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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#79: The Family You Choose

They say blood is thicker than water — but is it always?

 

The truth is that not all families offer healthy relationships to each other, and sometimes the harsh act of cutting them out of your life may be the best course of action. Fortunately, we can still meet people who love us no matter what and become our new families. Not to mention adoptions, blended families, and all the wonderful ways people connect with and support each other, regardless of whether they share any DNA. It's fair to say that family is a lot more than blood!

 

This week, we’re going to turn family life upside down and examine all the ways that family succeeds — and fails — for our characters.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Sad – 260 stories

Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Dramatic – 193 stories

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

Sad – 160 stories

Write about two characters who’ve gone through something so intense they now feel like family.

Adults – 190 stories

Write about a “found family” who are finally able to get together again after a long time apart.

Fluff – 100 stories

Stories

“I'm doing fine 🏠” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #79

11th part of Home. Enjoy!“You guys know each other?” Angel asks in surprise. Daniel looks away from her. “Yeah, I guess so.”Nope. This is not what I need right now.He walks back upstairs, to his room. He wishes TJ was there. He never expected to see Taylor, Chaz, or Debbie again. They had all avoided each other in school, which hurt, because they’d been friends for so long.He hears footsteps, and sees Angel frowning at him. “What was that about?”“Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it right now. Can I use your phone?”She nods, and hands...

49 comments 49
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“Twist of life (Brittany’s POV)” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊

Submitted to Contest #79

Author's note: This is a story I did with Akshaya! Link and details below!The wisps of my cinnamon, brown hair fell loosely as curls on my cream complexed face. Applying a smear of strawberry flavored lip gloss, and swaying in front of the curvature mirror that decorated my dorm.Pleased with my style, I held my calculus books in hand, and anything I could find that writes.“Drat, I’m late again,” I softly murmured, searching for an eraser.“Miss. D’sal, why aren’t you in class?” I froze, pasting a small, dubious smile on my face, bowing d...

117 comments 117
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“Never Apart Again (Part 2)” by ✯𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫✯

Submitted to Contest #79

“I’m never leaving you again, mom. Not like how I left you, dad, Rocco, and our house.” I told her, still hugging her, and sobbing. "I'm not too," she replied. Her words made me feel warm inside. It made me feel so good about everything. Like there is a point for being happy today. Oh, I just love that feeling so much. I wish it would last forever. I'm just so...thrilled and excited that I could see my long-lost mother again.  I continue to hug her again. That feeling is just so unexplainable. I could use a thousand words to describe my...

65 comments 65
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“Jailbird” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #79

It was a Saturday afternoon and I’d already polished off three drinks. Each one stronger than the last, with olives and grapefruit slices pinched carelessly on the sides, making my head trip in circles like a carousel. The people at my book launch party had begun to stroll laps around my living room. Their smiles were like flashing pinwheels and I tried to offer one back. Because I know if I didn’t, Allen would shapeshift into the responsible chaperone and the booze would be locked right up. The balloons floated around aimlessly like gh...

9 comments 9
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“Runaway "Sisters"” by ✯𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫✯

Submitted to Contest #79

January 16th, 2018,It was the turn where the eight-year-olds in the Ferrel's Adoption Center got their chance to play. All the kids were in a big playground, and they had lots of things to play with. Many slides, swings, merry-go-rounds, blocks, and balls. The kids were going to have fun.All except for Tina, of course."You go ahead, Lannie, I'll be fine. I'll just wait here, and play with the blocks." Tina told her best sister Lannie.You see, Tina and Lannie were more than best friends. They felt like they were family. Though, they never had...

32 comments 32
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“Shadows” by Christina Marie

Submitted to Contest #79

The wind the last few days had been relentless, endless, spearing from all directions. It had ripped and whirled and twirled and screamed through the valley, bringing with it stinging rain and icy sleet. But today…today it is still, and the sudden calm crushes her heart with fingers of stone. High in the hills, standing behind the empty house, she gazes across the fjord and tugs her tattered wool shawl tighter around her shoulders. The lake below is shrouded in an ethereal milky mist. The brook murmurs its ancient song at her feet. The...

16 comments 16
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“Mother Mother are you there ” by Heidi Hanson

Submitted to Contest #79

Elsie set her single bag down in the main room of the small, dusty house. She knew that she wasn't supposed to be here, or at least, she hadn't thought that she was supposed to be here. But something had changed right before her mother's death a few weeks ago. A last-minute edit had been made in the will. Elsie would receive the house, and everything in it, rather than her brother as everyone had thought.She didn't want the house, though. She didn't want anything to do with her mother. The woman who had spent all her time criticizing every s...

8 comments 8
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“My last will and testament” by Coco Longstaff

Submitted to Contest #79

My last will and testament Dear parents,  You know I hated you, right? The only thing that made me happy in my life is Leevinstaff. Emma and Nahyun.  I had been thinking of killing myself everyday. And I had bipolar disorder. Guess you were too busy with your stupid lives to even notice that. You call yourselves parents? Parents take care, give shelter, and love you and protect you with all their hearts. You guys are overprotective, don't understand the concept of fun or relaxing, and you keep me locked in the house. Tell Emma th...

37 comments 37
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“The Moment Stays in My Hand” by Cookie Carla🍪

Submitted to Contest #79

I pause before hitting Accept.I mean, I haven't talked to her in years. I shouldn't be this nervous, should I? I should be happy. Right?But what can I do -hang up on my mother? I have to answer. She needs her family's support right now. She can't make it through this alone, you know, they all said.But they fail to realize that I went through it too. I went through the hours of my mom drinking and snorting crack also. I had to deal with calling the cops when she lost control of herself and started hitting Bobby. I called 911 wh...

20 comments 20
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“TSD 5: Traitor?” by Lilliane Wei

Submitted to Contest #79

Just before dawn, a figure emerged from a shop in the southern part of Kiwali’a, bags in hand. She jogged briskly through the streets of her small town as she made her way eastward, doing her best to stay quiet. When she reached the southeastern edge of town, she paused uncertainly, looking around for someone or something. She didn’t have to wait long before another figure, also a woman, melted out of the shadows beside her. Lillian examined the young woman standing before her. Where there had been an overeager girl with a bright-eyed y...

132 comments 132
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“Jenny the Penny” by Tom .

Submitted to Contest #79

Find a penny pick it up and all day you’ll have good luck.You ‘ave always made fun of me for tha’ one.Jenny the Penny you called me.My whole life I picked up every penny I found. Tha’ glint of light on the ground appeals to the inner magpie in all of us. Do you know ancient cultures thought found coins were important? To find metal was precious it was a gift from the gods. For me, it goes back to being a little kid with my grandma walkin’ across the heath and findin’ my first penny. I held it up to her in the light. All shiny and new like a ...

67 comments 67
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“TSD 4: It is Time” by Lilliane Wei

Submitted to Contest #79

“I know who you are, what you do...and I want to join you.” Ava opened her mouth to reply, her lips already forming the shape of a 'no' but Faith spoke first, eyeing Maya shrewdly. “Who do you think we are exactly?”  Maya’s mind flashed back to the large, distinctive dragon in flight tattooed on the forest floor, claiming its prize of the men and women tied at its center. She knew there was only one group that used such an imposing symbol. “You’re part of the Soaring Dragons.” “I see,” Faith said, scrutinizing her shrewdly. Maya resiste...

44 comments 44
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“The Locket” by Marissa Reilly

Submitted to Contest #79

Author's note: This is my first submission, so feel free to give me criticism. Make it harsh, if you have to! 😄As I walked along, I happened to lock eyes with someone. She didn't look familiar. She tore her gaze away, disappearing into the swarm of people. I soon forgot her, as the cool autumn breeze ran through my hair, tousling it.Great. Now my hair's all tangled. At least I looked good with tousled hair. I gave a small laugh, drawing a few stares from people. I ignored them, listening to the wind whispering in the trees, calling my name. ...

23 comments 23
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“Empty Chairs” by Cathryn V

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #79

It came on a standard piece of office paper bearing the letterhead Families United, typed in Times New Roman, twelve font, single-spaced:Your birth mother has asked us to contact you on her behalf. She would like to connect, but you are under no obligation whatsoever. Your information is protected and nothing will be divulged without your permission. An email and phone number along with the business hours are included. I re-read the note again and again before laying it on the granite counter. My throat has gone dry. I swallow a half-finishe...

50 comments 50
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“Rite of Passage” by Melissa Louise Murdoch

Submitted to Contest #79

The house was full and loud and busy. Silence was not a quality it had inherited, but neither was she built for it; with open arms for doors, and massive rooms to lounge or lunge into, she was youthful and she stood firm. Large houses should have loud, vivacious families and oh boy! Did she ever!My bedroom was situated on the far side of the 'L' shaped house, the last one of three adjacent to my sisters, both younger than I, who had by now fallen into a blissful sleep. Our stationed bedrooms rested on the first stroke of the letter 'L', a cl...

15 comments 15
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$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 05, 2021 EST

Won by Reha A 🏆

Title: Puzzle Pieces

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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