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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

“sister” by Alex Carmen

Submitted to Contest #79

The recording machine clicked. “We are recording.” The interviewer said. “So, Mr. Carl,” He clasped his hands in front of him. “Tell us how you ended up at our doorstep, and why you are turning yourself in?” “Who said anything about turning anyone in?” Luka tried to jerk his hands out of the handcuffs, but the metal chain just rattled. “I’m here to tell you about the person who committed the crime. It wasn’t me!” “No one was accusing you of that,” The interviewer replied smoothly. “But you just said--” “I am accusing you now, beca...

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“Lunar New Year” by Alexis Leo

Submitted to Contest #79

She, the girl who was an outcast. She, the girl who was despised and ignored by all. She, the different girl. Every day, her schedule was the same. Wake up, school, lunch, home, dinner, sleep. Every day was like a broken record on repeat. That was not always the case for her. The story starts a few years ago, on Lunar New Year’s Eve. The day She was born She came into this world with a piercing cry. Her proud parents welcomed her, with open arms and teary eyes. On the way home, a drunk driver came and hit the car. It was a hit and run...

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“ROHINI AND HER WOES” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #79

Rohini was busy in her work. In these few months, she had earned a good name in her circle of colleagues. The hotel owner had set up this Indian restaurant with the fond hope of catering to the taste buds of locals who had shown interest in trying different dishes. This was mainly due to the popular Television show on Super Chefs. Even ‘Junior Chef’ was an acclaimed programme on TV Channels. Indian dishes hitherto not known to the local Americans had become very popular. Small girls and boys also knew the names of regular Indian dishes like ...

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“The Ninja Effect” by Alyson Ackman

Submitted to Contest #79

Dina’s new alarm clock kept going off far too early. She rolled in her warm sheets and beheld the howling machine. At least he’s cute, she thought, glaring at the young puppy who was still whining at her to get out of bed. Her phone lit up her squinted face as she moaned. “5:15? Couldn’t you at least wake me up at like, two, so I could go back to sleep?” The pup’s fluffy tail dusted the floor as she rolled out of bed. He continued yipping as she tried to find some pants, deciding her current shirt would do for now. “Shhh, or you’ll wak...

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“Family feeling” by Todd Кelly

Submitted to Contest #79

Family feeling. The sound of car approaching «Thank you for your help.” «See you when you'll be somewhere around.” The sound of car driving away. The husband of woman I'm renting a dwelling put money into inner jacket’s pocket sharply glancing into the house’s window, but the landlady is too busy to count his money - she came to my door. I'm waiting, counting: 3, 2, 1. “Knock-knock.” “Yes-yes. I know, I understand, yes, I won’t burn so much firewood, yes, money, next week, yes, definitely, yes, accurately, surely, next week.” Sh...

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“Winor Island” by Larissa McLetchie

Submitted to Contest #79

Racing through the streets, Kaya tossed her head back and laughed as her and her brother, Kyle, sprinted to lose the shop owner in the crowd. This was the exhilaration she lived for, that rush of adrenaline from causing a disturbance and completing a job. In her hand, she clutched their first real hope of making it out of this town and being free to do whatever they wanted. Kyle and Kaya had landed on Winor Island when they were seven. Their parents had wanted a better life for them than what Zyra, their home country, could give them. They s...

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“Cynthia's scent” by Dilettante Shultz

Submitted to Contest #79

Things have gone from bad to worse. My side has had a growing pain for a long time now. Cynthia, my Master, called me off the couch from my afternoon nap. I heard Her jingling the leash like She always does when we’re going to see the other people and their humans at the park. With effort, I hoisted myself off the couch, wincing from the pain in my side. Slowly I reached one foot over the edge, then the other, coming up short and landing with both paws on the floor, it sent a shudder through me and the ache in my side intensified. ...

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“Monster” by Katie C

Submitted to Contest #79

I stand in the middle of the room, my family standing back away from me like I’m some creature that broke into our home. Their eyes widen at the coils of energy that snake like serpents in and out of my palms, casting a glow against the peeling wallpaper. My mother takes a shaky step forward towards me, hands covering her mouth. My father holds his arm in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. “We have to take her to the elders,” he says coldly. “No. Baby, no. We can’t.” My mother’s voice cracks like rocks against asphalt. She’s...

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“The case of house McGregor” by Fantasy Maniac

Submitted to Contest #79

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" The loud scream made us all jump out of our skins in the middle of the night. Everyone looked around in panic. I and my brother ran to each other looking for our younger sister. "Where is Emma?!" I asked in a hurry. "dunno; I can't find her anywhere" answered Edris looking around anxiously. The screams increased in number while getting louder and scarier. "For now let's go...

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“You said you were going to be there for me” by Chthonic Cat

Submitted to Contest #79

You said you were going to be there for me. But time, time never forgets the course of life, the course of the universe. It knows it's supposed to move. To weave forgetfulness into our minds and silver in our hair. The universe wasn't made to last. Nothing out there was. We humans survive off of hope, however. Despite this knowledge. We wake up every day and open our eyes to discover our lives a single day shorter, a single day closer to our unavoidable ends. We wake up, and we go through days filled with labour and love, with worry and ...

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“I Thought We Were Blood” by Dane MillerHass

Submitted to Contest #79

Harry’s shoe scraped against the coarse sidewalk as he shuffled towards the front door. He sighed with a slight quiver, and took a moment to compose himself. He slowly pressed his finger into the doorbell, producing a barely audible ring. Harry glanced at the window to his right, and through the shades he could see a figure approach. The doorknob jiggled a little, and the door swung backwards. “Harry… I didn’t know you were coming. I, uh... come in.” Harry stepped inside, the warmth of the house fighting back the chill of the dreary day. “...

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“The Deepest Cut” by Jenny White

Submitted to Contest #79

Old wood, tobacco and liquor were all scents Ceara associated with home, alongside the jeers and catcalls of the men gathered around the densely packed tables. Familiar or not though, they still made her nose wrinkle in disgust. She kept her head down, hiding her grimace beneath her hood as she crossed the tavern to the bar. Rapping twice on the countertop as she passed, Ceara met the eye of the tall barkeep and jerked her chin toward the back. She didn't wait to make sure he followed. In the quiet of the storeroom, she discarded her cloak w...

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“Sun And Moon ” by Hungara Gamelia

Submitted to Contest #79

Caroline should have seen it coming, she should have known, how could she not? She had helped him hide his first body.He’d promised her he’d never do it again; he’d come to her with tears in his eyes. He’d claimed it was self-defense, which sadly wasn’t hard to believe, their dad was a terrible person, even when he wasn’t drunk.But now here she was, staring down a list of phone numbers, phone numbers that were labeled with the names of reliable hit men, and professional killers. The paper was worn and numbers were faded, it had obviously bee...

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“Did She Say Yes?” by Masha Kamenetskaya

Submitted to Contest #79

Did She Say Yes? “So, you say she was surprised?” Albert asks Stephen. Albert sips wine and spills wine—someone's kid, not his, is crawling under his chair and accidentally hurts his head. “I am sorry,” Albert says to the mother, who is right there, ready to comfort and attack at the same time. “I didn't do anything.” The lady, without a word, takes the kid away. “Fathers are not welcome here,” Albert says. Then Albert looks around to make sure that his son, his Peter, is safely playing in the corner by the toy kitchen. Albert a...

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“Lost and Found” by Bratz Queenz

Submitted to Contest #79

Back in 1984 I was a normal teenage girl. Yup all the way until I died. I was mugged while on the street. My name is Mackenzie. But most people call me Mac. And I am a phantom. Us Phantoms have super strength, speed, and the power to become invisible. I can be in my original phantom form while being seen. Or I can make myself look human. But here in the present day it's 2008. I still want to be norma...

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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!

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