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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#259: The Elephant in the Room

Once in a while, we all have to calculate what is and isn't worth saying. Whether it's admitting our feelings to a crush, acknowledging the brewing tension in a friendship, or speaking up in the face of injustice, we sometimes have to carefully decide what to speak up about, and what is better left unsaid.

This week's prompts are about moments just like these, when the metaphorical "elephant in the room" becomes unbearably large, and we must choose whether to speak our minds, or to leave well enough alone...

This week's prompts

Write a story about two people who aren't admitting their true feelings for one another, despite it being obvious to outsiders.

Romance – 57 stories

Place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening.

Angst – 83 stories

Write a story that includes the line, "Is nobody going to say it?".

Dialogue – 83 stories

In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. One day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it.

Mystery – 47 stories

Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

Dystopian – 25 stories

Stories

“Hiding In Plain Sight” by Sally Sunflower

Submitted to Contest #259

Is nobody going to say it? That's all I thought, over and over. There he was dancing with the most beautiful woman. He could really dance! He worked the room with the charm and elegance of a king. Socializing with everyone from the servers to the other guests. Dancing to the fast songs, swaying to the slow ones. He danced with many of the ladies.I will admit, the room was dimly lit depending on the song and there were lots of people there, but I think there were a few of us that were the first to notice. It's not like his fly was open, but t...

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“Is This the CIRCUS?” by Brian Bywater

Submitted to Contest #259

Is this the Circus? “Well well, this is an unexpected honour. None other than Andrew Hilton, editor of The Sentinel, is here to write an article on the opening of our new Art Museum. I was expecting a cadet journalist.” “And under normal circumstances Martha that is who you would get.” “So circs are not normal, how so?” “I have a small pecuniary interest in the success of your new venture.” “My understanding of that word only relates to money, which, to my knowledge does not relate to you having any such interest, large or small, in our Art ...

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“Just let go ” by Noor El Zein

Submitted to Contest #259

When I was a kid, my parents were my everything. When I looked up into their faces I saw perfection. They were the epitome of safety and love. When I was in their arms, nothing could harm me because I knew they loved and cared about me more than anything else and we all loved each other. That was enough to topple anything that could come our way. They were flawless. Sometimes they wouldn’t let me do the things I wanted, like eat ice cream for dinner but they would tell me that if I did, I wouldn’t get bigger. Of course that stopped me from a...

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“Obituary” by Samantha Gillies

Submitted to Contest #259

The flat becomes a graveyard, its soul fled somewhere unreachable. Our hanging photographs are survived only by the ghostly rectangles of clean paint, the rest of the walls discoloured from the everyday grit of our lives. Flowers I bought die in their vase, petals collecting like leaves beneath a wilting tree. There is a sense of something ending; a curtain falling, a book closing, dirt tossed on a casket. I stand on the stairs, watching him silently through the gap in the doorframe. I can only see a sliver of him from this angle...

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“Shadows of Sacrifice” by Lauren Daugherty

Submitted to Contest #259

In the quiet town of Eldermoor, nestled among towering mountains, a chilling air of unease descended as a series of mysterious disappearances sent shockwaves through the community. What began as isolated incidents soon escalated into a pattern that could no longer be ignored. Fear and uncertainty gripped the residents, casting a long, dark shadow over their once-serene lives. But amidst the growing dread, a group of friends led by the intrepid and unyielding Madison refused to sit idly by. Determined to unravel the enigmatic occurrences, the...

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“Home for the Holidays ” by K.C. Mckenzie

Submitted to Contest #259

This story contains mature language and topics such as suicide and substance abuse. “Five…,” I whisper to myself. “The welcome mat. Mom’s Christmas reef. Mailbox. Uh…” I scan the perimeter. “A toolbox. Sophie’s tricycle.”I think this is stupid, but Sharon, the counselor from the rehab center, says sometimes it takes a while to get used to healthy coping mechanisms and that I should still try to use them whenever I’m feeling anxious.I take a deep breath and try to ignore my hands violently shaking at my sides.“Four…” I rub my swe...

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“RETURN TO POINT PLEASANT” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #259

UnknownWho is this stranger who has come to my town? Why does this stranger look familiar? What does the stranger want? I will have to keep an eye on the stranger. RiverPoint Pleasant hasn't changed in ten years. The people are still the same. They look at you and look away. My parents used to be like them, always telling me "River, keep your mouth shut and look straight ahead." I see the same old thing. People too afraid to look back. They only look where they want to look and talk about what they want to talk about. This inlaces talking ab...

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“Ellipsis” by A Silverman

Submitted to Contest #259

Trigger warning: political satire and references to gun violence July 6 [Sib Group Chat] DJI just got off the phone with him and he still hasn’t decided on his veep pick, but might be actually leaning toward the dog murderer. He likes the idea of having a woman on the ticket 🙄 E-dawgFFS bro… Big sisThe only response that pick is going to bring to the convention is crickets… Big sis😜 DJWoooooow…. E-dawgOMG I’m dying Jared😍 TiffI don’t get it… DJHow long have you been holding on to that one? DJBut for real guys. We are a week and a half ...

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“The Voice Behind the Curtains” by Miller George

Submitted to Contest #259

Ann opened her eyes, startled by the abrupt sound of the drawn curtains. Then, footsteps and the gentle murmur of a woman leading someone to their seat followed. Another victim, Ann thought and shut her eyes again as the nurse went through her usual spiel while starting an IV. She must have dozed off while reading her book, which was still in her hands. She flipped through the pages, trying to block the nurse's voice behind the curtains and remember where she stopped to be interrupted by her daughter, Leah, this time. "Why can...

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“Otto and The Howards” by Thalia Muse

Submitted to Contest #259

It wasn't because they were rich, though they were wealthy indeed. It wasn't because of their political positions, though they had their hands in every aspect of Claire View life. It wasn't even because they were attractive, as while everyone admitted that by all metrics every member of the family should have been conventionally attractive for their age and gender, something was just…off…about their eyes and their voices and the way they looked and spoke and…were… No, the Howards held as much power as they did for a different reason entirel...

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“The outsider” by Kaylee Ellison

Submitted to Contest #259

The residents lived a quiet routine in the quaint town of Willow Creek, nestled between rolling hills and dense forests. The influential Hawthorne family dominated the city, and their wealth and power had shaped Willow Creek for generations. Yet, beneath their polished exterior lay a dark secret, a mystery that no one dared to discuss, shrouded in the whispers of the townsfolk.One crisp autumn morning, a stranger arrived in town. Alex Carter, a journalist with a reputation for uncovering hidden truths, had heard whispers of the Hawthorne fam...

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“In the Eye of the Beholder” by Angela Rainbolt

Submitted to Contest #259

Sometimes the middle is good. It’s when you go from the middle to “in the middle” that life gets more complicated. Fortunately, I had avoided being “in the middle” for most of my life. I spent my days working at the estate owned by the wealthiest family in the city, and my nights and weekends reading, fishing, or doing anything else relaxing I could find to occupy my time. I suppose there are a lot of folks who would not expect such a mundane life for someone of my age, most people my age have finished college, starting careers and families....

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“The Delarosa Family” by X Kaiser

Submitted to Contest #259

The Delarosa estate lies upon a blustery slope in Serenity Springs. Ivy covered the grand residence, and the gravel entrance showed signs of weathering. The environment contends to gain it, causing it to blend into a vast expanse of foliage. A metal barrier with a gold letter D written in flowing script is prominent on the exterior. The Delarosa family. Over a long duration, they troubled the residents of Serenity Springs. Because of their wealth and control, they escaped accountability for their actions. Just how were they able to get the...

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“Why Are There Five Little Gravestones In Your Backyard?” by Cameron Hoormann

Submitted to Contest #259

Tully Tacklebeth never could keep her big nose out of other people’s business. A big crooked thing that jutted out from her face like a rock formation off a sheer cliff. She’d tilt her head back and look down that nose when she was being nosy. “Where are you going, what is that, who are you,” she would ask and pepper and prod. She always had to get to the bottom of things. And if there was one thing she hated, it was a mystery. She had no time to be left in the dark, she needed to move on and stick her nose in some other business so she alwa...

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“A Cruelty Free Secret” by Sophie Parmaby

Submitted to Contest #259

Everyone in Westlake knew about the secret of the Wilhelm Family. It was odd that everyone knew because Wilhelms were a peculiar sort of family in the way that they never mingled with the town like everyone else, or ventured much outside of their mansion which stood proudly on top of the hill, so high that it was practically surrounded by clouds. It was more like a home of the gods rather than anything that belonged within the small cottages that scattered Westlake. Perhaps it was this status that was able to tie closed the mouths of the tow...

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$250

Prize money

295

Contest entries

143

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 19, 2024 EST

Won by Christine Foy Jackson 🏆

Title: Getting Better

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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