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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#68: Meet in the Middle

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that the internet loves to argue. Perhaps one of the stranger fights I’ve seen is what constitutes a “sandwich” — you’d think the definition would be universal… and you’d be very wrong.

But whether you classify hot dogs, pitas, and burritos as sandwiches or not, one thing we can agree on is this: no matter how similar the components, there’s endless variety to be found when you combine the ingredients in different ways.

With that in mind, this week we’re celebrating the infinite diversity of fillings. To do so, we’re going to provide you with the beginning and ending of your story — and it will be up to you to fill these two slices of literary bread with whatever you can imagine!

This week's prompts

Start your story with two characters watching a sunrise and end it with one of them seeing the moon reflecting off a lake.

Adults – 301 stories

Start your story with someone admitting a secret and end it with someone telling a lie.

Dramatic – 180 stories

Start your story with someone robbing a bank and end it with two people driving on an interstate.

Dramatic – 86 stories

Start your story with the line, “This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives,” and end it with, “By then it was too late.”

Sad – 132 stories

Start your story with the line, “It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same,” and end it with, “[…] and that was all that mattered.”

Adults – 178 stories

Stories

“All That Matters” by Hungara Gamelia

Submitted to Contest #68

“Wanna know a secret?” Theo whispered. Hallie nodded, smiling happily. “I love you.” Seventeen-year-old Hallie beamed as she threw her arms around him.Theo spun her around, both of them absurdly happy.Seventeen-year-old Theo grinned, Hallie’s hair was shining in the light of the setting sun, glowing like liquid honey. Her eyes shone joyfully, more beautiful than any jewel or flower could ever hope to be. Eighteen-year-old Theo held Hallie’s hand when her dad never came back. He held it even tighter when a policeman knocked on her f...

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“In Plain Sight” by Tiersa Remisha

Submitted to Contest #68

“Y-You -” I stutter in shock, knees shaking. When I followed my best friend into the forest, worried and concerned at her recent mood, I didn’t think I would instead bear witness to something astonishing. My best friend in all of high school with long hair so black it looks purple in a certain light, eyes of such amazing hazel gold they seem to sparkle, now stands before me...different. Olive skin darkens into royal purple plates, face elongating to account for a snout and limbs growing in proportion with her body. Ebony hair...

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“DAYLIGHT ROBBERY” by Sylvia Lucas

Submitted to Contest #68

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY The day began like any other, the bank had no more and no fewer customers than any other Thursday in 2020. There were two tellers, a middle aged man and a young woman. The manager sat at the end of the counter where he was able to deal with routine enquiries, only retiring to his office when there was a confidential matter to discuss with one of his clients. The door opened and a masked man entered. " Everyone on the floor. I have you covered." he said. There were one or two titters of polite laughter and the others groa...

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“The Robbery” by SAFIYYAH COLLINS

Submitted to Contest #68

Today me and my boy Malick are gonna rob New York's greatest bank, JPMorgan Chase. This might be one of our greatest achievements yet! I just can't wait for all the money, we could be rich! My name's Harry. We're the Sticky Bandits. Me and Malick are about to go buy some nice guns for our mission. And you're coming with! Okay we arrived at RT Smoke n Gun Shop. I'm thinking we just grab a nice firearm and get out of there as fast as we can. So i go in while Malick is watching the car for me. The firearm was maybe around $1,250. I get it and h...

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“The Bank” by A. Tangen

Submitted to Contest #68

"Don't you fucking dare!" Anderson's voice rang out into the large room, echoing against the marble floors. A small shudder passed through Lillian as she took in the tear stained faces of those who were sprawled across the chill floor. This was a fucking mess. It hadn't started that way, Lillian reminded herself. Truthfully, when Anderson had came to Lillian with the idea to rob the bank, she balked. She balked hard. But they needed the money- though everyone says that. Regardless, they were there with Anderson pointing a damned gun at a gro...

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“You Wouldn’t Understand” by Addison Smits

Submitted to Contest #68

The alarms start going off and I fling my head around quickly to see if anyone sees me. I can’t see anyone right now, but I start to load my bags faster. They will be here soon. I should’ve brought more than two bags, but it’s too late now. I pick them up and make a move for the exit when I hear them. The sirens, the lights, flashing red and blue. Of course they’re here. I knew I wouldn’t have much time, and now look what’s happened. I’ve gotta for another way out.The squealing of the megaphone outside can just barely be heard above the alar...

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“The Heist” by Kevin Pudlo

Submitted to Contest #68

Stavnus’ heart was pounding, his hands sweat as he peeked out from the alley toward the doors of the bank. Two high elves stood their watch outside as the rain poured heavily around them. He pulled up the collar of his trenchcoat that matched the watchmen and pulled his cloth cap over his head to try and hide his human ears. One more deep breath and made his way across the street. As he neared the doors, the watchmen locked eyes with him. He smiled politely and tugged at his hat as a salute. The watchman on his left touched her hat back as...

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“A Trust You Can Bank On” by Benjamin Boxer

Submitted to Contest #68

Maurice Stevens appeared to walk straight out of the nineteen-seventies and into the South Texas Bank and Trust. He wore a wide collar, a full mustache, and some half boots tucked into some flares. The older teller at the counter thought Maurice resembled her late husband. He carried himself with a strong sense of class that the younger teller wouldn’t understand. The recently hired young black teller seemed to be shaking her head in a badly hidden sense of disbelief.The bank president’s wife stood at the loan officer’s desk watching Ma...

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“Broken Dreams” by Kelly Alaniz

Submitted to Contest #68

Kelly Alaniz Short Story 13 November 2020 Broken Dreams This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. Instead, it turned into a nightmare of broken dreams. Everything was ready, all the planning, the flowers were ordered and delivered, the chairs were decorated and in place, and the torches were ready to be lit. Everyone was assembled on the beach Everything the couple had waited for, worked for, and hoped for was about to come true. The bride was getting dressed and the groom was fretting over his tie. The knot had t...

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“A Night we'll Never Forget” by Abbi Kazoo

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. Prom. When did it all go wrong, you ask? Personally, I think it all started when Clementine asked if I had a date for prom yet. It happened last week. I was at the mall, helping her pick out a dress. She modeled a bright yellow gown in the mirror as I looked wistfully at the dresses around me. “Hey Kayla, do you have a date to Prom yet?” I glanced back at her, surprised. Of all things I expected to talk about on this trip, that hadn’t crossed my mind. I had assumed Clementine would...

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“Bride of the Round Table” by Djuanna Lester

Submitted to Contest #68

“It was supposed to be the happiest day of their life…” I muttered, thinking of my parents, and how crushed they’d be if they were here. I wish they were here. I had it all. This entire kingdom was going to be eating out of the palm of my hand. I shut my eyes, and thought about when I first woke up. It was sunny. The bright morning sky came in through the blinds, forcing me awake. “Kaisa, we’re running late. Get up!” Carissa, one of my maids, was nearly yanking me from my slumber. “Come on, it’s your wedding day!” Tha...

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“The Tragedy of the Missing Groom” by Gordon K

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, but the wedding of Kayleigh Reynolds and Liam Hampton wasn’t the glorious event that everybody had hoped for. What it turned out to be was a parade of broken hearts. It had started out just like any other wedding day. Kayleigh stood there in her wedding dress facing the mirror. She couldn’t deny how beautiful her dress was. The problem was that despite her dress being beautiful and she, Kayleigh, being the one stood there in it, she just didn’t feel beautiful at all. She f...

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“The White of Snow” by Chayanka Kashyap

Submitted to Contest #68

It was supposed to be the happiest day of their life. After a confused and completely nightmarish week, they would get time to take a breath of relief. He was sitting at his doorstep, looking towards the mountainous terrains in the east. The sun was just visible above it; the wind was nominal; the weather was in their favor. He stood up from his doorstep and tightened the straps of his backpack. He went inside the house, a concrete house of four rooms; giving shelter to his two younger brothers and his paralyzed parents. He looked at th...

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“Joyous Day Dead” by Hazen D

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. It was the day when we would welcome the little one home. The one we’d talked so long about in the car rides, picking names for hours, daydreaming about the hue of the eyes or the color of the eyes. Whether they would need braces, or glasses, or a brace. What was this little life that we awaited so eagerly? Who would they be? Irene sat up in the bed, her right-hand slapped Andy’s head. “She’s coming...

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“The End of an Era” by Joyce Van Horn

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since Molly had last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The new owners must have repainted it, although it was starting to show signs of wear. Only the flowerboxes were different, no longer raucous with impatiens and petunias, just hardened dirt and crabgrass. The blinds were drawn and there were no lights. It looked lifeless and empty. Like her life was now. Empty. Like her heart. Suddenly dizzy, she sat on the cracked concrete steps, the very three that she’d crossed hundreds of times. Maybe tho...

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$50

Prize money

877

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 20, 2020 EST

Won by FJC Montenegro 🏆

Title: Silence

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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