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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#50: A Moment Like This

Throughout this contest, we’ve read wonderful entries that provide sweeping overviews of characters' lives (such as "The Tree"), as well as submissions that offer glimpses into distinct life-phases (like "Time Bomb"). We’ve also been captured by stories book-ended by the start and end of one particular moment in time: such as "The Price of a Nice Guy" (a woman gets a flat tire and parks on the side of the road), "Who Speaks to Death" (a story told through a single text conversation), and "To You" (a 50th birthday party).

In the spirit of those last three examples, this week's prompts challenge you to embrace the short story's ability to really dive into and explore one single scene.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a proposal.

Valentine's Day – 211 stories

Write a story about an argument that seems to be about one thing, but is actually about another.

Dialogue – 121 stories

Write a story about a person experiencing pre-performance jitters.

High School – 162 stories

Write a story told entirely through one chase scene.

Thriller and Suspense – 143 stories

Write a story about a summer afternoon spent in a treehouse.

Summer – 303 stories

Stories

“The Labyrinth ” by James Ashton

Submitted to Contest #50

The paper felt heavy in Andrew’s hands as he sat backstage. The red velvet curtain sat in front of him, as he heard the silent shuffle of the crowd beyond it. His stomach turned over in constant circles as he smelled the aroma of old pine wood and new paint. Nancy, the old teacher who acted as the stage manager, gave the signal to notify him that he was going on next. He could feel chills run down his body, even though the theatre must have been ninety degrees. He could feel his throat close up and tighten. His legs bounced, and his...

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“Lilly's Lair” by Estelle Westley

Submitted to Contest #50

Bart walked slowly up the driveway of his parent's home. He had always loved this place. This was where he had grown up. This was where he felt most safe. Bart had been away four years now as he fulfilled one contract after another on oil rigs in the North Sea. His life fell apart when Becky had died in a car accident and all he could think of was to get as far away from everything that reminded him of her and their life they had together. When Becky had died Bart's mother had stepped in to look after Lilly. Lilly was then only fo...

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“The Proposal.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #50

“Well, old son, how do you propose I get rid of you? You’ve two choices at the moment, the ‘romantic’ guillotine with a computer-generated crowd of people knitting and salivating; which I’ll later put on ‘Big Pic’ for the ‘Reality Crowd.’ Or, plain old shot before a firing squad. No crowd watching, only the firing squad. If you wish, I’ll also ‘Big Pic’ it, but I don’t think you’ll get as many clicks as a beheading. I’m hoping you’ll go for the good ol guillotine. I’d find it much more satisfying in that I’m giving you good service. Naturall...

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“She had to ask” by Christina Hall

Submitted to Contest #50

A typical country chill breeze blew over Lady Anna Denton’s garden party. She frowned at the clouds, believing that the sun aught to have shone down on the party she had thrown to celebrate the engagement of her oldest daughter to the landed and wealthy Lord Grey. The gloomy clouds were fine by Miss Edith Denton, it suited her mood. The sight of her mother’s frown brought her satisfaction. If I have to pretend to be happy and honoured today, she can deal with clouds spoiling her perfect party. Miss Edith had cried herself dry over the la...

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“Duality” by María Barrios

Submitted to Contest #50

The smell of disinfectant clung to her nostrils. The place was as beautiful as terrifying. Clean and cold like a clinic. People weren't cold, but there was a distant air of superiority coming from those that walked by her. A woman walked by smelling of perfume. She smelled rich. Rosa schooled her expression into a mask of deference. The woman reminded her of when she’d presented her first project; a tiny mollusk community study. She had delivered a poor speech, sweating through the entire panel when the panelist made a list of all her mist...

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“Imaginary Friend” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #50

Daisy’s step-father, Gene, kept close tabs on her. He walked up to her as she hosted a tea party in the shade of the big tree at the back of the yard. Her guests were two dolls and a stuffed toy rabbit. “Is that a bug on you?” Gene pointed at Daisy’s shirt. “That’s a pin my Daddy gave me. He called them ‘grown up gifts’.” “You don’t want a bug on your shirt. No matter what you call it. You want people thinking you’re infested?” “No. I’m not infested. What’s infested?” “It’s when bugs lay eggs in your hair. That’s why your mother has t...

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“Bye, Daisy” by Ella Cunningham

Submitted to Contest #50

I let the golden light dance on my up tilted face, grazing its soothing and peaceful fingertips across my cheeks. I suck in a deep breath, savoring the air delicately laced with the fragrance of roses and lavender. I know that eventually I will have to breathe out, but with a unexpected desperation I try to hold onto it for a few more seconds. Eyes skimming the picturesque treetops, I circle my thumb across the wooden floor littered with leaves and berries from the overhanging tree. Sometimes when I look at them, I see ruby red splashes of b...

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“Survival of the fittest” by Jayashree Sadagopan

Submitted to Contest #50

"Long since, civilizations have played the game of survival where only the fittest emerge successfully and rule over! And to answer your question of who is deemed fit for ALL POWERFUL, just ask yourself whether you or your men qualify these adjectives - kind, moral, pure, compassionate, selfless, sinless, noble, good!", as Sheeba paused, Ron took over."You are in no position to judge that, my darling angel!" retorted Ron. "No living species is ever termed the fittest, it is all relative and highly subjective who is deemed fit in a particular...

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“Shining Lights of Love ” by K A

Submitted to Contest #50

April 7th. It was one of my favourite days besides Christmas and New Year’s. It was this day 9 years ago that I became a girlfriend, Jeremiah’s girlfriend. We were two playful teenagers with a multitude of similarities and feisty attitudes that isolated us from the rest. He’s the only person that brought me back to reality when I began treading too dangerously, close to slipping off the edge. He’s the only person I’ve ever been with, my first everything. Many people have attacked me, attacked us for this. “How boring, you really haven’t live...

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“Perfect Fit” by Ben K

Submitted to Contest #50

“Mom. I can't believe it. I think he's going to dump me tonight.” “Now, now. Calm down Kelly. I'm sure it's nothing like that.” “He said. He wanted to take me out one last time as his girlfriend.” “Oh.” “What does that mean? Oh? That's not good. This isn't good. Oh...no. I knew it. I told you he's planning on dumping me tonight.” “Okay. It's going to be fine. You don't have to worry. Kelly?” “Yeah mom?” “You should dump him first.” “What the hell? No. I don't want to loose him at all...” “Well...Have you talked to him about this?” ...

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“A Proposal for a Change of Heart” by Aimee P

Submitted to Contest #50

Hugo Allard will never leave me alone, Irene thought to herself with annoyance. She was starting to get tired of him following her all the time. Through the halls at school, on the street they shared, he even sat behind her in classes, or a table away at the library. He was doing it now too, as they walked home from their bus stop. He was laughing with some of his friends and talking with them, but when Irene looked over her shoulder Hugo was also looking right back at her. “Hugo,” she said suddenly, whirling around to face him. “What...

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“Stutter am I ?” by Fathimii Fathimii

Submitted to Contest #50

" Ammi, I am scared is it ok?" early morning four, six hours before the seminar I was ready for what I thought was inevitable for my fate. I don't clearly remember when but my public humiliation started a fear of people in my mind and a chat with a stranger felt like a nuke was upon me, though my parents were always there for me still the gap in my heart was huge and I was unable to overcome a sudden unforeseen change which turned my life. I was always quite popular in school from an early age, I was good at studies all extracurricular...

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“Mysterious Love.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #50

He gazed in a baffled way at a couple tenderly kissing and stroking each other and supposed that this is what is known as love. Even as a child, he had never felt an attraction for anyone to want to do this, not even to his mother. For his mother, he felt a need for protection at times, but not a fondling or a desire to cuddle. 'Possibly,' he thought, 'It was as well. If he was to contribute to the continual replenishment of the species, he suspected it would be a rather austere and calculated union. However, he could do it.' He knew he woul...

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“Metastatic Love” by Nithan S

Submitted to Contest #50

Waking up from a silent harmonious sleep is a boon for many. Vikram pulled himself together and sat on his bed upright, stretching his arms and back. In his two years of medical service, he realised that waking up the next day alive, after a long night sleep is marvel. As an oncologist, he has attended numerous cases where the soul would leave the body without much of a warning. With that in his mind, he gently closed his eyes and thanked silently to the Almighty for letting him witness another day. Soon he came out from an energetic showe...

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“Imperfectly Perfect” by Aubrey Maria ✌

Submitted to Contest #50

The dream proposal was supposed to be perfect. At least, that’s what Disney princess movies told me. But the day came when I would find out for myself what it was really like. Most young starry eyed girls dreamt of Prince Charming ready to carry off the lady of his choosing, but real life didn’t always go as planned. The unexpected was the expected in the real world. The moment came when I thought he would pose the question in the cold winter evening in December. The moon was full and the stars shined brightly. For once, my hands weren’t swe...

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$50

Prize money

940

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 17, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Hemmings 🏆

Title: Life in the Trees

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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