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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

“Weekend in Maine” by Karen Hope

Submitted to Contest #259

“Who’s picking us up from dance, your dad or my mom,” Jillian asked.Riley put her tap shoes into her dance bag and zipped it up. “I think it’s my dad. Didn’t your mom have a work meeting tonight?“Yeah, that’s right. Do you think your dad will take us out for pizza?”“It’s Thursday night, so probably yes. But it won’t be as good as your mom’s homemade veggie lasagna or turkey chili,” Riley said.“I know, but who doesn’t love going out for pizza.” “Someone who eats pizza every Thursday.” Riley grumbled.Jillian shrugged. “I guess it’s differ...

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“T, D & H” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #259

It would have been an ordinary day, one that would have passed like every other if she hadn’t seen him. If she hadn’t heard the roar from the motorcycle as he pulled into the slot in front of the pharmacy. If she hadn’t stood at the window, mesmerized watching him swing his leg over the bike, tuck his aviators in the chest pocket of his leather jacket. If she hadn’t watched him finger comb his brown hair while he did a slow 360, taking in Main Street.To say he was tall dark and handsome would be too easy.Later they would say that they had kn...

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“Confronting The Elephant ” by Helen A Smith

Submitted to Contest #259

For too many years, Johnny had been the elephant in Scott and Ellie’s marriage. The lurking shadow preventing honest conversation, always the one who came before. Yet somehow, they papered him over, the man between the cracks.“Johnny.” One day, out of the blue, Ellie tentatively raised his name as if testing where it might land. For Scott, hearing it was like being thrown in the wake of a tsunami. By then, Ellie was in the last months of her life and reshaping boundaries.“What are you going to do about Johnny.”Scott didn’t know what to say t...

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“Reaping Window” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #259

Along the coast in the dreaming town of Rosley Harbor, where the salty tang of the ocean permeated the air, a legacy of whispers hung heavy. The Marsh family, an old and esteemed clan, cast a long shadow over the community, their presence a chilling reminder of a forbidden truth. My name is unimportant as you, my engaged readers, are not here for that. You are reading this article because I have become the first journalist in known history to be granted an interview – schedule...

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“The Greener Grass” by Daniel Allen

Submitted to Contest #259

Ralf stepped off the boat, dropped to his knees, and pressed his hands to the ground. Lush, green grass rubbed against his palms. His fingernails dug into rich black soil. This was good land. Fertile land. So different from the arid dustbowl of home. He could live a true life here, not a meagre existence. ‘Is it everything you dreamed of, friend?’ Ralf snapped his head up to find a bearded man smiling down at him. The man looked old. Older than anyone else Ralf had ever met. He might even have been 50 or 60. ‘It’s amazing,’ Ralf said. ...

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“How Are You?” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #259

Andre asked his three-year-old brother, Tony, “What game should we teach her first?”“Uhm… Old Maid?”The boys were talking about Melody, their soon to be born little sister. “That might work. She’ll be little though. Maybe can’t hold cards for a while…”Being five, Andre had more perspective.Mrs. Daugherty, the boy’s sitter met their parents, Bud and Desiree, at the door. She looked concerned. “How are you?”Desiree looked down. “Not good…”The boys yelled and ran to hug their parents. “Mommy! We missed you!”Bud said, “Hey guys… Your mom’s tired...

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“Blindsided” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #259

This story contains sexual inferences.“I’m sorry Lyssa, your proposal was adorable just like you, but we’re looking for something with a little more, well, intrigue. We just think you’ve been playing it a tad too safe. Hey, good luck with everything, though. If you ever need a good reference, give me a ring, I’ll be happy to oblige.” “Wait! I hear what you’re saying Mr. Grayson. If you’d be willing to give me another shot, I’d love to work something up for you with more, what were you looking for; intrigue?” “Darlin’, I’m not certa...

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“The Trouble With Love” by Amy Flynn

Submitted to Contest #259

EMILY Emily walked through her apartment door, and dropped her purse on the entryway table by the door. She never carried a purse. She felt like they were always too bulky, and hated the feeling of something weighing her down. Which was ironic really, because emotionally, she felt loaded down with baggage. Baggage from her past, baggage from her present, and baggage from her love life. Even though it felt nonexistent and had seemed that way for years. Emily was the kind of person who narrated what was happening in her life, like it wa...

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“Hey, Valerie!” by Nita A Mozzi

Submitted to Contest #259

If you could say only one word for the rest of your life, what would it be?Months after the car accident, Martha came up with a story to help explain my condition. She said that the day I fell into a coma, Death announced itself to me in dreams. Death stood up close to my face. His hollow eyes stared right into my soul and said “Beg for your pathetic life, human,” to which I replied with a shivering voice:“Hey”A greeting, afraid of causing the wrong first impression on such an esteemed, omnipotent being. Death, frustrated by my politeness to...

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“Two Warriors” by Owen Duff

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

In the late hours of a hot summer day, two enemy warriors lay on a bloodied battlefield. Each has mortally wounded the other, and has lost their strength to land the fatal blow. Exhausted, sweating, and quickly losing blood, they sit up against opposite trees and face each other. One bears a red sigil across his chest and rests in the shade of his mighty oak. The other displays a blue crest across his shoulder and grows weak below the arms of a willow.The warrior wearing a red sigil slowly removes a pen and paper from his satchel, wipes...

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“Soup” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #259

“Course, machine 5 was down, so we had to run 7, and you know what 7’s like. You might as well do the whole thing manually, it’s so slow. Anyway, Foreman Stokes got extra hands in, and we finished the batch just about on time – well, a little late, if the truth be told, but we got it done, thank Brother, and that’s the important thing, right? John?”“Sorry, what?”“I said, that’s the important … you haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying, have you?”“Sure! Something about your machine being down. That’s too bad.”“No, I … ah, never mind. Where ha...

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“The Runaway” by Linda Kenah

Submitted to Contest #259

I wasn’t thinking straight, but I didn’t much care. I had been up all night and was beyond exhausted. My body craved for sleep as I boarded the early morning train. As much as my body yearned - no, ached - for slumber, I dared not give in to it. For then, yesterday would come back to haunt me. That was a nightmare I wasn’t willing to have, at least not yet. My muscles, my joints screamed at me, begging me to utilize one of the vacant seats. But I stood. Every bump on the train stabbed me in the back. Every ...

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“That Good Night ” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #259

That Good Night.In the year, 3647, mankind had already ventured out into space, built colonies on Mars, Enceladus and even space stations near Neptune. Probes had already been sent to other solar systems and had found rocky planets but none that would sustain humans life. As a result, humanity remained within the confines of Sol, with most of mankind still within the bustling planet of Earth.The surface of the Earth had become unhabitable over a thousand years prior and man had built a shell underneath the surface and had found a way to surv...

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“07-18-04 ” by Grace R

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

A burnt child loves the fire, I reminded myself as I crept closer to the writhing blue flames. I felt the heat on my chilled pale skin and exhaled. I never wanted to leave the city this weekend, but when Clarke called me, I knew I had to oblige. I’ve always thought of myself as a good friend, but just like any other human, I have my intrinsic selfish nature. I would’ve much preferred sleeping inside my apartment with the TV lulling me to sleep and a Diet Coke on my bedside table rather than camping in the middle of nowhere. But it's b...

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“The Tea” by James Scott

Submitted to Contest #259

Malcolm stared at the roiling kettle and it’s billowing clouds of steam evaporating into the air of the room. He just needed a minute. It was arduous…exhausting to feel this level of anxiety, but pausing the conversation for too long would cause suspicion and heighten the danger; he had to get back. He took his hands from the kitchen bench, stood up straight, consciously withheld a sigh and grabbed a teaspoon.The return journey to Alice who was patiently waiting in the lounge felt like a gauntlet these days. His eyes tracked the four little ...

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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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