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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

“Dusk's Delirium ” by Beth Robertson

Submitted to Contest #68

Jacinda and I rolled towards each other and knew that our plan to sleep in had been squashed. We were still on our regular time of waking slightly before the sun rose to get in a workout before our workday began. We had both rolled over, got up and sauntered down from our room and looked at each other and laughed as I started the coffee. We grabbed our cups and headed towards the door. I nodded towards the dock and she smiled. We sipped that luxurious liquid and took the blanket from the back of the couch and headed...

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“One Last Sunrise ” by Mandy T

Submitted to Contest #68

Sam and Quinn stared out at the sky, the horizon slowing growing brighter. Their similar heights casting long shadows that blurred together in the sand until they dissolved along with the darkness. Thin clouds started to form in the sky above them. The waves fully visible underneath the rays of sunshine peaking from behind the ocean. The sky quickly melted into a pastel pink then purple. A beautiful bruise in the earth’s atmosphere. Quinn could never pay attention long enough to understand how the chemicals in the atmosphere worked to...

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“A Tale from Blythe Manor” by A Mehendale

Submitted to Contest #68

The Blythe Estate seemed endless. At times it felt daunting - as if she could walk for days and never breach it’s boundaries, forever doomed to roam the grounds, like a fair maiden charmed by faeries.The sky was the muted grey of a lazy dawn. Strange, Amélie mused, how the sunrise could creep up on you. Undoubtedly it was lighter than it had been when they left, and yet the sun was nowhere to be seen, hidden either by the horizon or the myriad clouds that dulled the sky. Master James Blythe stood a few paces away, eyes focussed upwards....

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“Holograms Are Not The Same” by Christopher Cayen-Cyr

Submitted to Contest #68

It was almost time. M13 entered the code into his rover and initiated transmission. As the dish deployed itself over the vehicle in the Earth’s direction, he observed the dark lunar landscape, jumping over its dusty surface in low gravity leaps. The bright dot could now be seen just on the edge of the horizon. He became restless in his spacesuit. “What is she doing?” he asked out loud, speaking to himself. “I’m here now.” M13 turned towards the rover again. F25’s blue hologram floated over the ground, projected by the dish. She wore hi...

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““SECRETS, STEP-DAD JOKES, THE SON & LIES”” by F4licon-Sean-jazz Stevens

Submitted to Contest #68

“SECRETS, STEP-DAD JOKES, THE SON & LIES” A Themed Original Short Story By; Sean Jazz Stevens (start a Character telling a Secret & end someone telling a Lie) Jason, tossed & turned all night long. All because of the event at school, the Secret Burned in his mind, and consumed his heart ...

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“But I loved you” by Indy #Crundee

Submitted to Contest #68

"I love you, Okay!?" I stare a hole right through his head. Jack was my best friend since 2nd grade. He just screamed at me that he loves me. I don't understand. I just laugh. What? He doesnt really mean that. He continues talking, but I don't really hear him. I think he knew I didn't process it, so he kept trying to talk to me, even touching my face, like he had read in novels. I could hear my name faintly being said. "...ease. Judy. Judy, come on, I just told you I love you, don't blank out on me now." I turn away from his face a...

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“Bitter truth of life !” by S Afrose

Submitted to Contest #68

"Yes, I agree with you, Lara. I admit my words. I love him so much. Now, what? " Can you plz tell me the bitter truth of life? Can you feel the fiercing touch of hidden love? You never imagine that how painful it was, when the dreams were shattered, especially falling in love someone at first time. That hidden pain squeezing blood from heart . Ah! what a painful life! Mind always recites the pitiful words… Hidden pain Fiercing heart Burning soul Blank mind Blind eyes Vacant brain Blurred thoughts All are happened Due to hidde...

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“My Greedy Secret ” by Laura Boynton

Submitted to Contest #68

"I have something to tell you," I whispered lustfully, pressing my forehead into his chest. I could feel the warmth of his gray sweater as his smell made it's way to my nose. His blue eyes light up at the thought of finding out my secrets. How many times has he asked me to spill some tea. I hated that expression, spill the tea or was it spill the T? I seemed to be way behind the trendy sayings these days. I can't say I love my secret, but on the other hand, I can't say I hated it either. It just became who I am, it took over my life and I di...

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“Off The Edge ” by Andy Pagliuca

Submitted to Contest #68

Derek took his sweatshirt off and threw it against the living room wall. He was hot and couldn’t breath properly. “I’m not ok!” He proclaimed to his best friend Laura. The words felt foreign as they left his lips. “I’m not made for this.” Tears started to role down his cheeks. “I shouldn’t be here.” He admitted solemnly. Laura’s mouth fell open in surprise. she wasn’t prepared for this. He had just walked into the apartment with no warning of a break down. She was ill prepared. She took hold of herself and sighed. “What do you mean by, ...

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“A Whole Lot of Room” by Kirsten Porter

Submitted to Contest #68

Chris came back to me late at night, exhausted and on the verge of tears. I had been editing a stack of court reports and was glad to be interrupted for anything, so I led him into my living room. He collapsed on the couch and hunched over, head in hands. We sat in silence for about two (maybe five) minutes, he clutching his hair convulsively and breathing heavily, I twisting my fingers together. “She left me,” he said. I sat for a moment, waiting for the bile to rise in my throat. But it never came. “Would you like some ...

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“Ask Me a Question” by Lucy Newman

Submitted to Contest #68

"Well, to be quite honest, the thought of structure frightens me. I don't know who I'd be if I lived a life where everything was perfectly planned. I know that seems to be the most productive and ideal way to live life, but it just isn't for me. I'm a bit of a loose cannon. I am exhilarated by the punches that life throws at me. I think life is meant to be wild and carefree. I live for the moment. Does that scare you?"That wasn't quite the answer I was expecting when we embarked on this odd question game she had compiled. I mean, my biggest ...

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“Casper Collins and Lola James” by Zaraya Jordan

Submitted to Contest #68

We were laying on the football field at school. We always did this on Friday nights, it was our tradition. Casper would grab food from the vending machine and I would grab blankets from the teachers lounge and we would just camp out and talk. Sometimes we would watch a movie and sometimes we would just sit in silence, but usually we talked. Today was a talking day. It was so pretty outside. There was a nice breeze because it was about to be Fall and the sunset was amazing. The sky looked pink. We were laying next to each other under a Minni...

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“BIASED SCALE” by D. Son

Submitted to Contest #68

Four cows were popping out from beneath a wooden railing and feeding, and one was ruminating and looked at Beanie as he entered the cowshed. It flopped its tail lazily.Wally, who was milking another cow into a wooden bucket reinforced with steel bilge hoops, did not notice him coming in. He pressed and pulled adjacent teats while the cow stood there appreciating the release.“I killed yer pig,” Beanie said.“What?” Wally stopped milking but didn’t look up.“I’m sorry.”“Whaddya mean?” He looked up now. He was sitting on his haunches.“It was a mi...

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“The Knight's Secret” by Dominic Witham

Submitted to Contest #68

Sir Jacob wasn't expecting his day to go like this. He was tasked to slay the dragon near his village by the newly crowned king. He decided to recruit his friend, Gravehaim Vunderpost. Gravehaim was trained in the magic arts, and was very gifted at magic. Sir Jacob and Gravehaim were the perfect team. Unfortunately, the battle didn't go as well as Sir Jacob had hoped. He was very bloody, but most of it was the dragon's. He had no severe injuries, thanks to his armor. He dealt the final blow, slicing into the dragon's stomach. He winced at th...

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“My Silly Neighbor” by Scott Thomas

Submitted to Contest #68

Start your story with someone admitting a secret and end it with someone telling a lie. “I have to tell you something,” Shelby said. “Okay,” I shrugged, “Go for it.” “Do you know my neighbor? That weird, old lady next door?” She asked the questions, I nodded. I could sense a hesitancy in her voice; she kept looking past my shoulder at her front door. I expected her story to be exaggerated and dramatic, like most of her other stories. But I, being a story-lover, always enjoyed hearing the drama of another person’s life, even if it meant ...

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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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