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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#196: In Another Life

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the way making a single decision, big or small, can cause your life to fork off in an entirely new direction. There are the obvious crossroads, the big life choices, and then there are the tiny ones; ones we fail to notice are taking place every single day. Waiting at the crosswalk instead of jaywalking, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, spending an extra 10 minutes scrolling through social media — even these non-events can make the difference between a life-altering incident happening, or not happening.


But what if we could access those paths we didn’t take? Would we go back and choose a different route for our lives? What if we could sense those “sliding doors” moments as they happened? This week's prompts are inspired by this classic sci-fi dilemma, and by the coulda, shoulda, woulda’s we all live with every day.

This week's prompts

Write about a character unknowingly experiencing a “sliding doors” moment. Write your story in two halves; what could have been, and what actually happened.

Dramatic – 62 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “Maybe in another life.”

Dialogue – 74 stories

You’re walking down the street, when you spot a familiar figure. It’s another you. And they’ve come from an alternate reality to warn you about something.

Thriller and Suspense – 32 stories

Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.

Science Fiction – 61 stories

Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.

Dystopian – 50 stories

Stories

“A Matter of Space-Time Metrics” by Joseph Morris

Submitted to Contest #196

A Matter of Space-Time Metrics By Joseph Morris Portown, New Arantes City, Jandira 20 May 423 SJF (Since Jandira’s Founding) There’s a bit of irony that one of the most significant events in human history was witnessed only by a cat in an alley in the seedy part of a city on a backwater planet. Not the most auspicious place for the arrival of an almost godlike advanced species intent on First Contact with the Human Species. In the long run, the absurdity of the Passimian’s arrival being witnessed only by a feline did nothing to minimize the...

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“The Door” by Alex Horsey

Submitted to Contest #196

There's a door at the end of the hall. It wasn't there yesterday. In fact, it hadn't been there the entire time he's lived in this house. But now, there's a door at the end of the hall. He tried his best to ignore it, he really did. Tried his best to go about his every day like it had always been there, like it didn't just suddenly appear and make him spill his coffee all over himself. But it sat there, in the corner of his mind, nagging at him until he decided to do something about it. And, well - what else is there to do with a door other...

1 comment 1
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“I Couldn’t Give It Back” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #196

   “We have to go to Lups.” Hedy said, rolling her cuffs and adjusting her vest. Rosa nodded vigorously. Hedy whispered in her ear laughing, while Astra waited patiently to get going.    Outside the dorms, the university and the city seemed to Astra to be all dirty air and concrete. As they got onto the bus, Astra stopped, seeing something below between the bus door and the curb. It was a wounded stray cat. A grey calico, underfed with patchy fur, limping up on the curb and away on the sidewalk. Hedy pulled, while Ro...

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“We are All Alice” by Alex Knepper

Submitted to Contest #196

She came to this place only in her dreams. A patchwork of tapestries forms a tunnel, she doesn’t know how long she has been there. But she is crawling like a child, weightless inside its cacoon.  Beautiful quilts of flannel, floral sheets, and woolen blankets are all stitched together with invisible thread. She knows this part, where she crawls on hands and knees, following the quilted tunnel through its turns. The tunnel usually lulls her into the vague darkness of endless sleep. But this time— it ends. No longer weightless, she pu...

3 comments 3
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“Pigs” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #196

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.   Matthew 23:27 (English Revised Version)Teule- The Aztec name for gods when confronted by Cortez on horseback‘Brad?’ he called to the Captain, ‘Where exactly are we going? I could leave a message for Rod to join us.’Brad’s tactful smile faded and came back instantly. His right eyebrow arched beneath the new tactful smile. ‘Hey Simon, I wish I c...

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“In Another Life” by Pene Worth

Submitted to Contest #196

In Another Life Megan ducked her head as she entered the office building. The security guard paid her no attention, the ground floor reception did not acknowledge her. It was easy for Megan to be invisible in this hive of fashion, a publisher for top name magazines loaded with glamor and glitz. A secretary for a copy writer. A fetcher of coffees and lunch bagels. The invisible person who made sure there were no clashes in Ms Farrel’s day planner and that her dry cleaning was on time. Megan’s mousy hair, thick spectacles and diminutive s...

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“No mushrooms needed” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #196

Half past three. A last check-up on Jerry, who is in isolation for the umpteenth time, and then a long weekend begins. All right then. -"What day is it?" -"Are you lost in time, Jerry?" I ask. He lies bored on his bed, and casually turns around when I enter. -"Maybe. Unstuck me, doc!" he smiles broadly. "A week seems like a month here." -"I believe you, Jerry." I sincerely agree. -"Where has the time gone?" he yawns. -"Don't you think that's a stupid question?" I ask in return. -"You're right doc, it's an absolutely absurd question." he sigh...

6 comments 6
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“UNKNOWN FAMILIARS” by Latoya Edwards

Submitted to Contest #196

*Warning, contains some profanity.*             Ezra Farqua sat on the chaise in his bedroom watching Turnette Farqua, his wife of only 3 months get ready for her girls spa day with her best friends. He was so in love with her. He met her his senior year in college while studying abroad in the states. He was surprised that they were from the same country of Bermuda. She was a beauty and had brains. Her skin was a deep caramel, and she had the perfect dancer’s body as she w...

5 comments 5
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“When the Dragons Left” by Indigo Wolfe

Submitted to Contest #196

The windows banging open awoke her. Blearily in the early morning light, she sat up, moving to stand and close the window that was thrown open by the sudden storm. That was when she noticed the folded note beside her on the bed.  Standing, she closed the window and pulled her nightdress closer around her to stave off the sudden cold. She picked up the note and began to read.  Princess, I know we spoke of this possibility and you never put any belief into it. But it happens today, it has to. I want you to know that this is ...

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“Portal To The Non Mortal ” by Ayy Dee

Submitted to Contest #196

-Story is based on actual life and dream events.  He stood there with one hand on top of what looked like a mirror. It was tall and oval shaped. Both of us watched as my grandma climbed through. Not one word or sound. We were surrounded by blackness besides the light that was protruding from where you would have seen your reflection. It was lit up with two beautiful bright shades of purple and a bright white light around the edges.   I woke up confused. My dreams were always weird and different, but this dream wasn’t like an...

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“For Zakxin So Loved the World” by Ryan Does

Submitted to Contest #196

“Behold! We bring the victorious promise of Zakxin to the people of Earth! None of you need go on in your life. Zakxin alone can offer salvation to this dying world. Through the doorways of the New Dawn you shall receive the everlasting oath. To paraphrase your own sacred texts, ‘For Zakxin so loved the—’” Dennis Doves grabbed the nearby remote and turned off the break room TV. His finger pressed the on/off button with unnecessary strength. As if the extra pressure would turn off the screen for good and never turn on again. Dennis wished he...

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“Welcome to Silkray” by Aashitha Jeyaganesh

Submitted to Contest #196

It was a day like any other in the faint town of Silkray, Connecticut. Everyday the residents woke up to a world where their home remained forgotten on the map, and their lives seemed to be trapped in a consistent loop that everyone felt, but never acted upon. So believe the words that say, the following isn’t an imaginary story. It happened.  It all unfolds beginning with an explosion on Elm Street. A ticking. Then a boom. The thunderous reverberation was enough to startle awake the red-head that laid fast asleep under the cozy protec...

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“Visiting the Past ” by Rene Volpi

Submitted to Contest #196

How wonderful would it be to hop around to a different point in time from our past? I always wanted to visit the 6th C. BCE, have a chance to meet the Buddha in person or....Rumi, later on. Visiting the French Revolution to watch Danton going at it with Robespierre.  Or to watch my parents meet for the first time and see my father enchanting Mom with his ever present, irresistible charm. He must have been a fascinating young man if the letters I found in the attic revealed the true sentiment of these women whom he enthralled. Mom ...

4 comments 4
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“Timekeepers” by Ashley Harper

Submitted to Contest #196

“When do you want to go to?” the timekeeper asked.  The two girls looked at each other and then back at the tall man.  “Last Friday,” one of them said.  “Are you sure?” the timekeeper asked.  The girls both paused. “Yes,” they both said confidently.  “What is your purpose to travel then?” “To talk to our grandmother one last time. She died just yesterday,” one girl said. The timekeeper stood and stared straight into her eyes. The girl started to tear up.  “You tell truth. Tokens please,” he said, putting his han...

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“At What Cost?” by Autumn Warren

Submitted to Contest #196

At what cost?                                           By: Autumn Warren  ⚠️Trigger warning; Mentions of suicide.⚠️ If. . . what a word.  If I could only do both or be in two places at once. If only I did this. Do you think I could have stopped that? If I changed do you think he would love me? If, If, If. . . always if....

2 comments 2
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$250

Prize money

279

Contest entries

149

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 05, 2023 EST

Won by Delbert Griffith 🏆

Title: The Bullet that Esther Stopped

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!

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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