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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

“Too late” by Elisa Stone

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. And it would've been if it wasn't for her. . . "Ugh, she actually came," I say to Ryan. "We did invite her," he replies. "I know, but I didn't actually expect her to come!" I say, feeling the panic. "She's dangerous, Ryan!" "Elaina, I can actually see your eyes dilating in fear. Take deep breaths. Remember, Annie can't actually hurt you," he says in a yoga instructor voice. Annie, the girl that had deliberately made me a friendless wreck. I can never forgive her. "Friends forever!" ...

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“The Escape” by Jason Iwara

Submitted to Contest #68

This should have been the happiest day of my life, but it’s turned out to be the worst. So many feelings were going round and round in my head. Even when I thought about it, my stomach would flip. I sat down at a coffee shop, and I ordered a mocha cappuccino with some garlic flatbread. I was injured in many parts of my body, but this was only the beginning of the chaos. I ate my food, and had my cappuccino. I was barely able to function or breathe. I had just come back from a madman who was messing with my head. But that wasn’t what was...

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“Since the Beginning” by The SAge Salihu - Ahmed

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. They met on a life or death situation. After saving her life that day, she wanted nothing more than to be with her one true love, the light bringer, a Morningstar. She seemed to have forgotten how theirs is a forbidden love.Queen set out on her journey to go get dark energy for her people and kingdom's survival, or so she said. It had been her responsibility as the chosen one of the dark. She had been doing this since her 13th dark age."Bring forth your weapon and duel with me, oh beau...

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“The Wedding That Wasn't” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. Tammy and Steve were getting married today. Steve had his black and purple suit all pressed, ready, and hanging on the back of the door. Tammy had her long, lacy, flowing white dress hanging on the back of her bedroom door as well. Her dress was adorned with hundreds of beads and white sequins. The lace flowed in layers. The train went halfway down the aisle of the church. The veil also flowed i...

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“Born to love, Prone to die” by Muskan Dewan

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. Despite what they had been told, the two love birds knew that their next step in life was the correct one. It was a tremendous change, but they were ready for it, at least that is what they thought. Orpheus stood under the wedding arch waiting for his lovely bride, Eurydice. He looked up to see the arch adorned with flowers, the same kind that he had given to Eurydice when they first met and fallen in love. The sun rays shone above the waves of the ocean, almos...

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“These Words For You” by Jacqueline Han

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. The day they would remember forever, together.The quiet clicks of the cameras could barely be heard over the joyous soft sobs from mothers and proud looks on fathers. The stillness was calming as he took a breath, hands still shaking from both excitement and nervousness. He was never good at things like these. Words. “With this ring, I promise you companionship. I promise you a life together. I promise to stand by you, not ahead nor behind. I promise to love you endlessly...

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“HER” by Cali H

Submitted to Contest #68

It was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, and it was. The old saying had not fell short. Everyone's stories had confirmed the truth of this very statement. And everyone's stories, at least those who are married, said their wedding day was their most happy day. As Anne Boleyn had said about her own wedding to King Henry. Would Anne still think that? Knowing now what had happened to her? Being the first of the wives to be beheaded. Would she think it was still her most happy day? Too late for answers now, like it is for mine. My...

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““Leave the World Behind,”” by Naomi Chinenye

Submitted to Contest #68

Rumaan Alam’s new book follows its characters to the Hamptons as the world crumbles around them.Photograph by David A. Land There comes a moment in every disaster novel when a character stocks up on supplies or fantasizes about discovering them. This is the survivor’s dream: bulk-packed goods of Costco abundance. In Ling Ma’s “Severance,” a pandemic renders most of the world “fevered,” and a crew of survivors is rewarded by the endless material recompense of life in a mall: shelves of L’Occitane hand lotion, racks of Gap T-shirts. In Emily...

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“No Fair” by Jasmine Kasmi

Submitted to Contest #68

“This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives,» Brian said. As he started talking flashbacks coming back to the other man's head. It was midnight. Getting up from his bed he couldn’t sleep. There he was William Schneider sitting in the balcony, a cigarette between his f...

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“Once upon a Clown” by Drishti Jain

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. Mom handed them each a little brown picnic basket as Benny, Carla, and Stacy skipped into the yard. They were all eight and wore light brown summer hats. They waited for weeks and weeks for this day. That was supposed to be the first time they went to see the amusement park! They were more than excited. The smell of the caramel popcorn, the wholesome cotton candy, the roller coaster, the unmissable carousel, the merry-go-round, the sound of people screaming out of fun, and then the cir...

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“Happiest day of my life” by Krishna Barakoti

Submitted to Contest #68

There is hardly any living being who has never gone through ups and downs in his life. Life is full of incidents r both good and bad. Some of them may be forgotten with the passage of time whereas others leave an everlasting imprint on the mind. One feels delighted when fortune favours one but one plunges into despair during misfortunes. A wise man is one who is neither overjoyed in prosperity nor takes adversity to heart. Last year, I passed the Senior School Certificate Examination. Though I had given it my best shot, I was not confident o...

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“The Letter ” by Rob G.

Submitted to Contest #68

‘’ The Letter’’ -Robbie Guevarra This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. I saw Kyle wiping his tears secretly. He doesn’t want to create or give a scene anymore on this very special day. ‘’Kyle! We both turned back in the direction of that voice and we saw this cute guy smiling and waving us.’’ ‘’Hmm. I guess I got to go for now? See you around?’’ he hugged me then gave me a kiss on the cheek. ‘’What else option I have?’’ I pouted my lips for showing him that I am very disappointed because he's leaving me- again. ‘’He ran ...

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“"Always there" ” by Elijah Faith

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. The singing of birds was perfect making perfect ryhmes with the swirling of the wind. The cool breeze swallowed the heat of the sun as dried leaves left soft pat both on the ground and on Caroline's hair. The feeling of finally having such moments come true was all over Caroline. She always wanted special moment with Freddie. The other times spent together didn't feel that special and running through her mind she expected more like the touch of a drop of liquid on a thirsty soul. Car...

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“Daylight kidnap ” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.Romeo and Juliet had just jetted in from their vacation in Europe.It was good to be back home;holding each others' hands as they walked towards a waiting cab. "South B - A dark tinted van kept on trailing behind them;as it was at a higher speed- "Sir! I think we're being followed, "the driver said.They became much more at ease when they realized having lost them from another route.The car screeched to an halt. "What's wrong driver? Romeo asked An old woman struggled with her walking...

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“The Cabin” by Hannah Miralo

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. As same as it can be since the night she left. The cabin is small, beautiful in aesthetic, and perfect but looks destroyed beyond compare. It looks like it’s been set on fire for a few hours before someone had eventually put it out but the damage had been done… that’s because it is. It wasn’t always like that. She doesn’t remember it being always like that. It used to be clean and whole, strong and sturdy. Even looking at it from af...

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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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