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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

“Only Out of Love” by Sam Belle

Submitted to Contest #79

It wasn’t the first time I had to do this. Honestly, I think a part of me always knew that trying to make amends would result in something like this happening again. My hands shook as I tried to write out my response to the, literally, ten-paged text message she had sent. The words she used ran over and over in my head as my response grew longer and longer. “I know you asked us to respect your decision but I can’t in good conscience stay quiet about it.” “This was your plan all along.” “You both are being foolish.” “Hannah, you just run awa...

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“Bulb” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #79

Her brain flickers like a lightbulb. The world is bright. The world is dark. The world is supposed to be easier than this. She's all of eight years old, and she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Tiny shoulders meant for holding up that head that she so often forgets how to hold high. She needs to brace, some sort of emotional crutch to keep upright. Here's the thing about abuse. You can see the black and blue bruises that litter skin. You can see the scabs forming over old cuts and scrapes. You can't see the mind breaking, ...

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“The Decisions of a Moment” by Tiffany Chaplin

Submitted to Contest #79

Chapter 1 - The Madness. Rebecca sat in her room,on her bed, in tears. She felt hurt and undone. Rebecca's brother, Stephen, seemed to be a pro at making her cry. Stephen lived in an entirely different state then his sister but just a small conversation with him, always ended with Rebecca crying and running for her room. Rebecca Cry's and thinks about the hurtful and insulting things, Stephen had said to her over the phone. She replays the words inside her head. "Rebecca, you're Stupid! You'll Never Be Good Enough!! If You'd L...

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“LIFE IS WHAT ONE CREATES” by Aditi Choudhary

Submitted to Contest #79

LIFE WILL THROW CHALLENGES ON US BUT WE ARE LEFT WITH NO OPTION BUT TO ACCEPT THEM WILLINGLY . SITUATIONS MAY BE WORSE MAY BE FROLIC BUT THEY CANNOT BE ELIMINATED YES THEY CAN OFCOURSE BE ANTICIPATED . THIS HEAVY AND THOUGHTFUL LINES WHERE NOT SAID BY ME .IT WAS SAID BY MY FAVOURITE MASI CALLED CHANDRAKALA , SHE LOOKED SIMILAR TO HER NAME , SHE ALWAYS CONSIDERED HERSELF THE BOSSES' BOSSES' BOSS WHICH WOULD SOMETIMES IRRITATE ME BUT I WOULD RESIST THIS FEELING AS SHE WAS THE ONE WHO ALWAYS GAVE ME 500 RUPEES WHEN EVER SHE CAME CAME TO SEE US....

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“The Girls ” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #79

Zoey was Sally's older sister. They lived in a rural area on a small farm of eleven acres. They loved each other dearly, then one day Sally just up and left. Zoey loved the farm she liked roaming with the horses. Now Sally, on the other hand, would chase the horses to watch them run and scatter. Zoe was a peaceful kind heart lovable girl. Well, Sally was a very excitable, sweet, lovable, kind of girl. Sort of opposites but both lovable. One day Zoe called sally over to the chicken coop to have a look inside. There were baby chicks. Zoey's a...

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“NANA'S ANGEL” by Write Doozy

Submitted to Contest #79

My mother was dead to me. This realisation came to me in the early hours of the morning as I lay in her stuffy guest room listening to her rhythmic snores filter through the thin wall separating us. It wasn’t because she’d done anything super horrendous. There was no big climactic moment that caused my epiphany. It was more of a straw, fragile and brittle, placed gently on the camel’s back.But she’d forgotten about the anniversary. She forgot a lot of things when I was a child. Almost all my birthdays for a start. The years sh...

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“One step ahead” by Soumali Chatterjee

Submitted to Contest #79

It was another fine bright morning during the winters of Bangalore. Traffic was beginning to rise on the streets; summer warmth was beginning to be felt.Rishika was lying on the bed. She didn't want to wake up. Didn't want to login to office today. The pandemic had made her more aloof and distant. She informed her manager that she was taking a day off.Around 9:30 am, she lazily got up and stood on the little balcony of her small apartment. The clear blue sky and the green cover around her gives her hope and respite. She decided to begin...

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“My worth. Not my Family's. ” by Faith Kelly

Submitted to Contest #79

I'm waking up on a Monday. I'm feeling so great. Today is going to be a great day. Nothing can ever bring me down. Except for my mother always screaming out at me and saying, "You are nothing. I never loved you. You are disgusting. I wish I had a son instead. A man who comes home to his family bringing bread." And my father, who doesn't know the difference between a fruit and a vegetable but knows the all of the time of wrestling matches on different T.V. channels. Who never gets up from the couch to take a shower or get a job. A man who n...

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“Broken Family” by Rhonda Norris

Submitted to Contest #79

Broken Family It’s a normal day around the Hughes house, children are running and playing in the yard. The only thing on their mind was having fun and being normal children. But, at the end of the day things change. The Hughes family consist of Daniel, the father, Louise, the mother, and four children, Daniel Jr., Sue, Odell, and Wayne. For many years the family was like any other family who was always busy with sports, girl scouts and family outings. The family was al...

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“The Disappearing Act” by Olivia Young

Submitted to Contest #79

Wampanoag Harbor was a quiet town. Few people lived here year-round. The ones who could afford not to didn’t care to live by a grey, snow-dusted beach and the people who did stay through the winter tended to hibernate, only leaving their house for work and church. It was early February when my mom died. We had just been hit by a big nor’easter; the thick snow silencing any noises that could be heard throughout town. The streets were empty and the majority of shops were locked up and dark, unable to garner enough business to stay open ...

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“Just for the talent” by Owoeye Joshua

Submitted to Contest #79

Replaying her words in his oval shaped head is not the best option,cos their urge to lead him,control,mislead and wreck him was overwhelming. Ben trailed the edge of his windows curtain,that was already cleared off the path of the window,allowing the sunset ray into his room with his eyes,thinking,is it a crime to keep the display of my gift to the world for age 18?...can't I decide?..did she birth me because of my gift?.. He then realized these questions won't be answered if he doesn't take a step,but what kind of step? 'Why can't you be li...

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“The last Farewell ” by LaShawn Baker

Submitted to Contest #79

The Last Farewell By LaShawn Baker Jan sat at the end of the back pew. She watched as everyone made their resolutions to her father and loved on her mother. Jan did not move or react to either. She watched them her siblings crying and playing the role they were handed. Sue, the older sister always doing the right thing, basically she was a snitch often telling the other three children to cover up her own shit. Then there was Bailey, oh Ms. Bailey the second oldest-middle child, the peacemaker, and many times over shadowed by ...

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“Purple Rain” by S. J Pallas

Submitted to Contest #79

She was late. Fifteen minutes and counting. Jules looked up to the sky to find it a milky grey. The clouds swarmed, chasing each other in a self-destructive spiral. Any minute now and they were going to burst. He took out his phone again to check the time. Yeah, Tia was still late, now sixteen minutes and counting. At this rate they would miss the opening credits. His thumbs drifted over his contacts until he found her photo. He smiled; it was a snapshot of them at Disney World. She had insisted on him wearing that stupid Mickey Mouse hat ...

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“A broken promise” by Paolo Henriquez

Submitted to Contest #79

As I packed my suitcases with everything I caught around me, my mother would talk to me from the doorway of my room. "You don't need to do this. Talk to her". Despite the silence in the room, my head was full of noise. I could feel my face flushed, and my throat was full of anger that I thought I was about to vomit. I knew that if I opened my mouth, I would say things that I could not regret later. "This is also difficult for her. You have to understand" she remarked, condescendingly. Those last words came out of her so simply; yet they came...

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“The Stamp” by Maxine Danby

Submitted to Contest #79

The stamp All mothers are caring. My mother was uncaring. Does that make all mothers uncaring? Not entirely correct. If you had hurt yourself; or someone had hurt you; or an animal became injured, my mother nursed us or the animal, in the most caring of ways. I remember being carried home by my mother after one of my siblings ran home to get her when a rock had hit me in the mouth. It was a rock fight amongst a few of the neighbourhood kids. I remember her carrying me home in a daze with blood dribbling from my mouth. It must have bee...

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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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