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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

“Psalm 23” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #196

Psalm 23“In three words I can sum up everything I know about life; it goes on.”-       Robert FrostLeaving the station“Dad! He’s been accepted!”“That’s great, honey. Uh, who…and accepted to what?”“Ryan’s been accepted at Madison!”This was good news. Ryan was Rachel’s good friend in high school, and knowing that she would have support in her next stage in life was comforting for Dad. Rachel was a tough kid…sometimes…about some things. But Dad knew she had great anxiety over leaving home and entering one of t...

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“Schrödinger's Man In the Box.” by Emanuel Diaz

Submitted to Contest #196

Layne Starr was a brilliant scientist who had always been fascinated with the mysteries of the universe. He had dedicated his entire life to understanding the fundamental nature of matter and energy, and he had made many breakthroughs in his field. Currently, he was working on a groundbreaking experiment involving Schrodinger's cat, which would test the limits of superposition in physics. One day, as he was walking down the street lost in thought, he suddenly saw a familiar figure standing a few meters away from him. It was another version...

6 comments 6
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“Killing A Death Wish” by George Thackeray

Submitted to Contest #196

The bell clamored through the firehouse. Freddy Navarro leaped from the table where he had been writing a report and sprinted for the pole down to the garage. As he slid down, Freddy felt grateful to be stationed in a firehouse that still had a functioning pole. The little rush of adrenaline always helped to hype him up for another job. As soon as his feet touched down in the garage, he belted toward his locker and jumped into his kit. The record was 43 seconds and every time he dressed he pushed to try and beat it. Less than a minute later...

2 comments 2
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“Celestial Justice” by Richard E. Gower

Submitted to Contest #196

Contains sexual and physical violence and gore. Artemis lay back in the cool, crisp starched sheets of the hospital bed with her hands folded across her stomach and thoughtfully considered what the officer had asked her.“Maybe in another life,” she said.Detective Sergeant Roald Garcia frowned at this, and consulted his notes. “Are you certain, Miss Devon, that you did not know this man, Victor Sanvini? Had you ever seen him before?”Artemis, descendant of Zeus and protectress of women, had little experience in conversing with mortals, but she...

6 comments 6
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“Listen to Me” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #196

“Damn it! “Myranda felt the all too familiar rocking and thumping from the front passenger's side of her twenty-year-old mucus green Ford Maverick. This was the third time she had blown a tire in the past six months. “What the hell was with this car?” she thought as she grabbed her keys and handbag, secured the car and began to walk across the bank parking lot in search of a phone. She was glad to have been able to maneuver the car from the highway off ramp into the lot safely but regretted wearing heels to work as she made her way from the ...

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“Replaced” by Chris Winters

Submitted to Contest #196

REPLACED In the year 2025, scientific breakthroughs worldwide were advancing in leaps and bounds. Quantum Physics, genome research, and human consciousness had all made advancements exponentially. It seemed that in the years following a worldwide pandemic people had more time to do research. A community of researchers had discovered a way to move through a different dimension. They belonged to an organization named SBTN which stood for Searching Beyond the Norm. The director of the company was Douglas Banks. He immediately patented his d...

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“NPC's” by Jarrel Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #196

We are static characters. We are pixilated snails leaving trails of slime for no one to follow. We want someone to come along and acknowledge our existence. We want to be used for her needs, to provide her with experiences that will enhance her journey, this beautiful stranger. We live in some town or city or country with a name unimportant to you, where it is suggested that things are happening. That foods are being purchased even though the supermarket clerk stands mute and ignored and lonely. That buildings are being built even though no ...

3 comments 3
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“A Snake Girl Goes for a Walk” by Darya Silman

Submitted to Contest #196

After we die, our words stay forever in the ether. THE EVENING"Tarya, how about today, five o'clock, near that KFC where you worked? We've been texting for a month. Don't you think it's time to meet in person?" Anton hid his hope with histrionic cheerfulness. "Eleonora, sweetie, I'm sorry. Day's been a mess. My friend asked me to help with his car. I totally forgot about the dinner with your cousin Tarya," Anton said, playing a fool. THE NIGHTThe taste of the lotus tea mixed up with the metallic taste of blood in Tarya's mouth...

3 comments 3
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“The Conjurers Trap” by Gary Jefferies

Submitted to Contest #196

Naz woke with a head feeling like he’d been on StormBringer the night before. Some fiendish brew Yish suggested he might enjoy back in the days of yore. A time before travelling with the Keep not yet fallen. As he recalled, it was shortly after he arrived after a mining disagreement. “Keep the seam tight and dig deeper,” they had said. His look back said “I have no good reason to continue digging my own grave.” From there it had gone to brief encounters on myths young dwarves are scared of, to geopolitics. A subject he’d rapidly come to re...

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“Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Newsletter No 27” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #196

Dearest Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Thank you for attending last month’s meeting, which we agreed will now occur on the third Monday of every month, excluding public holidays.  We were able to raise, through thievery and theft, one hundred pounds.  I am happy to announce that these funds will be going towards the catering bill for our Christmas luncheon, which will be held in the public bar of the wonderfully atmospheric ‘Murdering Monks’ pub on the 23rd of next month. Ensure you have your Secret Santa gift ready.&nb...

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“Jumping” by John Jones

Submitted to Contest #196

                In the vastness of time, space, and reality, unusual things sometimes happen. Call them portals to other realities or maybe a hiccup in quantum space-time or possibly a powerful being with a sense of humor decides to have some fun with us. Whatever the reason, it happened. Just ask Greg Schank.         Greg Schank walked out of the car dealership with a huge grin. He had another outs...

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“Breach ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #196

Location:  G.E.A.R. (General Enhancements and Advanced Research) in Reach City. Date:  Present Day. Jordan Davies, the only hyena beastial at GEAR, typed the commands into the computer console and twitched his ears as he made some adjustments. He was all alone in the quiet laboratory, which was usually brimming with activity.   “That should do it,” Jordan said to himself running claws through his fur, he was exhausted. “One less project to worry about,” he murmured to himself. “I swear I have a hand in every single ...

2 comments 2
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“The Haunting Melody” by Alisa Marković

Submitted to Contest #196

There is a lot of blood.Is it all mine? We learned that we were 70% water, not blood. Did the school teach us all wrong? It can’t be all my blood.I see his face. He is frightened. Freaked out.I know. He wanted to tell me that he was sorry, but he couldn't spill a word."It’s okay. I know you haven't done it on purpose," I wanted to calm him down, but the words never came out of my mouth.I love him. Or I loved him. I don’t know if I'm already dead.I hear the sirens. Is it the police or an ambulance?I never knew the difference. They were a...

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“The Hunting Realm” by Jocelyn Nelson

Submitted to Contest #196

I snug my boot laces and check the mirror before reaching into a pot of thick mud next to my bed. It’s nearly too dry to use, so I generate the small bit of saliva I can manage and spit on it, plying the dirt with my fingers till it’s soft enough to smear across my face. That layer of grime disguising my skin could be the difference between victory against prey this morning, or coming home empty-handed from the Hunting Realm. My partner Farac pokes his covered head into the tent. His clothes are their usual motley of tans and browns with dri...

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“Time Travel Costs $595” by Heather Eldridge

Submitted to Contest #196

“Your total is $595.” the automated voice said, as Hendrick arrived at the turnstile.                “Man, prices just keep going up, don’t they?” Hendrick said to no one in particular. He tapped his right wrist to the scanner which gave a little ping, having successfully processed his payment through the subdermal credit card chip implant.                “Tell me about it,” an elderly lady was...

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 | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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