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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

“Love is Fire” by Eric Deitch

Submitted to Contest #79

It was a balmy night in the desert city of Doha, Qatar. The winds were hollowing the sand storm had come in and made the night sky glow orange under a full moon and the bright lights of the metropolis. He packed a bag for an overnight stay across town. There was just one stop to make; their favorite Thai food restaurant. Hot curries and delicious dumplings awaited him. He got his takeaway and headed to her apartment. It was going to be a magical evening of great food and a movie or two. He ascended the stairs to the 5th floor with anticipati...

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“LOST AND FOUND” by Judith Veder

Submitted to Contest #79

LOST AND FOUND I yearned for a cousin’s club from the time I could talk. I really didn’t know what that was. I think I thought it meant lots of kids playing, lots of cake and ice-cream, all with your family, all with cousins. My mother went to someone else’s’ cousin’s club she called the Bergs. She never had them to our house. I don’t think I ever knew them. My father had two cousins he hardly ever saw. &nbs...

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“The Killing Dove ” by Christopher Mason

Submitted to Contest #79

Ping!The glass jar shifted slightly as a lead pellet ricocheted off its rim.“That’s a hit.” said the boy holding the rifle. He was fourteen years old, growing bony but still soft-skinned and as beautiful as a child.“It didn’t break, Dan. It’s my turn now,” said Cley, who was standing next to him. Two years younger, he was slight-framed with a large head and an active, frowning brow. The boys knew each other well; Daniel’s father was dating Cley’s mother, and neither boy was happy about it.“Two turns each.”“No, you said one turn each. You’ve ...

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“Unstuck Together” by Katelynn Laird

Submitted to Contest #79

I tried not to shiver as cool air blew from the open car window across my bare shoulders. My companions in the back of the stretch limo all wore thick long sleeves beneath sharply tailored and secretly armored jackets. Black, of course. Did personal security wear any other color? Needless to say, sweat dripped from more than one brow. So, when the leader of the group, a young and maybe a little arrogant, man rolled down the window nearest to where he sat, I didn’t complain. Even if I sat between them weari...

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“Upon the Derby” by Yvone Mthembu

Submitted to Contest #79

'It's real,'he wished he could inform the whole world that COVID-19 virus is real,it has recently dawned on him that he was here in a quarantine facility because he didn't believe in the virus hence he didn't adhere to the restriction and now he's paying the price. He was sentenced to be here for the remainder of 14 days , 6 full days away from his pride, his taxi business. His mind worried of the mere fact that his drivers will have a field day with his wife since he was stuck here, no it was not about his money but he wished to leave his...

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“ An Unlikely Duo” by Skylar Freegrove

Submitted to Contest #79

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to meet your reconciliation? They say opposites attract because they strive for you to do better in areas you do not yet excel in, and perhaps that is true. But why does no one express their desire to be with someone who brings you peace of mind once and for all? Does no one want to meet an individual who challenges you to receive the closure you have so longed for? And boy did she long for closure. She longed for the day where she could finally release the guilt brought upon her by all the pe...

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“My Friend Googly” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #79

Whenever people ask why me and Brian are so close, I tell them we're brothers. It's not a gay thing, I swear. What brings us together is a big bird, and a toy compass. The Goose Compass came in select boxes of Googly Goose Cereal. Like every other TV tie-in, the cereal didn't taste good, and my parents said it was too expensive to keep buying. Mom actually bought my compass from the thrift store. Best gift she ever got me. I was obsessed with Googly Goose. Caught it on TV every time Dad didn't try to break my fing...

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“Thank You Ms. Cordray” by Lunaria Dragonix

Submitted to Contest #79

My mother had six kids, two husbands and a bar meet. Do not get me wrong I am unable to hate my mother, no matter how many things that were allowed to happen. The only blood we had in common was my mothers. When I was little I was unable to read and write like others my age, my progress in school was hindered by my parents doing things when they were young. Drugs and alcohol do affect children's progress in life. To this day I have a really hard time reading, things just do not make sense to me. However there was this one person in my childh...

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“Dawn Of A New Day” by Shetty Rachana C

Submitted to Contest #79

“When two strangers are along, they can be strong Who can become a family, which can leave forever happily." Emily was passing the street while walking her way back to home when she noticed a new shop that was just opened where a old lady was selling flowers. Emily had a look at the shop and she had just turned to go to her home suddenly, she heard a voice from backside where the old lady was calling her. Emily went near the old lady. The old lady wi...

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“Living” by Ananya Filbert

Submitted to Contest #79

"Just survive", she thought to herself. Even the everyday felt cumbersome. Whoever thought death was easy! It wasn’t. It was hard; harder than living. She was alive, not dying. Not yet. Tara looked around her. Her vision seemed blurred and she felt disoriented as she watched a filigree of light forming patterns while she labored through her breath. She tried to seat herself upright but struggled with the tangle of blankets around her and the many wires that brought fluid and carried life into her. So, she was in some make-shift hospital wi...

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“We're Just Like Family” by Jameela Van Der Schyff

Submitted to Contest #79

Helen and I were friends since we were babies. Our moms were best friends since high school and in turn we became friends from birth. She was an only child and so was I, so having a sister like her was something I was lucky to have. There was just one issue. I was like her brother. Mom found out she was going to have a son when she was just 4 weeks pregnant for me. Although Mom was overjoyed, Dad was a little angry at having a son. Mom never told me why but maybe I was not meant to be good luck to my father’s family. “Jason, come on. We ha...

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“In those days” by Harry Latimeri

Submitted to Contest #79

THE LAST OF THE LEG. Before the wind, we came in the pale dawn of December, driven by the north at last in a haven. Flavia came to see me. She has moved from Sweden by her a little car and was delighted seeing us secured in the port. I wasn't in hight spirit for I was tired and down, still at the same time relaxed getting the ship out of the sea and now secured ai quya in the port of Lybec. A few days ago, we struggled on our way to suffering the sifting of the cargo in a northern gale in the baltic sea—the crew from Estonia- full of ho...

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“The Secret of Molly-Anne Fingus” by Kerrie Clements

Submitted to Contest #79

Molly-Anne was in the games room. She had been watching the raindrops run down the window for the past ten minutes, occasionally tracing it down with her finger, which made lines in the condensation. But now she was bored. She hopped off the armchair and stood on one leg, then pulled up her sock. Then she stood on the other leg and pulled her other sock up. ‘Lizzie, I’m so bored, let’s play a game!’ she whined. Lizzie was sitting on the floor doing a jigsaw, ‘I’m doing my puzzle Molly!’ Molly-Anne scrunched up her face. ‘Well, I shall go and...

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“Annemarie's Story” by Sammy Xoxoxo

Submitted to Contest #79

The snow is falling in elegant, graceful patterns. I'm sitting by the window sill, reading "The Book Theif" when Mama comes over. Her hand is soft like butter, but her eyes show pain. "Mama?" I ask. "Yes, darling?" "Tell me again," I say. I know that I'm only 12, but I still listen to Mama's story. "Tell me the story about you and Auntie Carel and the one who had the same name as me. I want it to be fresh in my mind before she comes over tonight." Mama sighs a deep sigh, full of knowledge and tears and love. "It's a true story, Annemari...

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“Him and I” by Tanya Roshan

Submitted to Contest #79

I was walking on the street after had a fight with my dad. I've always thought that it’s fine to be sad. It’s always been me and my dad. I should say he was a great dad in the whole world. It’s true that not always we could be a good over bad. Everyone has their darker deepest secrets hidden inside them, so has my dad. I was five when my mum passed away in a car accident and now I am seventeen and miss her every day. It is really difficult to remember her face because I didn’t have a single photograph of her by any chance. ...

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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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