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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

“The Vile Anima” by Jacob Van Olffen

Submitted to Contest #255

Trigger Warning: Gore, Death & Suicide My consciousness retrieves itself from a slow forlorn blur. My mind’s eye is dim and indistinct, and I feel a deep terror and trepidation pierce my heart. Where am I? I’m cold; the blue and bitter winter-winds of an industrialising London casting frigid rays of numbness over my stiff and impotent carcass; cold waves which pierce through the flesh and into the vestiges of my soul. My cheeks are pricked by the passionless-breath of the night; icy fingers guiding their hands through my deadened cadaver...

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“Amore Mio” by Kashish Dalal

Submitted to Contest #255

I decided to walk home from work today instead of taking my usual commute. Spring had finally rolled in, and the evenings had started to brighten up. A modest breeze still lingered in the air as if it were on its way to leave, like the rest of winter. It seemed to get colder as I grew older, and the snow barely sticks around nowadays. Despite that, spring was always a delightful time for me. Ever so beautiful and elegant, it was my favorite time of the year. In the past, I had chosen to walk back home instead of taking the subway many times ...

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“Butterscotch ” by Essense Garcia

Submitted to Contest #255

Nova can hear her mother in the hallway. She can hear her comforting her Grandmother saying “We can do this.”She stares at the black dress and shoes laid out on her bed. She hates the idea of wearing those shoes. They cut the back of her ankles and pinch her toes. If she was being honest, she hated everything about today. Nova knows that today is her Aunt Amelia's funeral. Even though she knows it's today, she can't feel it. Or she wont let herself feel it. The words her mother said are playing on repeat in her head.“Nova, sweetie. We need t...

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“The Irony of Acceptance.” by George Payne

Submitted to Contest #255

In the time of more acceptance for LGBT people than ever before, we are not yet done fighting. This is my personal story of acceptance causing me to be in denial.It's 2016 and the term "transgender" is the new biggest thing in high school. Its acceptance eventually reached even the most rural of schools, with new identities not uncommon- teens exploring their new expressions with pronouns, hair styles, gender roles, even art. This is where we find young me, a 12, maybe 13 year old, full of angst and insecurity trying to navigate her place in...

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“Just a Little More Time” by Asa Conroy

Submitted to Contest #255

"We'll just give her a little more time," Sophie fiddled with the hem of her short white dress, "She's just late." She reassured, turning to look at Yukiko and Romy as if they could reassure Sophie's reassurance.Yukiko and Romy exchanged a glance with one another for a moment before turning back to Sophie. The red-haired women could tell they wanted to say something, but they were avoiding it. But what was there to avoid? She was right. Lily just needed a few more minutes and everything would be fine.“Sophie…it’s been three hours.” Romy spok...

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“17” by Akeelah Alamiri

Submitted to Contest #255

Beauty, to me, lies within. It always has. A persons actions and heart define their beauty. Jeremiah Tin has always been a beautiful person to me. When I was alone, he was there, when I needed someone, Jeremiah was there to listen to me. He truly was the most beautiful boy I had ever met. And to top it all off, his beauty both lied within and visually. He was tall, blonde, piercing green eyes and had a smile that could completely make someones day. I had always loved him since we first met when I was in the third grade and he was in the four...

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“1596” by Cristina Otero

Submitted to Contest #255

His boy had arrived at his apartment in Bishopsgate, all the way from Oxford. He was already taller than him, lanky, with honey hair and doe eyes. His face was slightly oval, with warm, open expression. His likeness, clearly—and yet when he looked at him, all he could think about was Anne. “We’re on the Sallust, such a bore,” he griped, tired but cheerful, casting off his traveling cloak and gloves. “I lodge at Middle Temple with my friend Hal, I think I told you of him. I thought to surprise you.” He hesitated. “You are not angry?” “Nay, n...

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“The Doctor's Wife” by DEBORAH MATVEY

Submitted to Contest #255

Elena rechecked her freshly applied makeup and made sure that all of her strawberry blonde curls were in place. The roasted potatoes would be done soon and the salmon was still marinating. Today was a special day. Not only was it the sixth anniversary of their first date, but today was the day that she could tell him that her fertility treatments had finally worked. It had not been easy keeping such a secret with her husband being one of the most promising young doctors in the neurology department of such a prestigiou...

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“Of Blood and Promises” by Ernest Afram

Submitted to Contest #255

The young boy led Godfrey over to the shack at the end of the village and began banging on the door with such enthusiasm that Godfrey’s mind wandered home. By now his wife would have already birthed their son, and he would be walking now. Too many years old with no idea of what his father looks like. And his wife, his beloved Maria, was alone with their son while anxiously awaiting his return as he finalized his quest. His grip on his sword loosened momentarily. The others had abandoned the mission, their “guilt” weighing heavily in their he...

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“Smile!” by Lisa D

Submitted to Contest #255

Beep. Beep. Beep. 6:00AM She slowly sits upright, adjusting her disheveled pajamas and smiling at the clock. Quietly, she climbs out of bed, careful to flatten out the linen and blankets behind her. She then slips on her rose fuzzy slippers and heads to the bathroom, careful to not wake the sleeping man beside her. After turning on the shower, she quickly undressed and observed herself in the mirror. She traced her fingers over the hip bones that slightly jut out before moving them up to her waist that was the smallest she’d ever seen it. He...

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“To-do list” by Francesca Zanoni

Submitted to Contest #255

“Wake up and smell the coffee, Joanna!” That’s what dad told me this morning before I slammed the door to go to work. I just popped in to say hi and, as usual, he started patronizing me about my life choices. It wasn’t the first time; he had been telling me to face reality for years now. There was nothing wrong with my work, I loved it, the money was good, my colleagues were my best friends, I even met my current boyfriend there. I was lucky: I loved my work so much that it didn’t even feel like working sometimes. I was the chief editor of a...

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“Tropical Island” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #255

Sitting on the cool, firm sand under the palm trees, I taste the salt as the sea breeze caresses me. I squint, looking for Greg. He is a dot in the turquoise of the ocean. Just as I begin to worry, he emerges from the surf, sleek as a seal, and bounds up the beach. He flops down beside me, laughing as he shakes cold ocean spray all over me like a puppy. We are so engrossed in each other that we don’t stay on the beach for long.“Come on,” he says, helping me to my feet, a mischievous gleam in his eye. “Race you to the room.”I emerged from my ...

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“My denial” by Deloise Gambrell

Submitted to Contest #255

The top step of the front porch where I sat was hot from the morning sun. As the sun's rays beamed down on my head, sweat started trickling from my armpits. I wondered whether it was just from the sun. Lightheadedness and nausea enveloped me, but I resolved to stay put. Beside the porch stairs stood a small child clutching the leg of a woman who looked disgusted. Next to them was a tall man, his arm protectively around the woman, as if daring me to make a move. He also looked disgusted. I felt ashamed and helpless, wishing for someone to res...

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“Our World” by Eiaa Dev

Submitted to Contest #255

The aura of the restaurant was immaculate, with soft jazz gracing our ears and delicious aromas tingling our senses. And with quick service too. A waiter comes over with a glass of water, placing it in front of me. “Oh, one for my wife too, please,” I request. A puzzled look crosses the waiter’s face, glancing at the beautiful woman across from me. For a moment, he hesitates. Nevertheless, the waiter bows his head in acknowledgment and scurries off. A soft smile takes up my wife’s face, wrinkles lining the corners of her eyes, displaying the...

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“Consequences” by Jasmine Campbell

Submitted to Contest #255

Blood and victory were hot in Betty’s mouth and the cold couldn’t touch her. The fight pits were well behind her now, but as she walked the empty streets her heart still beat twice as hard as it needed to on a quiet winter night like this. Her little girl Summer would have said it was soaring. She was poetic like that. For the hundredth time, Betty reached into her pocket just to feel the twenty gold pieces sitting real and solid there. Food, clothes, whatever they needed. Betty didn’t even have to calculate it. She knew it would be enough.&...

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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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