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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#238: Aposiopesis

An ancient figure of speech, literally meaning “becoming silent,” aposiopesisis a very fancy word for a very common predicament. Aposiopesis occurs when a sentence breaks off and is left unfinished, suggesting the speaker is too overwhelmed to go on. Think “I’m so angry, I could —”, “You don’t think they…?”, or “I just thought…”

This week’s prompts are inspired by unfinished utterances, communication catastrophes, and those times when you just can’t quite...

This week's prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Angst – 93 stories

Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Dialogue – 40 stories

Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Dialogue – 59 stories

Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Mystery – 49 stories

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Angst – 44 stories

Stories

“Trespassers of Dreams” by Eleftherios Konstantinidis

Submitted to Contest #238

Sharah stood in the yard of her house, staring behind the white wooden fence facing the east side of the building. Spread across the pointy edges of the barrier was a massive green valley. Its green grass, as tall as one’s knees, drenched by the golden light of the bright sun standing proud in the middle of the noon sky. To the young woman, it felt as if time had stopped. Or better, time hadn’t existed at all. It was merely a scene, like a long-lost memory, lost in the vastness of time and space, wondering around galaxies distant and unknown...

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“Unfinished Business” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #238

Don’t worry! It’s not..! That was when it all started. There was an end that heralded a beginning. The circle of life. Only this circle was broken and there was no fixing it. Problem was that Don could not discern the meaning in any of it. And meaning was required whenever the circle broke and threatened to stutter into an eternity of chaos and pain. Gary was the punchline, he was sure of that much. But Don didn’t get the joke and he certainly wasn’t laughing. No one was laughing. The timing was all wrong, and the punchline did not fit...

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“Bug-Batty—A Phobic's Guide to Hosting” by Rose Winters

Submitted to Contest #238

Shauna had never hosted a writer’s group before, and she was a little nervous. She had a thousand phobias. Dirt phobias, noise phobias, and especially insect phobias. The smallest gnat would put her in a catatonic state until it was caught and removed.But she had all her ducks in a row. She had written an email invitation with very careful instructions. Once more, she reviewed those written instructions in her mind, and the reasoning behind them:1. Park in the front of the house, not the side. (A reasonable request—the...

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“Face to Face” by Levi Vela

Submitted to Contest #238

“This is power” chuckled Freedman quietly to himself. He smiled into the eyes of the tiny baby mouse cupped in his hands. He happened upon the mouse during his last walk outside. Freedman had pretended to tie his shoe when he picked up his little friend. “I think I’ll name you Laika” said Freedman. “I won’t tell anyone about you if you don’t tell anyone about me.” He was still looking at Laika when there was a sudden knock at the door. He quickly stuffed Laika under his bed sheets only moments before the door cracked open. A face peaked arou...

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“The Biggest Shoes to Fill ” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #238

Maritza had quite the reputation around the taco truck, Tacos Andrés, that she frequented after work. It was hard not to, when her work uniform consisted of a brilliant pink pigtail wig, a multicolored tulle tutu, bright red nose, pink cheeks and eyelids, sparkling shirt, and a smile that lasted for hours as she beamed and twirled amidst children. As a clown, she had the opportunity to make many children (and their parents) smile and laugh at her silliness. Her bag was full of prizes and tricks, little blooming feather flowers and magic foam...

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“Dick and Jane” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #238

Dick, on the way home from the fair:“Did you all have a good time at the fair,” mom asks.“Sure did, mom! I met up with Brandon, Robby, and Shane and we went on every ride twice! My favorite was the …,” Eddie, Dick’s sugar and caffeine induce little brother began.“What mom really wants to know is, who is she, Dick” Veronica, Dicks older sister asks, teasingly.“Who’s who, Dick,” Eddie asks, confused as to why he would be cut off for such a reason.“Yeah, Dickie, what’s her name,” mom asks, turning around in the front seat to give her son her fu...

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“Perfect Timing” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #238

As John Jordan turned over the first shovelful of soil at the groundbreaking ceremony for his new insurance office in the Rehobeth Beach Coastal Mall he struck an unusually hard object. As he reached down to retrieve what felt like hardened cardboard he said, “It looks like a book, maybe a journal or diary.” When he turned the first page his hands shook as badly-smeared ink scrawls revealed the entries on sheets stuck together by “dried blood...

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“A Funny Romance” by David Newcombe

Submitted to Contest #238

A Funny Romance The coffee was by now too cold to drink. The scone seemed to be shrinking before his eyes, as it too, cooled rapidly whilst the jam and cream had developed a discernible patina after being exposed to the air for so long. How long had he sat here feeling so lost? He knew exactly where he was of course, it was the same café he visited at the same time every Saturday afternoon. Yet he felt as though his life had somehow reached an impasse, an insurmountable barrier. He was lost within himself. This was not his real self that sat...

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“Starshine” by Lady Senie

Submitted to Contest #238

“Again, this is not a drill. The Emergency Broadcast System has been activated for this crisis! We’re not quite sure what is going on, but we know that it is affecting cities worldwide. London first reported it and it only happens at night! Oh, Jesus, the sun is about to set,” the panicked voice of my favorite newscaster almost broke on that last word. He firmed up his voice, seeming to stiffen his upper lip to deliver his final message. “Please remain calm and whatever you do, get…” Static overwhelmed the...

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“Silent Hero” by Tamarin Butcher

Submitted to Contest #238

March 30th, 2024 (a.k.a. the stupidest day of my life) Dear Diary, What. The. Hell. This place is so weird. I know Dahlia wants us to 'reconnect' in time for mom's birthday (or something) but why did she have to choose a silent retreat? And if it had to be a silent retreat, why did it have to be such a weird one? The point is for us to start talking again--how can we do that if we're not allowed to talk? I've been here one afternoon, and here's just some of the stuff I've noticed: 1) The owners are named Justin and Justine. Yes, they're mar...

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“One Final Good-Bye” by Sam Newsome

Submitted to Contest #238

One Final Good-Bye The morning was crisp and cool. It was a perfect day for a flight. Alan awoke early and after a light breakfast (he had learned long ago not to have a heavy meal before a flight) he drove the short distance to her apartment to collect her for the flight. The her was Polly, Alan’s long term love interest. They had been friends, close friends, for years. They had comforted each other through both of their family’s tragedies and mutual broken relationships, but ...

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“The Hard Goodbye” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #238

We sat around in a circle like we always did on Wednesday in the conference room of the Y.M.C.A. A few of us joked around about some of the more ridiculous events of our past week and how staying sober seemed like a full time occupation. Jimmy talked about his boss just as he always did before the meeting was called order. Brenda was this week’s chairperson. She was busy discussing some of the issues brought up at our last meeting. Bette was flirting with Stan and I was in the smoking area outside with Curt who ...

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“Lost” by Ann Martin

Submitted to Contest #238

LOSTCarol Ann Martin(Sensitive content: Missing person) My Dearest Lost Love,It’s been six weeks and they’ve stopped looking. I don’t want to stop, but I don’t know how to go on. Where are you, Jack? Why can’t I find you?Always, always I have known where you are. If not beside me, you were five minutes away, a phone call, a text, an email away. But I can’t reach you now, you don’t answer me and I don’t know where you’ve gone. That’s why I’m writing this letter. I can’t remember ever writing one to you before, but at least I know it will last...

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“PHOTOSYNTHESIS” by David King

Submitted to Contest #238

Everyone in the crowd was practically on the edge of their seats as Jamar Williams paced on the stage, spewing his self-discovered knowledge. A baby blue turtleneck wrapped perfectly tailored to his body and Rolex snug on his wrist.The frail Black man smiled and absorbed the validation from the engaging crowd. He had dropped a line; which he was famous for. No matter how long or how little he spoke for, he made sure to include one line that would spark, hurt, or baffle hi...

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“How the Carnation Bleeds” by A. L. V.

Submitted to Contest #238

She already knows what flowers she’s going to buy. She already has the cash for it down to the penny in her right pocket. She’s anticipated dirt and snow and already has her worst sweatpants on. A small bouquet is arranged by the door. Hundreds of other priced blossoms are arranged throughout the store. With the pink carnations she’s picked, countless others fly off the shelves in an instant. There’s exactly twelve in her bouquet. An older gentleman sees...

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$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 23, 2024 EST

Won by Weronika L 🏆

Title: Five Turns of the Hourglass

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.

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