right they would get married. Adam knew it, and Katherine knew it too. Adam was looking forward to graduation. Katherine was an honors student, so although she was a y...

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“The Virago” by Vera Colon

Submitted to Contest #137

Arecibo, Puerto Rico - 1869 Rafaela lay in her rickety cot watching a roach skitter along the stone floor of her cell. She drew her coarse prison-issue coverlet to her chin, unsure whether the chill she felt came from the brisk January wind that blew through the bars or the moans and sobs that reverberated throughout Arecibo Prison. Two months had gone by since her capture and sentencing, the penalty of death for treason and sedition, for taking part in El Grito de Lares. Most of her compadres were raped and tortured with the worst t...

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“Runaway pride ” by Sofia King

Submitted to Contest #137

I have no idea why my body rejected marriage. I knew I felt a little apprehensive about saying yes when he sprung it on me on my birthday. Like it was a gift to me that he would ask me to marry him on the day I was born. I was really ticked off when he asked as well. Because there was something in my eye and he put my hands down as I was brushing it out and held my face and asked me. I couldn’t even get a clear view of what he looked like when he asked this important question because there was pollen in my eye. ...

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“True to Self” by Christian Arnold

Submitted to Contest #137

I count my steps as I walk up the stairs to the convention center, my parents on either side of me. Once inside we follow the signs to our designated conference room; the room where we will discuss my future, my career, my life. We arrived early per my request. I wanted a few moments to myself before the room filled with my agent and new coach. I glanced out the window. Birds glided past the window as I sat in the empty conference room waiting for the meeting to start. This day was the day everything could change, I just have to survive th...

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“Protector” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #137

Sir Morpheus’ eyes flutter, opening. “Again?” the knight asks. “Again,” the Lady of the Lake replies. Sir Morpheus has dark, swarthy features with thick, braided hair, high cheekbones, and bottomless black eyes. His strength, skills, and seeming immortality have made him the most feared and respected knight in the kingdom. With amber hair that cascades down her shoulders, shimmering green eyes, and an enticing figure, the Lady of the Lake is an enviable beauty. But she exists as a transparent apparition and is believed to be a witch. “H...

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“The Fall of a Dish and a City” by Lucciana Choueiry

Submitted to Contest #137

The sound of the plate hitting the floor is still ringing in my ear as I feel the glass shards hit the bottom of my leg. I look around and see fear take over everyone’s face as the legs of the dining table quiver uncontrollably knocking over the once-filled pasta dish flat on the ground. The white sauce of the Fettucini Alfredo splattered across the marble ground stands out above the dark surface. Everyone’s heads dart to the window as the sunny, sea-blue skies are suddenly filled with coal-black smoke. The calmness we had felt earlier think...

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“Love and Turmoil” by J.R. Hughes

Submitted to Contest #137

The markets were open and people filled the streets. It was hot, but no one cared as they were happy to spend their coins on the drinks and sweet fruit that the vendors sold. “There she is,” Kai said, pointing out the window to the woman perusing the stalls, not noticing the carriage pass by, or the man inside who had fallen for her during the nights he snuck away from the palace to explore the world he had never gotten to see. The king, Kai’s father, was very protective of his only son. He spent most days training to take over...

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“The Night Rhythm ” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #137

Some things that go bump in the night aren’t always a bad thing. I learned that the day I moved into my house two years ago. The winding staircase in the middle of the living room was always my favorite place to sit and think and wait. I sat there on this cold December day three days before Christmas and thought of all the things that I needed to do. I would like to think that I had gotten used to death but I would be lying to myself. Death is something that I will never get used to. And the aftermath of Gram-Gr...

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“Amelia” by Tamar Jashi

Submitted to Contest #137

Amelia Snow and mist have never been rare in where I live. It’s magical how nature is trying to talk to us, share the sorrow it is surrounded with in winter. Cold, unmerciful days of winter. Everybody’s sick. Even Santa fights fever. Have you ever had a…what they call - fever dream? I have. When my nose is runny, temperature’s high and my whole body is falling apart, my mind starts shattering into tiny pieces. Past and present, existent and nonexistent merge each other and an utter ball of fuzz conquers my dreamland. It gets messier, as my...

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“Run for Your Life” by Stella Bee

Submitted to Contest #137

“Listen to me, Reyna.” Her face is tight and her voice is a hiss. Her hands press firm on my shoulders and she leans in close. “We’re not safe here. You have to go.” “But mom-” “Listen!” Her fingers dig into my skin. A few of her thin nails bend as she presses down. Her touch is unusually painful. It’s never hurt me until now. “There are people coming. I don’t know who they are, but they’re coming here. Reyna, I need you to leave this house and run east.” I can smell dinner on her breath. She made flautas tonight. She made them because I a...

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“Cornbluth's Ghost” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #137

Cornbluth's GhostGrandma was always the first to notice things. In fact, she was often the only one to notice things. She would notice things that weren’t even there to notice in the first place. They all thought she was nuts. Truth be known, Grandma was nuts. She was always hearing things, seeing things, dreaming things. She once thought a cow was getting a quick cool down in the bathtub. She had been abducted by aliens, not once, but twenty-seven times, and usually taken to a place where the trees could talk, and penguins could fly. She wo...

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“REALITIES” by Del Gibson

Submitted to Contest #137

REALITIES by Del Gibson TW: Scenes of war. The bombs dropped as we ran for our lives. The sky, blood red, rain pouring buckets, making the ground slippery beneath my feet. Each time another one landed, the ground shook – as we sped along the street, joining others in the mad dash into the forest surrounding our village. I turn to my brother Nate; his skin is ashen, he is shivering – pure terror on his face. We run and run until we are nearly out of breath. We run through the forest and take cover under the lip of an enormous rockface. Ahea...

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$250

Prize money

217

Contest entries

116

Stories

Ended on 00:59 - Mar 19, 2022 EST

Won by Story Time 🏆

Title: The Boy in the Pink Tuxedo

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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