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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

“Riding Without Training Wheels” by Nelson Locklear

Submitted to Contest #79

There’s a quote by Michel de Montaigne, “A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his own opinion of what happens.” My uncle would tell me this all the time and I always held it in high regard because of him, though it’s a quote from my grandpa that echoes in me. “It’s not the sound of the bat that gets you; it’s the ball that you can’t stop that’ll hurt you.” As long as I could remember, on a clear blue sky day I would stop and lie down to look up at the beauty of God’s creation. I would lie on the grass, porch, or where ever and ju...

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“"Not Again. Never Again."” by Spencer Steeves

Submitted to Contest #79

"Not Again, Never Again." "Come, Thaddeus. It's time." The pale light of morning peered in through the slit doorway of his canvas tent. As was always the case, the sharp bar of burning radiance managed to find its way into his eyes. Thaddeus blocked it out with his puce-skinned arm and proffered a sigh of irritation. Though truth be told, he was relieved, waking to that sight. After so many long months of being trapped beneath the surface, traversing the Harrowhearth, being free, seeing the sunlight again, it felt like a dream come true. He ...

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“Just Hold on to Me” by Sofia Thomas

Submitted to Contest #79

There used to be an evil psychiatrist living amidst the noisy business of New York City, who liked to see the effects of isolation on the human brain. Now, he lives in solitary confinement. Lives change in an instant. Cindy was kidnapped first. She was living on the streets, walking for hours to find pennies on the ground or anything edible from trash cans. God blessed her a couple times a week with a couch or floor to sleep on. She had lost everything when her mother died. Her life was a rich person’s worst nightmare; nothing but a c...

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“The Wrenching Question” by Julie Williams

Submitted to Contest #79

The smell of mildew hurtles into Ann’s nasal cavity. She tries to move; her legs are stuck in their place. A groan escapes her lips as she struggles to sit. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice calls quietly to her. Alarmed, Ann wonders where she is and what happened before she awoke. The building she’s in seems to be a barn-like place. Straw is everywhere around her, she’s up against a bale of hay. And there’s a tractor-like vehicle ten feet away from her. She assumes...

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“dragon fire and golden flames” by Claudia Anne

Submitted to Contest #79

Blood clung to the cut on his cheek, running down his neck and pooling with sticky sweat and the violet patch of bruises blossoming along his collarbone. His breathing was ragged, he keeled over trying to catch his breath, to take in what had just happened. The boys golden down of hair was caked in dried blood, dirt and dust. He looked exhausted and injured but she did not fare much better. Skye breathed slowly, leaning into the concrete wall and letting it hold her as she tried to lift up her left knee. She gasped at the movement, grit...

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“Who is your Daddy and what does he do? An Another Earth Short Story” by Duane Ellefson

Submitted to Contest #79

Chicago 2058 Mid-Level, Residential district Mid-level was crowded, buildings and towers stretching into the space between the mid and upper levels, criss-crossed with walkways, stairs, and of course the traffic lanes of hover-vehicles and other flying contraptions. Holo billboards hovered above rooftops or covered entire sides of buildings, encouraging the ever increasing consumerism that had seemed to engulf the world of the megacities. It had been the study of the Great War and the Infection War in his history class that had got...

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“A Dark Legacy ” by Nicole Jalonen

Submitted to Contest #79

Nicole jalonen Trama doesn’t quite cover what his childhood was. He was often beaten both physically and mentally ! For what the children at school called “ your legacy !” “ we know your last name now!” “ Tony Whitmore!” “Who told you ?!” “No !” The now twenty five year old Tony Holland breathed as a knock at his loft door made him jump out of bed as his boss , mentor and man who had raised him after he’d been found at age two wondering the cold streets of New York covered in blood and crying ! Lieutenant Gord Deiman Brisk ye...

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“Notes from the Squall” by Danielle Hutchinson

Submitted to Contest #79

Notes from the Squall The one in the building in front of me practices scream therapy every morning in the shower. The first time it came as a shrill howling, a wailing noise. I was not alarmed, for why should I care? It was unexpected, however, and jarring to be confronted with. As the days went on, then the weeks, I thought it more like a caterwaul. An insecure and vulnerable sound to mark the start of a new day, another noise to join the cacophony of sparrow and starling morning cries. It was the older one, from the building beh...

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“Just A Family” by Jane Michaels

Submitted to Contest #79

"Bailey, your story won't come true!" Bailey sighed as her best friend went on and on about why Baileys books weren't logical. "Okay I get it Rose!" Bailey shouted and stood up. She walked over to her window next to her bed and opened the blinds. A beautiful sunrise was forming over the mountains. "But what if the sun actually turns black and a bunch of creatures come to life?" Bailey whispered, tensing as she waited for the sun to suddenly turn into a dark shade of blackness. Rose leaped up from the green bean bag she was sitting on a place...

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“Two's Company” by Tommy Aitch

Submitted to Contest #79

You could smell the antibacterial gel in the air. The bleep of machines, singing in harmony with the beat of the heart. The decor, pure white … not a drop of colour, anywhere. Another Monday morning, and there they sit, connected not only to a drip, but also to each other. “How was your weekend?”“Been throwing up non stop! And you?”“Had the family over. Didn’t feel like socialising, but I don’t want them to worry. Know what I mean?”“Yeah, I know.”The chairs were quite comfortable. The treatment, not so much. June was...

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“Nature's Fireworks” by Melina Verhoff

Submitted to Contest #79

My grandma was my best friend. She'd listen to my "issues" as a 6 year old. She'd tickle me, she'd have the most beautiful laugh that forever is held in my heart. She'd have the biggest heart of all of my family, and I'm glad that she ended up the way she ended her sentence with a period. When my dad was growing up, my grandma and my grandpa (biological) weren't in good shape. Their health was just so bad. My grandma battled with severe depression. She'd use alcohol to drown out the pain. She would abuse the use of prescription drugs. My ...

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“To save a friend” by Abilene Powell

Submitted to Contest #79

If you were to ask someone where they met their brother, they’d look at you like you were stupid and give you a response like “At the hospital” or “At my house”. It’s a good thing that it’s such a rarely asked question because I’m not sure if anyone would believe them if I told them where I met mine. I’d always wanted a brother; someone who I could play football with, someone I could sit and watch TV with, someone with who I could share my computer games. I never got one. My parents said they didn’t want any more children. I hung aro...

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“Me & Louis” by Jaye Pio

Submitted to Contest #79

At the risk of sounding kind Oedipal, Louis’s mom had always been a stunner. It wasn’t just great genes, either-- she worked at looking young; I remember her with cucumbers on her eyes and mud masks on her face and the hum of her treadmill. Every once in a while she’d ask Louis and me if we could see her crows-feet as we sat in front of the Nintendo. Louis’s mom claimed she had to keep a youthful appearance because she was the top real estate agent in our county which meant her face was plastered on benches and billboards all over the cit...

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“A Lapel Pin” by M L

Submitted to Contest #79

2957… 2958… 2959… “And have you spoken to anyone about your experiences?” “I guess.” 2966… 2967… 2968… “What did they say?” “Nothing much.” 2973… 2974… 2975… “Why is that?” I shrug. “Well, they were with me when it happened so there’s not much to say.” 2981… 2982… 2983… “Really? Why didn’t you mention this earlier in our sessions?” “Didn’t seem worth mentioning.” 2989… 2990… 2991… “Well, what if they’re… you know.” I look at her, waiting for her to finish. “A bad influence on your path to recovery?” I ...

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“Singing Stars” by Ryan Johnson

Submitted to Contest #79

The sky is why I fly. To the different hues of the atmosphere. To the puffy clouds and the purest shades of all colors of the universe. I challenge any cosmic or mystical power to say otherwise.“Clair”?“Remember Dad, when I sat on your shoulders and you pointed out star constellations after the sun went down. I do.I remember your big smile when I asked “do the stars talk to us daddy”?You laughed into the still night and passing shadows and said “yes my sweet pea. They even sing if you know how to listen”.“Lieutenant Donavan”!Clair snapp...

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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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