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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

“Water Color” by Breyana Severns

Submitted to Contest #68

August 25, 1896There was an extra chill and Kathleen couldn't seem to sleep, so she went out on the balcony to sit and watch the sunrise. The night before her and her girlfriend celebrated an engagement with wine and a movie. There could have been more, but Saundra has fallen ill in the past year. It's been hard trying to figure out what has been going on, but the good thing was she was able to fall asleep four hours ago.Twenty minutes passed as Kathleen was deep in her thoughts. 'The sun can be a glorious force of nature.' Saundra's voice r...

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“Reminiscing” by Paige Winters

Submitted to Contest #68

I yawn loudly, stretching my arms up into the sky. I rub at my eyes, exhausted from having been woken up before the sun. Brooklyn was giddy, practically jumping as she ran up the hill, calling over her shoulder for me to move faster. Even at four in the morning, she’s as energetic as ever. I stare up at her shadowed form from the foot of the hill where we play almost daily. It was still dark enough that we should have brought flashlights but Brooklyn overruled me. So, with cat pajamas, boots with no socks, and a thin jacket that did nothing ...

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“Almost There” by Wendy Minore

Submitted to Contest #68

I stared at the sky, pulling the blanket closer around myself. It was chilly in the morning, even though it was spring. "Don't hog the blanket Raven!" Audra hissed, tugging on the edge groggily. "You drag me up here for what? To stare at the sunrise and yet I have to freeze. I should be in bed." She stated, pulling on the blanket and laying down. I smiled and shook my head. Only Audra could sit on the roof of a mansion during the sunrise and not even care. I turned my face back to the sky and soaked in the warm sun beams coming down as the...

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“Sophie's Dilemma ” by Mello Timothy

Submitted to Contest #68

[This is a continuation of Memories of Rosewood. For more context about the characters, please read that story first] The time was 4:57 am when they made it on top of The Bare Hills. "There", Lee said. Sophie looked up and there it was, sunrise. They set and watched it. It was a beautiful moment, she almost wanted to cry. Sophie and Lee had been dating for 6 months after meeting at Rosewood. After their first date, which happened 4 days after returning to the city, Lee asked her to be exclusive. Sophie was overjoyed because she felt the in...

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“Call Me By My First Name” by Alex Jules

Submitted to Contest #68

Elliette flicked his tongue as he brought his freshly lit cigarette to his lips, drinking the silver-gray smoke. His eyes fixated on the lake in front of him. The stars seemed to bleed into the pitch-black liquid, like paint dripping down a canvas. The man's eyes were darkened and inscrutable, and his face emanated, not a drop of emotions. Leaning back into the beach bench, Elliette crossed his ankles and shut his eyes, drowning in the serenity surrounding him. The front door of the cabin slowly opened, and Romeo rubbed his eye, a yawn tum...

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“Sisters ” by Alesia Lindsey

Submitted to Contest #68

My sister sat beside me on the little wooden back porch of our childhood house. We both held steaming mugs full of dark hot-chocolate because inside our hearts we will never grow up. That was my favorite thing about us, how we could still be kids. I watch you take a long sip then your eyes glance up at the golden rays that dance in between the trees and I see your eyes with a slight squint. "I know that squint." I say in my head because behind it is a smile. A smile so small I can only see with my heart. "Isn't this the most beautiful sunris...

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“The Lake” by Cody Wright

Submitted to Contest #68

The sky was slowly turning from blue to a beautiful pastel pink as the sun slowly approached the horizon. Sebastion’s fingers entwined Kara’s as they lay together on the hood of his mustang. The chill fall air making them snuggle together to fight off the morning chill. “I’m glad I was finally able to convince you to come out this morning,” Sebastion said quietly, resting his cheek on Kara’s head. The feeling of her soft, brown hair is one he will never get tired of. “I know you aren’t a morning person, but the view of the sunrise from the p...

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“You.” by Konstantina Cheiladaki

Submitted to Contest #68

“911, what’s your emergency?” You stand there; mocking me, your face the very definition of disgust. I end the call, tears stinging the back of my eyes. “What are you going to say?” Your voice drips with sarcasm, but in the light of the rising sun, you are beautiful. “That you ran out of pills?” I don’t answer and you scoff. Typical. But it is true, I ran out of pills this very morning. “Everyone is looking for you, you know that, right?” “And who is looking for you?” I snap back, and the sunrise is no longer beautiful, the rays are hurting ...

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“The Night's Breath” by Carrie Andreasen

Submitted to Contest #68

Phoebe’s bloody hands gripped the wheel tightly. With her right foot on the peddle, she drummed the other on the floorboards of the Ford pickup. “Stay awake, Phoebe,” she whispered to herself. She could glimpse the first rays of the morning sun begin to creep up over the rolling hills. As she looked over to see the blazing orange tendrils peering through the dense clouds she tried not to look at Blake, slumped next to her. He stared blankly at the horizon. She had been driving for hours without any sign of civilization.&...

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“Morning and Night” by Isabella Reyes

Submitted to Contest #68

Maria had always loved to watch the sunrise. She always woke up early in the morning to watch it. She was a morning person. She knew her girlfriend wasn’t though. She woke up in bed next to her girlfriend, Gabriela, sound asleep. She looked at the small digital clock sitting on the bedside table next to her and looked at the time. Five in the morning as usual. Normally Maria would have gotten up without hesitation but she knew that Gabriela was a light sleeper. With a deep breath Maria started getting out of bed, but before she could move to...

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“Whenever You're Ready” by Holly Landis

Submitted to Contest #68

“Taking it all in?” His eyes shot open. In front of him stood a woman with golden hair that glistened in the light as the sun started to peek up over the horizon. Regaining focus, he saw her more clearly, her eyes a gorgeous crystal blue that could put the flowing water on the lake to shame. He finally mustered up a simple, “Huh?” “The sunrise. If you’re going to steal my spot on my favorite bench, I at least hope you’re appreciating the pure beauty of it.” She scooted him over and squeezed in, taking a seat on his left side. ...

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“A TANGLED WEB” by Phyllis Burton

Submitted to Contest #68

A TANGLED WEB Andy Beaumont smiled at his pretty companion before glancing quickly around the crowded restaurant: he was hoping that his injudicious words hadn’t been heard by anyone. ‘Hannah, I’m sorry to say that I haven’t exactly been honest with you,’ he whispered. Over the last couple of months, the knowledge he’d gathered about a new illegal and dangerous group of people was eating away at him like a swollen river in flood, so would it matter if he told Hannah a little about his work, he asked himself? It was ...

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“The Ledge” by Alayna Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #68

I walked out onto the roof and pulled out a cigarette. There was someone else out here, leaning on the ledge, looking at the view below. His sandy brown hair, just a little overgrown, blowing in the wind. He turned at the sound of the door slamming behind me and eyed my cigarette. “Could I bum one off you?” he asked, walking towards me. I didn’t respond as I passed him a cigarette. I lit my own as I watched him pull out his lighter. He looked to be about my age. He had a charming face with a kind smile. "I have antisocial personality...

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“The Same Lie” by Leah Thomas

Submitted to Contest #68

This is a hard thing. All I have now are hard things. Nothing is soft anymore, nothing is easy. Some things are easy to start, but nothing is easy the whole way through anymore. They are staring at me like I am the garbage in rain gutters. But there’s something else too. Pity. I might be a poor little pup in those rain gutters. I think I’d rather be the garbage. “I need help.” “With what?” “You know what.” “No, I don’t. We don’t.” “Fuck you. I’m coming to you, trusting you.” “Then you can tell us.” The carpet under my feet is green....

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“Poison in the Bones” by Distressed Cheeses

Submitted to Contest #68

In a that cold, gray hospital hallway, she watched her mother dab at the corner of her reddened eyes with a folded over, lipstick-stained napkin. Dressed in a gaudy, sunny yellow, she was like a warm beacon out there in the cold and unforgiving hall. Coral tinted lips pressed together, obviously trying to suppress the quivers and twitching that came with crying. Artemis reached her hand out tentatively, touching her mom’s elbow. Her skin was a dull blue compared to the bright sleeve it rested against. “Mom, what’s wrong?”Her face p...

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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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