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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#255: The Five Stages

It's a commonly held belief that, when we grieve a loss, we go through five emotional phases: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. Science tends to disagree; there's no actual evidence that we go through these stages, or at least not in a neat, linear fashion. But despite this, the model remains a part of our popular consciousness, and is frequently referenced in art, literature, and day-to-day conversation — perhaps because the idea of having a map to our grief, a way to organize and compartmentalize our most complicated feelings, is so alluring.

This week's contest is inspired by the model, and by the feelings described within it. Your characters don't have to be grieving a loss of some kind; they may simply be navigating the challenges of life in general. Whichever route you choose, begin with one of the five stages.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a someone who's in denial.

Character – 68 stories

Write a story about anger.

Angst – 64 stories

Center your story around a character bargaining for something that's important to them.

Dramatic – 43 stories

Start your story with a character in despair.

Dark – 91 stories

Write a story about someone finding acceptance.

Character – 99 stories

Stories

“There were signs” by Addison Orme

Submitted to Contest #255

There were signs. Other people might have seen them earlier and accepted their truth. Kyle, however, believed he might be the exception. Learning to enjoy olives doesn’t mean anything, does it? It’s just a tasty little snack, right? And the farmer's markets… Kyle truly did not understand why the other kids weren’t there every Sunday morning. ‘Best coffee in town’, he would brag ‘and I bet types of potato than you have ever even heard of!’ He kept trying to listen to the music his friends were into, and to be fair, some of it was re...

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“A Blessing in Disguise” by Lys Light

Submitted to Contest #255

She saw Princess Evangeline for the first time today. Arren had been training with some of the knights in the courtyard when news spread of the princess's capture, but Asher had pulled her inside when he found out. He had told her not to look, to stay away from the windows while they brought her in. But unable to resist, Arren peeked out from behind the curtains to watch. They were going to kill her tomorrow, and she needed to see her at least once before she died. A line of silver-armored soldiers marched her down the cobblestone path to th...

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“George” by Rory Kilalea

Submitted to Contest #255

Rhodesia declared a unilateral declaration of Independence from Britain in 1965 to avoid black rule. A bush war erupted. Black freedom fighters attacked the white Rhodesian forces for control of the country which they called Zimbabwe. Men and women were enlisted. Mixed race people could work with whites, even though they had a ‘black African’ mixed heredity. Brady Barracks. Bulawayo. Rhodesia. Africa. 1973The stark sunlight outside was flat. Like another world. The tar shimmered through the dwarf marigolds at the base of the ...

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“The Soul of Grief” by Judith Dreyer

Submitted to Contest #255

The Soul of GriefGrief holds the heart hostage, and no matter how contained or clever or the relief we feel when knowing someone’s suffering is over, grief steals. It steals peace and comfort, sanity and time., And who knew the human body could fill up rivers with the tears shed during the agony of loss? I worked in Geriatrics and with cancer patients on a Hospice team. I knew the stages, witnessed the crossings, and said many goodbyes, but I didn’t know till he left.Grief isn’t predictable or something we can think away. It has its own oper...

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“Becoming Strangers” by Elby B

Submitted to Contest #255

Dear J,Remembering you is like a bad migraine. When I think about not seeing you anymore, I have to lie to myself and say I’ll see you again just to keep the panic down. The pain is intense. I don’t want to wake up and have to face it. I want to feel anything but this. Why did you leave me? Why can’t you give me a reason? Why can’t you understand your own mind? It isn’t fair. I can see our path clearly. We could have worked. There’s no reason for us not to have worked. I miss you.-L Dear J,Today I saw something funny and went to text you abo...

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“Out of Water” by Maisy Stevens

Submitted to Contest #255

When Julia wakes up with a fin in place of her arm, her first thought is: ‘Crap. My shift started ten minutes ago’. It feels quite normal, the murky, dishwater blue that trickles up her side like a leaky faucet. Numb, but sensitive. Natural, as she’d woken up that way, but supernatural, unnerving, and something she had not noticed even one bit. The scales crawling up her arm are ticklish, sure, but she writes that off as a dream, a cynical yearning for what her body had clearly craved. It does not cross her mind to tick off the appearan...

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“Karl's Lament” by Andre B. Corbin

Submitted to Contest #255

*This story refers to death by vehicular accident.*Karl stood in the cold and dark living room, rooted to the floor with anguish. Chin on his chest. Fists clenched. Eyes silvery with unshed tears. In his mind’s eye, the movie started again.He and Karla were in the 4Runner, heading north on 494. They had left the Nugget pretty late and the snow was coming down good so it was tough to see the road. Karla had mentioned going up Williston but Karl, out of habit, had already taken the right onto Excelsior toward 494. Then he barked a little at Ka...

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“ACCEPTANCE” by Chip Kirkpatrick

Submitted to Contest #255

ACCEPTANCE I packed my lunch and two beers in the ice chest on my twenty foot Sears aluminum boat. Then I loaded my favorite Penn rod and reel and my tackle box. I went back into the house and collected my wallet, checkbook and keys before taking Sarah into my arms and hugging her tightly. I looked into her eyes and said, “Old girl, you are still the love of my life. Don’t you ever forget that!” She laughed and brushed the gray hair from her eyes and said, “After fifty-three years, I’m not likely to forget!” Then I tenderly kisse...

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“Echoes of the Stormy Dawn” by Jonathan Chen

Submitted to Contest #255

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled through the palm trees like a restless spirit, sending shivers down the spines of anyone brave enough to be outside. Rain lashed against the windows of an old, creaky house perched on the edge of a cliff, its foundation seemingly fighting a losing battle against the relentless elements. Inside, seventeen-year-old Jasmine sat curled up on the threadbare couch, a thick woolen blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She stared at the flickering candle on the coffee table, its flame dancing wildly wi...

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“My Wife's Knitted Blanket” by Sasha Nobes

Submitted to Contest #255

The grass beneath my feet is plush and healthy, and damp from the earlier rain. Today is the first nice day of the season; we’ve been getting snow on a frequent basis up until the beginning of April when the weather turned from snowflakes to frigid rain that stings like small needles when it hits your skin. It’s a welcome reprieve from the icy puddles of slush that stagnate in the potholes in the streets. I breathe in deeply through my nose until the back of my throat becomes dry and I wince, because the air is cold, and the cold has never b...

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“Whisker Deep” by Morgan Audriea

Submitted to Contest #255

I looked at the baby blue numbers on the after-market radio clock on the dash; it was 3:06AM. The windows of my truck were down and all that could be heard in the humid June air was the rumbling of the rubber from my tires on the pavement. I had a can of Monster in one cup holder and a Wawa Italian sandwich next to it. The vinegar and guacamole from the sandwich were staining the parchment paper it was wrapped in as Xena, my border collie, salivated at the sight. Laying on the bench seats behind me was my guitar and a navy and white checkere...

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“Beyond the Facade” by Michelle Caruso

Submitted to Contest #255

The hum of the fluorescent lights overhead provided a soothing backdrop as I methodically ticked off items on the inventory sheet. “Did you tell Rich I was smoking pot in the shop?” Roy's tone was sharp, breaking the peaceful quiet that I was enjoying. I looked up, my mind scrambling to shift gears and respond to this sudden confrontation about what I may have or have not told our boss. His eyes bore into mine unapologetically, demanding an answer. “No," I defended. Thick, heavy silence filled the space between us. Each second seemed to drag...

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“Made of Stardust” by Adelaide Metcalfe

Submitted to Contest #255

“Am I-?” Ellie couldn’t bear to finish the horrible thought that was digging its talons into her mind, let alone say it out loud. “Yes.” The ethereal woman laid a sympathetic and supportive hand on her shoulder. Ellie found it difficult to look at her. The woman glowed with an otherworldly light, her pale skin seeming to shimmer with stars. Ellie swore she saw the big dipper dancing on the woman’s right cheek. Her hair flared white and blue, like the hottest of fires, as it billowed around her. Ellie wasn’t sure why the strange woman’s...

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“The Hunter” by Faran Hameed

Submitted to Contest #255

The autumn season was just around the corner and that meant end to the gaming season. He had better make up his mind if he wanted to avail the opportunity. He did not go last year as well, but that was because of the devastating episode that had happened last year. His life had had the greatest shock when he lost his wife of forty-four years earlier that year. Initially, he felt like dying with her, but slowly and gradually he came to grips with the new reality and learned to go about his life without her. Time indeed proved to be a healer o...

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“Ga-run-tee” by Sugandha Singh

Submitted to Contest #255

Ga-run-tee"Don't go far, and stay together," I said, tucking Isha's shirt back into her skirt.Why wouldn't she understand? Our clothes should not grab attention.I pulled Ishi close."We'll be okay, Maa," she said, bouncing her pigtails."Chill, Maa! It's a park," said Isha.The passersby glanced. An unease crept up my back, and I covered it with my sari's pallu.Isha noticed and exhaled. It hurt, but I looked away."Heya," Jina's voice emerged from the park.They both leaped and giggled, trembling my heart."Maa?"I reluctantly let go of their hands...

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$250

Prize money

365

Contest entries

142

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 21, 2024 EST

Won by Phoebe Barr 🏆

Title: Some Peace and Quiet

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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