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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#81: Candy Hearts

Ah, love. From the first spark of attraction to the soul-deep contentment of a long-established relationship, romantic love is a force that continues to mystify, enthrall, and surprise us.

And while there’s plenty to criticize about Valentine’s Day, it’s still a nice excuse for people in romantic relationships to stop and appreciate their partners for a day. Especially during lockdown, when quarters are tight and nerves are often frayed, it’s important to remember why we chose the person (or people) we coupled up with.

What better time for a writer to dive headfirst into romances? No matter how many times we tell a love story, each relationship is going to have its own unique joys and frustrations, and we want to feel them all. So feel free to let your sappy side out — this week we’re celebrating love!

This week's prompts

Write about two people reconnecting after a rough patch in their relationship.

Romance – 247 stories

Write a love story about an older couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers.

Romance – 168 stories

Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.

Romance – 161 stories

Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Romance – 181 stories

Write about someone asking out an old crush, only to realize their crush doesn’t remember they’ve ever met before.

Romance – 159 stories

Stories

“Healed Wounds” by Dede Dee

Submitted to Contest #81

It had been a long day for Lily at work, she is the lead neurosurgeon at the private hospital she works at and she had just finished a 19-hour brain surgery where she and her team had to separate a set of conjoined twins and all she could think of was getting home, taking a shower and going to bed. She was too tired to drive so he had to take an uber home, when the driver pulled over in front of her house, she was surprised to see Eric’s car parked in front of it, she looked at her watch and it was just 7p...

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“Second Chances” by Ryth Lebron

Submitted to Contest #81

"Valentine's Day Madness! Buy One Get One Free! Matching Couples' Sets!" I sigh, remembering the pain of why I’m now single. It all happened two months ago, on December 22nd. It was a snowy day. My boyfriend and I were walking through the park, holding hands and acting like everything was fine when just the opposite was more accurate. “Babe, I think we need to talk.” my boyfriend had admitted, pausing and turning to look me in the eye. &nbsp...

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“A Warm November” by Mike Henry

Submitted to Contest #81

A Warm November Like him, the Thames moved slowly; an ancient waterway has no need to hurry. “Hurrying is for the young and impatient,” he thought to himself as he shuffled along, enjoying the br...

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“Pictures of us” by A. Neptune

Submitted to Contest #81

"25 minutes, cutting this a little close," David thought to himself as he removed the nearly cooked steaks from the oven. The middle-aged man had lost nearly an hour consoling his youngest daughter over the phone. And another 20 thinking of ways to dispose of the young man that'd broken his baby's heart.He shook himself free of the anger that surged back into his chest every time it crossed his mind and focused on cooking. The steaks hit the cast iron pan with a sizzle, followed by butter, diced garlic, and rosemary. The heavenly aroma fille...

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“The Christmas Proposal ” by Rinkle Patel 9th C

Submitted to Contest #81

It was Christmas morning and Nancy was woken up by her boyfriend. She rubbed her eyes and looked into his, wide with excitement as though he had been awake for hours. “It’s going to be a beautiful day today.” “Is today a special day?” Nancy teased. “Yes, it’s Saturday. The best day of the week. Football is on, full English in a bit, some drinks later.” “Anything else?” Jude looked curiously at her, thought for a moment, and replied with a simple not that I can think of. He was, however, running over a plan in his mind. “It’s Chris...

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“One In The Same” by Ramel Kersey

Submitted to Contest #81

“I remember when the fragrance of cherry blossom lotion first graced my nostrils. The perfect silhouette appears to be levitating before me. I could feel a new energy shifting my cells, rising my curiosity and hypnotizing me. I was too transfixed for it to be love at first sight.” “You always told me it was my personality that captured your heart.” “It was.” “No it wasn’t John. From what you just said it was your erotic hormones that drew you to me.” He placed his hand on the side of his head and searched the skies for a reasonable rebuttal....

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“When Words Become Obsolete” by Bray L

Submitted to Contest #81

They were sitting across from each other eating their fancy meals - a large dish of angel hair pasta with shrimp for her, and chicken fettuccine alfredo for him, a plate of garlic bread sitting in the middle of the small table in the corner of the dimly lit restaurant. No other individuals in the restaurant knew, or particularly cared, that this was their fifty-ninth Valentine’s Day spent at this table, and no waiters or waitresses worked here long enough to keep this tab on them. This was their fifty-ninth night spent at the small bo...

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“Soul Mates” by Bobby Bone

Submitted to Contest #81

I could stare at you forever. I still want to hold you tight and never let you go. Your beautiful brown eyes speak to me without you ever saying a word. Even today, as I look at you, I experience the same feelings I did 60 years ago. Sitting comfortably in our living room I can still communicate and enjoy our moments together as I stare at your picture. We still share many memories today. Our house, small and comfortable, is where we shared our life together. Many moments were shared in this particular room and ...

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“Concerts Can Bring People Back Together” by Morgan Douglas

Submitted to Contest #81

Unfortunately, plenty of marriages end in divorce. Nathan and Alejandra didn’t think they would be one of those. They became acquainted not too long after Alejandra and her family immigrated from Mexico. She enrolled in his high school but it wasn’t until college that they really hit it off. Taking it past casual flirtation to a committed relationship. It seemed like a classic pairing, him a football player for the university and she a cheerleader and a scholar. She never let him or her extracurricular activities get in the way of her school...

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“You Knew Me” by Erica Anderson

Submitted to Contest #81

Date; 02/13/18 Time; 24:30am It’s late at night, I can’t sleep...I’ve been thinking about him again...even though I stopped crushing on him, my heart feels stronger feelings than last time...I sit upon my windowsill in my room, I watch as rain pours itself down in front of the half-moon that lights up the darkened sky, my head pounds as hard as the rain is pounding against my window. I can’t keep hiding these feelings anymore...I glance towards the transgender flag hanging against my wall, beside the rainbow flag, which has hung there for ...

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“The Art of Loving Someone at the End of the World” by Natalia Suarez

Submitted to Contest #81

Loneliness comes in many forms. You can observe it in the line at the bank, shopping for unnecessary goods, even under your own roof it lingers. Sometimes though, it's right in front of you, in the middle of a total humanity-killing apocalypse. That's the way Mary saw it anyways. Her week had started with greater prospects. Receiving her new job at the firm was just the beginning. She had met a guy. He was a sort of unperfect dream. Everything about him was what she had wanted for the past plethora of months, but at the end he had fe...

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“Sweets for the Sweet” by Sam Newsome

Submitted to Contest #81

Sweets to the Sweet Candy, flowers, a fine meal with soft music and a fine wine was the assemblage that Evan associated with Valentine Day. On this occasion he had a special reason to want a special evening. Emily was a sweet girl. She had many fine qualities that Evan admired. She was as cute as hell. She was by all app...

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“Love Never Dies” by Bodhini Jain

Submitted to Contest #81

‘Love Never Dies ‘ “I will surely find them”, I resolved to myself because Miss Suman has instructed strictly that tomorrow is the last date for project submission. When she says she means it and would never forgive anyone. I usually finish my work on the very day it is assigned but this time my favorite team has reached FIFA Finals for the first time so how could I miss this. The project was almost finish but was waiting for the designs that mummy was supposed to give me. My sweet mother is a fabulous fashion designer so she promise...

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“Dying for love” by Yolanda Hlongwa

Submitted to Contest #81

The warm, flavoured air settled on their tongues as it rushed out of the lounge, as if it were being set free from captivity as soon as Zaynn opened the door and stepped aside to let the lady in first. Isipho strolled past him without uttering so much as a ‘thank you’. As the pair made its way to the booths, Isipho couldn’t help but to let her eyes wander. Handsome, burly and moneyed men sat on the velvet couches of the Prestige Lounge, discussing their daily business affairs and laughing modestly as they went on with their poker games, occa...

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“Taylor's Version” by Morgan Tasse

Submitted to Contest #81

Note: Inspired by a true story that happened merely last Valentine's Day"Have you listened to it yet?"Cassandra blurted excitedly, handing me her cell phone which almost fell out of my hands in her haste. Her yellow hair was a huge mess like she hasn’t combed in days. I almost laughed at the sight, my best friend since high school hasn’t aged a day, well… mentally. I shook my head in response and that only made her even more animated to make me listen to it now. We have been waiting for this song to come out for almost a year now but those d...

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$50

Prize money

916

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 19, 2021 EST

Won by Molly Quinnell 🏆

Title: Golden Cheekbones and the Rising Sun

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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