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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

“Forgiven” by Miss Boo

Submitted to Contest #79

The judge's words rang throughout the courtroom, ‘Michael Jonathan Greary sentenced to life in prison . . .’ The gallery, like a pot left simmering for weeks, boiled over and cries rose up from either side. Some were happy and some were devastated, but collectively what settled was a sense of relief. It was finally over. People could go back to their lives and some semblance of a normal existence. The bailiffs cleared the courtroom. The crowd moved noisily through the halls and spilled onto the street. Camer...

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“Aaidan” by GE Lion

Submitted to Contest #79

It was a hot day in the Bubble, and I cried out in pain as Xanda broke my arm in two. Two of his hands grabbed my neck, and I gasped for air while my remaining arm punched him repeatedly in his ribs. After a brief struggle, I glanced up at the Princeps, who scratched his forehead with his left paw.My palm slammed the dirt twice, and the crowd roared.Xanda's hands immediately let go of my throat. I tried to get up, but the pain from my broken arm had made me woozy. The red sun swam before my eyes. I vaguely felt my body being lifted into a st...

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“Prayers and Present” by Irene Shi

Submitted to Contest #79

If Annie was being honest, she did not really like what she was doing. Waiting for someone who was doing great in life and probably not familiar anymore while she panics silently where she sits, wearing her one and only decent dress she had been wearing for seven years already and only for very special occasions. But still, she managed to let out a fake joyous “I can't wait” when she was contacted by an unknown number then invited in a dinner by her brother whom she never heard from for the past ten years. R...

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“A true incident that happened at the hospital” by Rani Kulatunga

Submitted to Contest #79

This is a true story and I am going to write about one incident in the hospital. I do not know to mention the name of the village and the patient's name. I had a sudden pain in my chest and the Doctor asked me to get ECG and it was little doubt. Therefore, he advised me to admit to the hospital. Without my family members, I went to the hospital with my friends' supports. It was very weak to control my mind while admitting to the hospital. I must mention the hospital's name because their services were very genuine. Badulla hospital...

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“20 minutes” by Claudia Capasso

Submitted to Contest #79

The phone rings and vibrates on the table. Amy couldn't take it on the costume she was wearing. The most awful thing about the "clothes" was that they felt like a second skin now. It was something she was so used to now that she had to just ignore the lack of air, the painful touch of the double mask on her nose and cheeks. She had learned to do it. But what she kept forgetting was how lonely the costume was. How the people who saw her on it could barely recognise her. A nurse had written her name on the back, but still, she felt nameless, i...

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“Vines From an Old Friend” by F A

Submitted to Contest #79

“Come on, James.” Eliss grabbed me by the hand and lead me deeper into the trees. “I told you I knew I secret spot where no one could find us.” “This seems a little dangerous,” I whispered. Eliss came to a full stop and spun around on his heel as quick a ballerina. “Impressive sp—“ “James,” Eliss said seriously. I hadn’t known before then how serious the sunny, blond boy could get. “Do you trust me?” “Of course,” I replied in a heartbeat. “Do you trust me more than you fear these woods?” “Yes!” “Do you trust me more, than you fear... you par...

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“He'll Never Know” by Rebecca Rogers

Submitted to Contest #79

In 1996 my older sister, my hero, wrote me a letter explaining how our father had molested her until she was 12. I cried. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands... and enjoy it. I had very little to do with my father after the age of four, when my parents divorced after multiple instances of adultery on my father's part. There was the odd visit here and there, but not because he instigated the connection. I think my mother just needed a break from being the single parent of three young girls. My mother made all the arrangements. The...

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“I'm coming home darling.” by Ily Albi

Submitted to Contest #79

I'd come to be in a state of bugaboo in my bucolic hometown. I will not bloviate on my diffident character at this time; but acting dyslogistic towards my family should not be a matter of surprise, but understanding for those bereft of comprehension concerning my upbringing. A "normal" and socially standardized family such as my own embellish themselves in the 'norm of normality', and as the afternoon passed on, I suppose lounging on the increasingly dim olive-tinted front porch wasn't too pathetic for someone such as myself: talentless,...

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“FFURFU THOMA” by Dibyendu Pal

Submitted to Contest #79

FURFU-THUMA Baltu Mittar was missing. During my excursion to Darjeeling lost trace of him. I searched each & every probable place. No trace of him. I was considering advertising in a newspaper about missing Baltu. Writings draft of advertisement as I was about to go to the office of the newspaper along with a photograph of Baltu, a postman appeared in my residence handing over me a registered letter. Opening the letter, I found it was from my dear friend Baltu. He ...

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“A Letter To Those Not Invited To My Wedding ” by Nick L.

Submitted to Contest #79

A Letter To Those Not Invited To My Wedding The first emotion I intend to incite is jealousy. If it can even be called an emotion, I don’t know, I don’t think it is...whatever, I couldn’t care less. These years on the road have taught me greater things than etymology. I’m saying here, now, between testing suits at a shop in Auckland, that my wedding is coming up, and it’s going to be awesome. Those years which I spent locked in my room, shitting and pissing on my own carpet, praying, literally cutting myself, and eventually writing....

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“End of Suffering” by HBR Patel

Submitted to Contest #79

"Think it through, son. Are you sure about what you are saying and trying to do?' asked Tim to his son Ron. Ron was furious with rage dripping from his eyes. He was moving to and fro in the drawing-room. The entire family assembled in the living room after hearing what Ron was about to do. This step that Ron was firm on taking will ruin the future of the two families. 'Take time Bro. Do not hurry into such decisions. Think about it.' advised Mike, Ron's elder brother. 'I have thought through this many times. This is my final decision.'...

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“A Panicked Adult ” by Faith Ann

Submitted to Contest #79

Sometimes I wish he left bruises on my body, then I wouldn’t want to toss my computer after every hopeless article. Another wasted night. Another box of tissues littering the cold wood floor. Although I hate thinking in absolutes, I’m almost certain tomorrow morning my body will ache from another night of anxious dreams. Maybe I’ll luck out with only apocalyptic dreams tonight, I almost miss the escapism. Almost. But no matter what type of terror awaits my silk sheets, the bags under my eyes will be mature enough to sing their ABCs. New knot...

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“Cutting Ties” by Keshia Wilson

Submitted to Contest #79

I knocked on the front door and waited for it to open. It was a luxury she never offered me when she visited my home. “She” being my mother, of course. Well, my sorry excuse for a mother. This was the night I was going to do something about that. I heard footsteps coming from behind the door before it opened. “Oh, Zane, how nice to see you!” My mother cooed as she appeared in the entryway. She stepped aside t...

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“A Breathe of Freedom” by Sinovia Rolle

Submitted to Contest #79

"Seraphina, darling are you ok? Would you like me to have the servants make you something to eat or drink?' "No mother, I'm quite fine" "I wish you wouldn't call me mother darling, I sound like some evil counterpart to your life" I pretend to be too focused on my book written in Braille to respond. I hear a soft sigh from her direction and then there's silence. Finally, I can think. Alesha Paris DeJuneis. Dubbed by the press as the "best mother on this planet and any other." She lost her son and husband in a deadly car crash and had to take...

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“Fire And Ice” by Jo Borrill

Submitted to Contest #79

I cannot work out if it's fire or ice. I wonder which is worse. I like fire. Intrigue, mystery, dance. Warmth, comfort, destruction, voices which sooth. Ice crackles too, in a glass, when I am defeated. Rejuvenation. Relief. Quenchable.The sun is high in the sky. A beautiful day. The contrast inside is heavy and uncomfortable. I imagine rain is on the way.My gaze turns back to her. She is sitting very still, forward in her chair. Like she is waiting for me to pounce. Guarded and cautious. Unsmiling.I settle for ice. Burning ice, like when yo...

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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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