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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

“Don’t You Know Who I Am?” by William Parks

Submitted to Contest #255

It wasn’t the first time I’d stumbled home from a bar. I’m not proud of that. I’m way too old to be stumbling home drunk, but that’s what happened. I’ve lived in this condo for, oh, ten years now. Bought it up when the city center started to get revitalized back in the early 30s. Everyone thought the world was ending, so they didn’t invest much in real estate. Anyway, there I was, drunk, in the hallway outside my condo. Was I very drunk? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I got to my door, though, and asked it to open up. Like I do every time ...

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“Everything Is Not Fine” by Jill Gagnon

Submitted to Contest #255

My daughter calls most mornings on her way to work. We moved to Florida several years ago; our kids stayed in Maine. We like to check in on each other. We’re not old-old. I’m not on Medicare though my husband passed that milestone two years ago. But we got tired of worrying over unanswered calls and developed a routine. A quick ten minutes to ensure everything is fine, laugh a little, vent a lot, and say I love you. We always say I love you or some variation. Love you, love you guys, tell Dad I love him, kiss the kids for me. My son, on ...

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“Mourning Dove” by Grace Stevens

Submitted to Contest #255

My last fingernail has been ripped off. I no longer have any fingernails. I’ve somehow found myself stuck in a pit, and like any sane person, I’ve tried my absolute hardest to get myself out. The hours I have spent trying to climb the walls and pry myself out of this pit have been agonising, and every time I feel as if I’ve gotten a grip, I’ve lost a nail. Sometimes people pass by me and peer into the hole I’m trapped in. Sometimes they laugh as if it’s a game. I picture a game show host or a zookeeper presenting me like enterta...

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“Discarded and Forgotten” by Andrew Gonsalves

Submitted to Contest #255

There he is again. That troll does not stop hounding me online. I post my opinions on how I think artificial intelligence can positively impact the world. Solving problems more effectively than humans. Running a robot that can do certain jobs would be too dangerous for a human. Seems like he spends all his time spouting off all his opinions about how misguided my stance on artificial intelligence is. I believe artificial intelligence will eventually not be a threat if we are careful and respectful. Taking jobs from humans or hurting us in ce...

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“Dealing with The Devil” by Sara Rogers

Submitted to Contest #255

I was twelve when I started dabbling in witchcraft. Funnily enough, it’s not very difficult to get into. Especially when your mom works long hours and you’re bored. I started with sprinkling pink Himalayan salt from the cupboard in the doorways, hoping it would keep Mom’s various parade of boyfriends out. They were all shapes, sizes, and colors. And they were always bad news. People think that witchy stuff is complicated. To be honest, I’ve made up almost every spell I’ve ever hocus-pocused. Magic is about intent...

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“Vicky's Encounter” by Eden Beka

Submitted to Contest #255

“I am lost. Everything seems unbearable... or at least so it seems. I find myself wondering where it all went wrong. I am beginning to question if things were ever right in the first place. Maybe if I go back, and reflect, I might be able to find where truly my life became the thunder shits-storm it is today...”These were the first words Vicky uttered after almost six hours of practically complete silence, with her occasional heavy breath being the only thing to break it. Vicky had yet to realize this, but she is to walk a very dark path be...

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“Memory Keeper” by Brianna Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #255

The clouds hung low like whisps of orange and pink cotton candy against the pale blue sky of early autumn morning. Burnt red and orange leaves crunched below my tread. The tall grass soaked my socks and the hem of my pants with dew as I followed the wafting scent of pear and honeysuckle up the hill. It always trailed off her hair and skin, the calming aroma of my mother. Her joyous stride carried her several yards ahead of me. She swung her arms, palms out, like she was trying to catch the wind. She kept looking over her shoulder at us with ...

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“July Thirty First” by Martin Casagrand

Submitted to Contest #255

Josue Salamanca lay in the dirt with the side of his face covered in pig shit. The hot Mediterranean sun baked his back and the soles of his gnarled feet. One sandal had broken a strap and lay a meter from where he bled. Tears, saliva, and blood created a crusty sludge against his cheek and lips. It tasted nauseating. A lone magpie squawked in the old oak tree by the barn. “Por favor, Señor.” He whispered. The four men couldn’t hear him. Not that it would have mattered. Josue looked at his wife about twenty meters away. She al...

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“Bargaining” by Keith Legg

Submitted to Contest #255

The bars on the gate were rusting away. Years of rainwater and tired fog have eaten away at the barrier separating the outside world from the Manor. It used to be an impressive show of intricate iron design and wealth, now a strong wind could be its killer. Poor maintenance aside, the fixture still remained menacing; a warning for those about to cross the threshold, a plea to reconsider. From a distance, the metalwork resembled a modified paisley design, though on closer inspection, the circles and ovals changed into vines and crescen...

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“Ferry of Dolor” by Amanda Dunlavy

Submitted to Contest #255

From a tender age, the mischievous goddess Atë has chosen me as one of her ruinous subjects. It's like having my own personal angel and devil sitting atop my shoulders. Her tempting whispers in my ear were barbed and dangerous words veiled as butterfly kisses, and her hypnotic ideations were a subtle yet relentless pull into a purgatory I was utterly powerless to overcome. Each word that escapes her lips places a stone on my altar of constitution until I am burdened and leaden. I find myself immobilized, consumed by shame, yet too far gone t...

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“The Peaceful Lover” by Joanna Hinds

Submitted to Contest #255

The pedestrians pass like fish in a river, the current of the city moving them along with ease. Maybe they feel invisible too. If one of them would pause, to cast their gaze on the sky, framed with towering buildings of concrete and glass, they might have caught a glimpse of me. I took the step up onto the ledge, unshed tears burning the backs of my eyes as the world continued despite my disconsolation. With each day that passes where I remain unseen, I am one step closer to letting go. It would cut my misery short if I could slip and f...

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“The Ashes of Hindsight” by Samantha N Bishop

Submitted to Contest #255

CW/TW Animal Death, Grief, Fire, Loss, Mental Hardship, Panic As I ran out the front door to the small house behind us, I could hear a dog scream. My first impulse was to run to the door, but as I got within five feet of the building, my dad called out my name—in that parent tone that brooked no argument—from the other side of the yard. For a split second, I hesitated, but was not in control of my thoughts and actions. It was as if the sight and smell of smoke and fire had activated my primal instincts. And so, I obeyed, even though my heart...

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“We’re Happy Without You” by Cliff Commanday

Submitted to Contest #255

My heart sank as my son passed the kitchen on Father’s Day with nary a look in my direction. An unfortunate persistence of the status quo. He added a new flare to the morning, humming the same deliberate tune recently adopted by my (not-soon-enough) ex-wife-to-be: the instrumental We’re Happy Without You. I yearned for distraction, arranging stevia and a stir stick in neat, orderly rows as my beans percolated. I’d told myself to stop caring but my fortitude weakened. Despair at his indifference waved over me without permission. H...

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“All things come to an end. ” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #255

All things come to an end. The sound of a smartphone hitting the ground was amplified by the hard wood floor making the impact sound much more poignant to the man who had moments before dropped his phone out of sheer disbelief. He reached down to pick it up again and re-read the message that was displayed on the screen. His heart raced as he read word by word that his long-time friend Jim had no more interest in continuing their friendship. The phone fumbled slightly in his trembling hands as his nerves got the better of him, making the simp...

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“Love and Despair” by Julie Wylie

Submitted to Contest #255

She was conflicted. She wanted to go in his room with him, but she was afraid. She knew if she stepped through that hotel room door she was going to give in to her desires. She knew a line would be crossed. In so many ways she wanted to cross that line, but she kept thinking of her family. So conflicted. The alcohol wasn't helping. Her mind wasn't clear. She had to make a move soon. It was beginning to get awkward standing there in the doorway, the both of them just staring at each other. He ...

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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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