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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

“Not Around Here” by C.J. Carlin

Submitted to Contest #259

Nobody even asked what happened to Tommy. The official story was that he had gone to military school, but nobody saw him, even during the holidays, when surely he would have a break? But none of them, even the local sheriff, would dare ask James Montgomery Wainwright III what the real story of his unseen son might be. Part of it was that they sincerely did not want to know, but mostly it was because he was the landlord for half the residents in Williamsburg and terrified the other half. Then Bobbie Wilson came to town. She was the new journa...

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“Hell Holes, Hell Hounds, and Hell Fire: A Tale of the Wild Midwest” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #259

Content warning: Discussion of kidnapping, abuse, slavery, rape, prostitution, and murder. The events in this story are true history. No graphic descriptions.The land along the Upper Michigan and Wisconsin state line was a wild place in the 1880s. All manner of unsavory characters came together there and made their homes in the woods and logging camps and little mining towns. A veritable hellhole of the wild midwest was Florence, Wisconsin. It was the base of operations for the Mudge Gang, so called because Louis Croin Mudge and his dau...

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“Stay Positive” by Kat Best

Submitted to Contest #259

Dry leaves tumbled down the empty street. Samantha stared out her window. The cloudy glass made it difficult to see out clearly. Yet, she knew no one was out there. No one ever was out there. Why aren’t children playing? She turned and walked back to the kitchen. She needed to figure out what to make for dinner. Opening the fridge, she leaned in searching the shelves. Nothing. I need to do the shopping. Samantha sat down at her computer and launched the grocery website. She scrolled through the food options and selected the usual...

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“The Right to Read” by Bekah Wren

Submitted to Contest #259

The lamb stew. All you have to do is ask for the Hungry Lamb Stew. Evie’s eyes flitted around the corners of the quiet street. A few mothers were grumbling about the growing prices of eggs as they hurried home to cook dinner for their families. An overworked university student buried his nose in a notebook at a café table, silently reciting chemistry formulas for an upcoming exam. No sign of the police, Evie thought. Evie glanced over her shoulder and opened the door to Camille’s Classic Bistro. Tinkling bells signaled her arrival among the ...

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“The Hand That Delivers” by Shrub S

Submitted to Contest #259

Every day, Wren would wake up to the sound of the Tyche Party’s anthem blaring through the speakers that filled every street in Ariste between 7:00 a.m and 7:30 a.m. She would toss and turn for a few minutes before getting out of bed to brush her teeth and wash her face. Over her usual breakfast of overnight oats, Wren would turn on the TV and watch the morning news and Alvar Order broadcast.The Alvar Order was the official religion of Ariste, led by Lily Fabian Finn, the High Priestess of the Order. Lily’s word was law, truth, and gospel; a...

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“Out of Time” by Alyssa Reed

Submitted to Contest #259

The ballroom glittered with the refracted light of a thousand candles, hanging above in chandeliers and casting a warm glow across well dressed attendees. To say it was loud would be an understatement, and it did nothing to ease Elara’s buzzing nerves as she watched her cousin, Princess Isabelle, ascend a set of steps and turn. Their eyes met above the crowd, and Isabelle sent her a proud smile as she lifted her voice, calling for attention and swiftly silencing the crowd. “Thank you all for coming,” she said, looking around the ...

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“Unloveable” by Samantha N Bishop

Submitted to Contest #259

Rhoslyn inched closer to Maui, so their bodies were mere inches apart as they walked the streets. He glanced at her but said nothing, and his gaze instantly returned to their surroundings. Maui knew she had an issue with being around so many strangers and so would likely assume that’s why she wanted to be close to him. Well, that, and she still lacked confidence in her skills. Which was dangerous for her and anyone she worked with, but it was hard to convince someone who’d never been praised or rewarded for their accomplishments of how good ...

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“Liar, Liar, Riya’s a Liar” by Tanee Hadley

Submitted to Contest #259

“So how was your day at work?” He asks me, placing a half drank cola in front of my carrots. He takes his unsanitizedhands, grabs a carrot from one of the small sections in my bento box, and dips it into my ranch cup. Only Mario can do something like this to me and I’ll actually accept it. “Did you drink half of the cola you just gave to me?” I snort a little, laugh caught in my mouth. I need him to know that I’m serious. He just laughs and pinches my cheek lightly. This boy is ridiculous, yall. “Yeah, I was thirsty.”“So what? You ...

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“Be Bold to Be Beautiful” by Odiseo Quintin

Submitted to Contest #259

Reedsy Short Story: “Be Bold to Be Beautiful” by Odiseo Quintin It was difficult for Roger, the police rookie, not to feel overwhelmed upon his arrival at his assigned metropolitan precinct. The highways and surface streets he would patrol carried millions of drivers on a daily basis. But for having graduated first academically in his academy class of 140 cadets, he refused to be intimidated by the task at hand. Besides, he had an axe to grind. During his previous struggles with adolescence, the enmity from men wearing a badge provid...

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“Snuck in Through the Garden Gate” by L Moon

Submitted to Contest #259

“Okay, I think I’m sober enough to go home” Luna stood decisively and gathered her purse, stretching her arms and lingering as she made her way towards the garden gate. “I’ll walk you out” Alex stood hurriedly and pushed his chair in. Luna nodded and turned to the others, offering a gracious smile, “Lee, Rodrick, Bennett, nice to meet you. Have a nice rest of your night”. The men exchanged knowing glances and grinned as they gave their parting farewells to the woman who had just hours ago cleaned their pockets of any spare cash at poke...

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“Saguaro Valley” by C.E Chase

Submitted to Contest #259

When I was on the farm, I was a God. The more I worked, the more my hands grew warm and weathered. But today, as the rain poured down, I stood still. Thunder riled up the horses down by the paddocks and electricity buzzed through the decaying power lines. The monsoon was close. I roll the cigarette between my lips. My uncle tapped his pointer fingers on the arm of the chair. He rocked in his old roselawn chair and inhaled the sunflowers I used to grow by the lining of the house. “It’s hot, Matty.” He calls out when he hears my footsteps...

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“A Summer Eve's Reunion” by Sarah Clark

Submitted to Contest #259

It would have been so easy to miss, but Catherine O’Grady seethed at her best friends in a very loud, very obvious way. Even her husband noticed it.“Why are you huffing so loudly? You’re sounding like an angry buck.” Dan could barely hear her response as they were still wedged against the impromptu DJ stand, and random Blue-tooth speakers they pulled from her family house. He stared at the offending bystanders lingering along different sides of the porch, conversing easily with the other childhood friends, a perfect mix of personalities. So ...

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“Something to talk about. ” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #259

Something to talk about.“I had a great time tonight, Daniel, same time next week?” Lydia asked as she was walking out of Daniel’s apartment after having watched the latest fantasy movie ‘Clash on the Fire Plains’.“Sure, sounds good, and do you have a movie in mind for next week?” he asked curiously as since they became friends the two of them started having movie night once a week at Daniels apartment taking turns on suggesting a movie for the night.“It’s a surprise” she said with a hint of playfulness in her voice as she smiled once more at...

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“Poker Run” by Jenny Benavidez

Submitted to Contest #259

The poker run was a huge success. The bar was a sea of leather and ink. The local MC, The Iron Warriors, had always brought in good business but the poker runs made the year. Judging by the number of times the cooler had been restocked, the drink sales from this run alone would support her family for at least three months. Kat’s dad would be happier than a bear with a jar of honey.A pang of jealousy stabbed Kat in the heart as she looked at the claimed women in the group. She would never wear a patch. She was too big and wrapped ...

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“Just One Dance” by Brooke Lee

Submitted to Contest #259

Blue eyes. Blond hair. Muscular. Kind. Stereotypical? Maybe.But I couldn't care less. This is the boy of my dreams, and he hangs out with me every day."Did you get that biology project done?" Jackson asks."No. You?""Nope." I look up at him. He's about an entire head taller than me, and just looking into his caring eyes makes my stomach do flips. We lock eye contact for a second before he brushes his hair out of his face and clears his throat."Maybe we could get together to work on it soon." I smile."Yeah, that would be terrific." The bell ri...

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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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