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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

“Of Red and its Thrill” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #68

This is a sequel to my short story, ‘Of Red and its Irony’. This story makes more sense if you go back and read the other one. My favorite color used to be red, but I never told her why. Joining the UEA was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. No one knows when, where, or who started the Underground Extermination Agency, or UEA, which was on purpose. The only reason why I know that name is because I was a member. My great-grandfather was the first in my family to join, with a couple uncles and my father joining. Growing up, ...

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“Welcome Home” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The door was that same olive green she’d hated as a little girl. The roof hung down over the red brick like a thick eyebrow. It always reminded her of the look her father gave her when he disapproved of her. Low and angry. The windows glared down at Gwen, daring her to come in. Her mind screamed at her to stay away. But she couldn’t. She felt she needed to go back, and not only because her therapist explained that facing childhood...

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“The Bridge to Now ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #68

The sun announced its pending arrival early, with fanfare and pageantry. A symphony of clouds shone with growing intensity. The overture, a dusky red, shifted magically to fleecy white. Lit by the sky, the shimmering river found its way between dark, tree-lined shores. Grant and Jill watched it all. Their long night studying, debating and consuming gallons of coffee had run out of steam. Grant pulled her to her feet. “We’re fading. Get your coat. Come on.” Bundled against the cold, they walked to the bridge. Spanning the river, it ...

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“Memories” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #68

I love you,” Jenny whispered into his ear. It was not the first time Ryan had heard her say it, but the phrase still sent fireworks throughout his body. “I love you too,” he told her back as he turned his face to kiss the girl slowly. The couple had been out all night, walking the woods after a party that had taken place for the last day of school. High school seniors giving one last “hurrah” before going their separate ways to college or the workforce. Ryan an...

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“There you see her” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #68

"There you see her Sitting there across the way She don't got a lot to say But there's something about her And you don't know why But you're dying to try You wanna kiss girl" The lyrics of the little mermaid song play across my mind. There she was. Sitting across from me. The girl I love. Does she feel the same? The sunset is clouding my thoughts. Sitting on a small pier looking out to sea. The waves crashing onto the wooden planks. She's sitting further out than me clasping onto the end of the ledge with her small fingers. Her hair, l...

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“THE HATRED TURNED FATE” by Dawood Abbasi

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives when Fayaz first met Sara in the school and they promised to be the eternal fellows at such an early age. Though the promise of life long love became a matter of conflict yet the tale of affection go aboard at its run. The tale traces the tactics of love soaring life not in favors of Fayaz but seemingly not exactly against his lines of action. There were five to six huts of barbers’ families in Fayaz’s village. These houses had a grungy and skimpy look as it would have been prevailing ...

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“Shake That Off” by Diana Reyes

Submitted to Contest #68

"I also like girls," you said while staring bluntly at the almost forgotten macchiato in front of you. It was past two in the afternoon. You are in the usual coffee shop. With the usual macchiato you got. This is what you always order all the time. You said this is your favorite but the truth is... you are just frightened to admit that you are afraid to try a new one.You are sitting next to the girl who you admire greatly. Just the mere thought of her makes your heart beat fast. You throw your eyes away, wanting to escape from the intensity ...

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“Not All Banks Are Equal” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #68

Marty eyed the clock on the wall - nearly lunchtime. He had lingered long enough. “Yes, sir, I guarantee you, this bank is completely discreet. We do not share your information with anyone.” The man hesitated a little. He didn’t seem quite convinced. Just sign the damn thing, fool, Marty thought as he smiled through his whitened teeth. “I think I’ll take my business elsewhere,'' the man said after a while. “Thank you for your time.” Oh yeah? You’ll take it elsewhere? Where, to the toilet? “I’m sure we can arrange something, sir. Our bank has...

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“The Longing Mother” by Faleha Hakim

Submitted to Contest #68

Gradually…..slowly….her eyes shined. The wet sparkle of her eyes seemed glitter in the dim light. Her beauty was still shadowed by the influence of darkness but the steep edged jewels which draped her body, marked their presence with any ray of light which passed by. A sound evolved. The soft clayey mud felt to be compressed beneath silent steps. Someone was sure to approach. Her corners of the eyes noticed two hands touch the heavily crafted wooden railing erected at her front. “Is it time?” a fragile yet completely dry voice slipped from t...

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“I Wasn't Joking” by Marina Y.

Submitted to Contest #68

“Can I tell you something about Elbert?”I was talking to Sarah with an anxious ambience, ready to reveal what my husband and I had agreed never to tell, not even to our kid, Elbert, himself. “Well …mm… he is suffering from MDD, you know? Major depression disorder”I paused to let her grasp the fact that this happy-looking 9-year-old child is in great pain. Surprisingly she was not as surprised as I expected. Perhaps as the mother of a struggling child, I feel greater pain than what she could ever experience.I have met Sarah only a few weeks a...

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“Return Journey” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. As she drove across the flat landscape of East Anglia, Jodie could see the familiar outline from miles away. It looked like some graph showing population statistics or the number of casualties of an illness, though the peaks were blunted. She knew that other campus universities had undergone renovation, had lost much of their distinctive 60s silhouette, but this one had not. Even though when she was there in the 90s there had be...

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“I Challenge You” by Roth Sassin (inactive)

Submitted to Contest #68

"Why'd ya drag meh to da middle of nowhere for no reason," Mo questions."Shut up, we are almost there. And it'll be worth it. Like your favorite book. The elephant and piggy one. I think it's called Waiting is Not Easy?"Mo flushes beet red. He's awake now. "Shuddup Victoria. I liked that when I was 5.""When I went into your room, 5 minutes ago, there was a Waiting is Not Easy paper book, hard copy, and that exact book 5 in different languages. Also, your face says otherwise," I taunt.This just makes him blush harder "Shuddup, or my fist migh...

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“Darkening Skies” by Salom :)

Submitted to Contest #68

*Trigger warning: Suicide* Silver sat next to Blue in the early morning light, one of his wings curled around Blue’s tiny body as they watched the sunrise. Blue’s eyes were wide and fascinated; due to his time with the scientists, this was his first sunrise. The corners of Silver’s mouth twitched up into a slight, rare smile at the wondrous expressions on the smaller angel’s face. He should have felt the pure joy of seeing the skies sooner, Silver thought quietly. The pure ones like Blue deserved to see the sky and enjoy the vast e...

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“Sunrise, Sunset” by R L Brewer

Submitted to Contest #68

Sunrise, Sunset He was first to wake, in the chill of the predawn darkness. He gazed at his sleeping bride, and gently moved a stray curl of hair from her face, and arranged the blankets around her as he left the bed. He grabbed a dressing gown from the cupboard and wandered the french doors of their room onto the paved private courtyard. Birds fluttered into the large tree that shaded the garden, frightened from their early breakfast. He took several deep breaths and felt instantly more awake. It was so early, and the light was ...

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“It All Started With A Box ” by Olivia June

Submitted to Contest #68

"Can I tell you a secret?" The small child's chubby hands clutch a crate with a shiny official cover and chocolate stains it. Smothering a laugh I reply, "What did you do now, Lizzy?"Elizabeth hands me the official looking package and showcases her missing teeth in a wide smile, "I took it for you but you can't tell anyone or mommy will be mad. Mommy's always mad." She sniffles before continuing, "I saw it in the bakery when the sheriff left his table to get another doughnut. It was so pretty I wanted you to have it. It's a present!"As Eliza...

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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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