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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#202: A Friend Indeed

We often assume the great loves of our lives will be romantic ones. But how true is that really? Some of our most valuable, enduring, and complex relationships are right in front of us — and they're entirely platonic, in the form of the friends who've stuck with us through thick and thin.

June 8th happened to be Best Friends Day, and so this week’s prompts take a moment to reflect on the importance of friendship, in its many forms — whether your characters are besties, frenemies, or somewhere in between.

This week's prompts

Write a story about lifelong best friends.

Character – 60 stories

Write about two friends who were once inseparable, but now find themselves growing apart — or even friends turned enemies.

Dramatic – 79 stories

Set your story at a wedding reception, where a group of high school friends are meeting for the first time in years.

High School – 16 stories

Write a story about two friends who find themselves competing for something: a job, a prize, a love interest, etc.

Funny – 16 stories

Write about two people striking up an unlikely friendship.

Character – 95 stories

Stories

“A Good Cup of Tea ” by Angie Ashton

Submitted to Contest #202

Trigger Warning - Abortion Lisa sat quietly on the edge of the couch in the living room. The room was immaculately clean. Lisa thought of her own apartment and how there wasn’t any spot in the whole place that was as clean as this one room. She hoped that this kindness would not carry an expectation of an invitation to her own place. As she waited for her host to bring the promised tea, Lisa surveyed the room. The wall across from her showed aged and yellowing pictures of her host's family members, long since dead...

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“Serendipity ” by Chyna Wells

Submitted to Contest #202

Serendipity, the bustling city that never slept, was a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and flavors. Situated at the crossroads of innovation and tradition, it was a place where dreams and possibilities converged. From the moment you set foot in Serendipity, you were swept up in the rhythm of its pulsating energy. And in this city, there were two individuals named Emily and Jack who led very different lives. Emily was a young girl with a voracious appetite for books. From the moment she learned to read, she found herself enchanted by the ...

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“Friends Forever” by Marie Maher

Submitted to Contest #202

FRIENDS FOREVER ‘So, Rhoda, what do you think I should do about it?’ Karen was sitting opposite her friend at the patio table, and was waiting anxiously for her reply. Rhoda, as usual, was comforting. ‘Well, I shouldn’t get too upset. Girls have these friendships much more than boys. She’s an only child as well, which makes her more susceptible.’ Abby, Karen’s four-year-old daughter had claimed to have a “friend”, who she met in her playhouse. Karen’s husband, Rob, had examined it in...

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“Good Hot Pizza” by Patricia Williford

Submitted to Contest #202

Good Hot Pizza Howard perched himself precariously on the large, dirt covered boulder in his side yard, planted the edge of his size twelve work boots into the small crevasse at the stone's base, and watched his house burn. He rubbed his stiff, leathered hands over the earth that clung desperately to the rock. A cloud of sandy dust rose into the air above his overalls and mixed with the coal-colored smoke that was now pouring from the four-room shotgun shack that had been his home for the last forty years. Skinny flames began t...

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“Tristan's Place” by Paige Turner

Submitted to Contest #202

Another night draws over the small town of Alba, rainy and cold. The residents are all either snug in their homes or bundled up and about their business on the dimly lit streets. All except one. Shivering against the cold wind, he pulls his threadbare blanket tightly around his shoulders and presses his back against the brick wall. The pedestrians pass by, unaware, or uncaring, of his presence. He sniffs as a well-dressed businesswoman strolls by and she glances at him disdainfully. Sighing, he stands up and slowly ste...

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“Pieces of the Past, Friends for the Future” by Aedyn Henderson

Submitted to Contest #202

In a forest quite far from where you and I are standing, a mage in long red robes was making his way through the trees and bushes, since the trail he had been following seemed to vanish not too long ago. He had been on the move for about a week at this point, on the northern edge of Ristoria, nearing the border of the dreaded Skjál. The Skjál is the “barrier” of sorts between the civilized lands of the United Territories and the violent and treacherous North. The North, known as Jördraal to its people, is a hopeless land that the Elves force...

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“Anya and Sherry” by Brittany Anderson

Submitted to Contest #202

Anya closed the lid of her laptop over the keyboard programmed to light up in gradient shades of pink. She checked her smartwatch that showed 8:30pm in the foreground of her other metrics: heart-rate, steps, temperature outside. She sighed as she imagined the strenuous drive into the city, then arriving into the chaos of anticipation and storm of pheromones that was the infamous Open Mic Night at Sparrow Lounge.Her brain shifts modes: from meticulous and professional software programmer to loose and relaxed “cool girl”, laughing along with a...

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“Amelia” by B Hill

Submitted to Contest #202

“The good news,” Dr. Malcolm said, “is that you finally have a diagnosis. The bad news”—he glanced up from my chart—“is that everyone will still think you’re crazy.” He leaned back in his roller chair, the grating creak of unoiled springs filling the room. I shifted, crinkling the paper on the exam bench. I took a deep breath. “Am I?” He gazed over the rims of his glasses and frowned. “I’m an epidemiologist, not a psychologist, but I’ve seen too many cases like yours, with measurable physical symptoms, to attribute it to a mental cause. T...

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“My Friend Frank” by Chuck Thompson

Submitted to Contest #202

We became friends after my disappearance. Frank was paid to rend me from my body and then to disappear said body. I objected. Strenuously. Why he didn’t just stand back and shoot me still puzzles me. I’m pretty sure it puzzles him on occasion. That night he magically appeared at my bedside just like in a zillion bad guy movies. Luckily for me, I am a very light sleeper and he mis-stepped just enough to make a slight noise. I awoke, saw a shape in the nightlight-lit room and rolled away. He walked across th...

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“Abductions” by B DZ

Submitted to Contest #202

“Thirty years of abductions and still no anal probe? Y'all move slower than a church girl on prom night.” Asa grinned mischievously into the large, dark orbs of the silver-headed creature in front of him. The creature let out a mild chortle and swiped at a screen pad balanced delicately in a thin palm. “Oh, it’s been that long? Well, drop your pants….” “Be a gentleman, Larry. I’d know you love to get those freaky fingers up there, but….” “Not before lunch, alright?” Larry held his hand to the midsection of his long, delicate torso. ...

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“Thrillseeker Three” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #202

The Thrillseeker Three had agreed to be lifelong best friends. Off they set one morning. Zaine, Neehan, and Beau, all ten years old, the future of society. They were going to be adults one day. But in the meantime, the boys wanted fun, not yet more Maths tests. Zaine did not listen to a word his father or teacher ever said. He was in their face all the time. He was the king of the class, hoping to be lazy, naughty and rude. Made it! Neehan and Beau had been his friends since kindergarten, following every one of Zaine's ideas for fun. Zaine w...

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“People, Poetry and Passion” by John Minnaar

Submitted to Contest #202

1. Write a story about lifelong best friends. People, Poetry & Passion Ross lived in Melbourne. He had formed a good friendship with one of his brother David’s, school colleague’s, Earnest von Munchausen as they lived in close proximity to one another. He, Earnest had contacted Ross as he wanted to pass on a message he’d received. Eve, one of David’s very good...

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“Life Can Be Rough” by Karen Derenbecker

Submitted to Contest #202

Life Can Be Rough by Karen Derenbecker This addresses unseen abuse where there is no physical evidence. It was late. The taxicab at the airport won. There would be no Uber or Lift today. Ally wanted a piece of what used to be. The driver placed her luggage in the trunk as she waited outside the cab. She entered the car after him, nearly forgetting to give him an address. She did so with relief in her voice. Claire was finishing fussing with the guest bedroom. She held the frame with her favorite photo of the...

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“Forever Friends for Now” by Kristen LaPointe

Submitted to Contest #202

“Are you breaking up with me?” I asked, my hand shaking as I held the phone and paced around the spare bedroom. “Don’t be absurd,” Pepper said, her voice unconvincing. How had we gotten here? We met years ago when our kids were just starting school. We were moms looking for a friend and thought we found one in each other. I was looking for some yarn to make a baby blanket for a friend; she was selling yarn she decided didn’t work for a sweater. We met over craft supplies and stayed for coffee and friendship. We talked for hours a...

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“So Goodbye” by Asa P

Submitted to Contest #202

So goodbye, don't cry, and smile.....“It’s too easy.” Deko quipped as soon as the elevator opened, and I stepped out onto the rooftop. I had lagged behind him by less than 10 minutes. “You can do anything in this country if you’re a foreigner, no questions asked.” He snickered as he reached into the GS25 bag I held, searching for the lifeblood that would knock off the chill of the chilly damp evening. “How many calls and texts did you get while I was gone?” I asked reluctant to look at my own phone which had been on silent for...

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$250

Prize money

266

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 16, 2023 EST

Won by Victoria Macleod 🏆

Title: Emma

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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