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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

“Kai” by Kya Ryanne

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four long years since she’d last seen it, but it looked exactly the same as it used to. The harrowing dull stone walls seemed to drain the sky of color as it loomed. Abandoned, that is what they told Kai. It sure looked like it. The grounds of the orphanage she used to live in were what appeared to be abandoned. All that lived here were the spirits of the past and the spreading ivy—like a parasite, spreading from the ground and up the walls. The tall grass reached to her upper thighs, tickling her as she crept past ...

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“Gone” by Hungara Gamelia

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. Her childhood home stood untouched. Time had been kinder to the house than it had to the family that once lived in it. Mari hadn’t been back since before the war. She’d been gone already when everything went to crap, across the sea, in a foreign country when the fighting broke out, and about to head home when all-out war had been declared. She’d been conscripted before long, forced into a war she wanted no part of. She felt more comf...

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“Finding Riley ” by Chase Grey

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty four years since she’d last seen it but the place looked exactly same; the emptiness of the clear white walls. The two bunk beds against the walls. The stain of crimson and pain painted on the white tiles- marking the pain she’d endured in this cold room all those decades ago. The room which would change her life forever. “Is this where- uhm... is this the room?” Redford softly asked at the sudden silence of his friend. She gave a light nod before taking a step into the room. Even the air still had a suffocating eleme...

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“IN DEPTH INTO THE LAKE” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #68

IN DEPTH INTO THE LAKE In the water of the lake, of a transparent green, even if not a clear green___almost dark, instead___the white clouds of a blue, serene sky moved lightly, swaying slightly. The fronds of the fir trees wavered slightly, all around the edge, into the water…. At that time, early in the morning, there was no boat to sail the lake, not even fishing boats. The people coming for a picnic on the lawn, those who would jump into the lake, and the swimmers, they all would arrive later. The lake was exactly as Alice rem...

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“Sunrise, Sunset...” by Justice Hicks

Submitted to Contest #68

I felt her grip on my forearm tighten as her head fell gracefully onto my shoulder. I didn't want this day to end, even though it just started. We turned our heads towards the light penetrating the thin layer of clouds as dawn was born that November morning. I couldn't even focus on the array of pink luminescence, all I wanted to see was her face, and all she wanted to see was the sunrise...Who knew that'd be our best time together?She was a careful, lovely girl, that Elizabeth. Always had her hands in her pockets, swaying to whatever song w...

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“The Way You Look Tonight” by Anurag Halbe

Submitted to Contest #68

The bright orange blob of fire and gas rose over the placid, watery expanse of the Sheela as it did every day, blessing the world with vibrance and color, and I put my head on your shoulder, letting out a big yawn. I was tired, sleepy, and had recently undergone an extremely reluctant hike over the hill which now sat behind us just so that you could ‘feast your eyes upon the Sheelan sunrise’, as you liked to call it. I never could really see the appeal, to be honest. It was just a lake, the Sheela, and for the sun, well, it rose every ...

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“The Insiders” by Angelica Black

Submitted to Contest #68

The morning sun glowed, turning the sky into a pinkish haze, the wisps of clouds making the sunrise look like something out of a drawing. Her warm hazel eyes glowed as she took in the beautiful masterpiece, the last one she would ever see. No, don’t think of that. I shake my head, a few loose tears escaping. Quickly, before she sees, I wipe them away. It’s not fair to be crying in front of her like this, especially since she’s smiling. Her smile, her eyes, her hair, everything about her was just perfect. She squeezed my hand tightly,...

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“SEE YOU AGAIN” by Banret Dashan

Submitted to Contest #68

SEE YOU AGAIN The end-of-year winds were blowing with so much gusto it made the trees begin to dance to the rhythm of the breeze. It didn't seem like a pleasant tune, for the dancing trees began to arch their backs, almost as if they would soon break. The previous night, Ret had told Ban there was something they should discuss. Ret, although of a normal height compared with other young girls of her age, she was missing a few inches, and that made Ban, her brother, make fun of her daily. He was only of average height, but he was tall enou...

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“Strangers of the Woods ” by Joanne Mack

Submitted to Contest #68

A smile forms onto her slim face as she watches the sun rise above the mountains in awe. Something so simple can affect her so easily is almost sad to watch. Orange reflects off the mountains as the floating beacon finds its resting place just below the clouds. Eagles hoot as they dive for their early morning snack, the trees stand still as theres not a single gust of wind in sight. “We better get moving if we want to finish before sundown.” Mark causally says as he begins to pack up the tent. “It’s just so beautiful up her...

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“Our Sunrise” by HADLEY RUSSELL

Submitted to Contest #68

Hadley Russell: Every morning Katie and I watch the sunrise in Deatsville, Alabama, at exactly 6:16 a.m. Katie has been my best friend since the third grade. We have had every class together, been neighbors forever, and been all around the world together. One of our favorite places we traveled to was Paris. The Eiffel tower is quite magical in person, and the lighting was magnificent. It also had the best sunrise and sunsets you will ever see. Our favorite thing we did was eat lunch on the Eiffel tower. Best sandwich I have ever had! Everyt...

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“Two characters watching a sunrise and end it with one of them seeing the moon reflecting off a lake” by Sanjay Lamba

Submitted to Contest #68

Sunrise was slowly but delightful today. Sky was smokeless and shining with gold colours and joyfully dancing to the music of a morning breeze. The sun was looking like a ring of fire. Snow wrapped mountains were glittering with sunrise and sunrays were reflecting in a lake. Birds were flying in the sky. Dews on the leaves of trees were glittering like a diamond in sunrise. Surroundings were naturally beautiful and awesome. Holding eachother's hand sitting on a small mound, Hira, a young boy and Naz, a beautiful blue eyed young girl, were se...

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“Yesterday's Sunrise” by M R

Submitted to Contest #68

"This is perfect!" John exclaimed. "The sunrise, tea and freshly-baked blueberry muffins remind us to take a break once in a while.""The Lake House is so lovely," Celina told her husband. "it makes my tea taste even better." She dipped the tea bag while John is stirring his coffee. John and Celina skipped heavy breakfast so that they can enjoy coffee and tea by the lake. The caretaker told them to catch up the morning sunshine because the sunrise there is breathtaking. You cannot miss the sun as it takes time to go up behind the lake, t...

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“Futures” by Amy Wannenburgh

Submitted to Contest #68

There is a slash of peachy, baby pink across the lake, speckled with yellow droplets of morning light. Nicole's been sitting here since 4am, and Thomas almost as long - she hauled him out of bed because she needed the company to take her mind off their first day of college. Now, they sit on the brown grass, still in their pyjamas, feet dipping into the lake water as it sloshes up the bank. Behind them are the trees, wavering in the wind, and the crumbling house a few miles behind the forest. There is moisture in the breeze, carrying th...

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“Slowdown, sundown” by Robert Gersohn

Submitted to Contest #68

He drew back the curtains to reveal the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, in front of the wooden decked balcony, overlooking the lake. The lake was surrounded by a majestic snow-capped mountain, like the embracing arms of a mother protecting her child. Around the edges of the lake emerged a clean sandy beach with a distinct two-shade, which was created by the ebbing tide. The sky resembled a painter’s palette of orange and yellow, splattered with streaks of blue and violet, changing shape and intensity, as the sun rose slowly from the rim of t...

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“Bezdelniks” by Nikita Linivenko

Submitted to Contest #68

I. SUMMER…and again the Black Sea turns toward a star called Sun. And on and on for a billion years.…So what?“You awake?”I look over at the lawn chair next to me. Kirill’s on his stomach, his legs up at the head of the chair, his head hung over the foot of it, lifted to another sunrise, challenging the ball of atomic radiation to burn his corneas through his shades. Kirill shifts and slides out a quarter-read hardcover of Solzhenitsyn’s In the First Circle from under him, which he’s been making his way through the past two-and-a-h...

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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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