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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 – 158 stories

Stories

“Together Forever” by Diana Reinhart

Submitted to Contest #81

Nico and Camila broke up, right after he knew she got pregnant. To top off her rotten luck every time, they used to be best friends. Now all of it is gone; the friendship, love and her self-consciousness. Camila’s memory was hazy from all of that silent sobs she had in her bathroom, but she still remembered the last night she saw Nico, where they confronted each other in his car. “Abortion is not a choice, Nico!” She cried out, her hands clutching her heaving chest in the furnace of pain. “Then tell me, what other options do we hav...

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“Valentine Chemistry” by M.D. Smith

Submitted to Contest #81

I was married once, back when the earth’s crust was cooling. I was in love and loved him --- until he left me with a house mortgage and a broken heart. The shell on my heart hardened as the ice age arrived. I’m independent now and enjoy my career as a chemistry teacher at the local college. Being the same age as my next-door neighbor, she’s always trying to find me a guy. “Frances, you can’t stay hemmed up in that school and grading papers at home all your life. Why don’t you date? I know you turn down offers. Go with us to the neighborhoo...

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“Butterflies and Bubblegum Pink Hair” by Jocelyn Linan

Submitted to Contest #81

I hadn't seen her in months. The last I said to her was terrible and she left in tears. I spent endless nights sitting in bed, trying to sleep, but my mind would drift off and think about her. Her beautiful ice blue eyes, her soft blonde hair, and the way our hands fit perfectly together while walking down the halls together at school. How could I have been so stupid? I thought. I stood up off my bed and looked at myself in the mirror. I spent hours putting together the perfect outfit. A short black skirt, one she’d given to me on my birthda...

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“WE MEET ONCE AGAIN " by ROBIN SIMON” by Robin Simon

Submitted to Contest #81

I never thought I would see him again, thought this chapter in my life had come to an end.Giving my life to God when he turned and walked away.It all happened a year ago on this cold and stormy day.We were older now when I saw him once again.What we felt at the beginning can this story take a spin.He looked at me as I looked at him, as I felt Gods love for me withinHe took my hands no questions asked, what happened then my love lets put it in the past.Lets take what we have learned and let love grow.We want rush this and take it slow.Yes, I ...

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“Destined to be...!” by Rubab Tunio

Submitted to Contest #81

My heartbeats were growing faster and faster as soon as I was getting close to the city, the city of my university that changed me forever. I reached in front of my university gate; a wide, beautiful gate which was wide open as if it had opened its arms to welcome me after six years. Here was the place that gave me my life’s best memories and best people. Yet, I have never dared to come to this city again, I was afraid that I may encounter him, and I never wanted to see him again. I parked my car for a moment on the other ...

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“Perfect ” by Anuji Withana

Submitted to Contest #81

The notes were high in the bar. The sound was buzzing in ears as I sipped the cocktail slowly to the rhythm. I watched as the waitress danced her own beat as she served the last of the waiting customers. It was a Friday night and business was good. I was a usual, and I recognized the new faces opening up here. I was swirling my glass in the final sips, as the door opened with a clatter and he entered. My heart skipped a beat.A moment of a lost soul.He walked straight at the bar. The 5ft 10 without a little lack...

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“Time apart” by Elle S

Submitted to Contest #81

Kal's hand is enwrapped around my upper arm, squeezing. It is not a gentle squeeze. It is violent and possessive, and the hand is shaking as it grips. I try to pull away, but the grip won't loosen. It tightens instead. I gasp, and I want to cry. I don't cry. I am so angry. I’d rather die than show him my weakness now, so I dare not cry. I laugh instead. I release a cackle from deep within my stomach, and hear it reverberate in my ears, defiant and provocative. "Lara?" A deep voice interrupted my reverie. My head snapped towards the voice a...

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“Always Here” by Katie Emma

Submitted to Contest #81

Looking back, I suppose Theo had always been there for me; when I lost my first tooth, when I had my first kiss, when I had my first heartbreak. He'd never given up on me, even when he probably should have. But that was the thing about Theo Carter. He never gave up on you, even if you gave up on yourself. Theo and I had grown up together, the cliché story of mums being pregnant at the same time, Theo being older than me by 2 weeks, our bond being incredibly close. And of course, the cliché that exists in almost every love story ever creat...

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“Mike and Gail” by Beth Murray

Submitted to Contest #81

"Oh my, I never thought you'd be interested in knowing all these boring facts about a couple old timers like us, Sunny" Gran said as Pops dosed in his recliner. "Well," Sunny said, "I am doing a report for the school newspaper, I'm practicing for after college when I get a job at the Canton, Herald newspaper. The report lays out the facts about how the idea and concept of marriage has changed over time, and other methods and concepts have advanced to such a degree that it's affecting society. I am analyzing the idea of same gender marriages ...

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“Spearmint and Honey” by Esther Fleener

Submitted to Contest #81

The scent of spearmint tea filling the small loft and carrying the delicate clinks of China on its aroma brings me back into focus from my thoughts of the driving conditions outside. “Honey, Lee?” My grandmother asks. Her voice golden and light, like a perfectly baked pastry, and just like the smell of confection fills a house, her words carry across the small loft to me. “Please,” I reply for the fourth time this week. When my mother first asked me to stop in on my grandmother between my college classes, I was worried about losing study...

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“Bitter Necessity” by Valerye Tellez

Submitted to Contest #81

Twenty minutes after the first time we slept together, Kiara introduced me to her boyfriend. It was different times back then, we were both kids surrounded by the noose of our families. I swallowed the bitter necessity of it with a smile and said hello to the boyfriend. Made polite small talk. I fancied myself a woman of the world, understanding the need for hiding what we were, even if I chafed under the secrecy. The next time we saw each other I was cold and she confused. I pretended not to notice every time she shot me a s...

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“ENDLESS LOVE” by Sheila Payne

Submitted to Contest #81

1935 She moved with her parents to a small cottage, by the lake. She was 4, her brother was 8. It was a small town called Harbor View, consisting of mostly summer cottages, but as time went on people wanted to stay there year 'round. The houses had to be insulated and weatherized to withstand the winter. 1941 He moved to the same area, 3 miles down the road, with his parents, he was an only child. His mother was German Lutheran(low deutch) and his father German Catholic( high deutch), their brothers never got along. He was in the 6th grade. ...

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“My high school love life” by Siddhant Dhungana

Submitted to Contest #81

It was wintertime. Everybody loves wintertime, don't they? Making a snowman, snow fights, having fun, maybe having chat with friends that was all needed to escape away from the boring world we're living in. I wanted no different than that, but everybody doesn't get what they wanted in their life. It was like any other regular day of my life, or at least I thought it was. The day was pleasant like any other day of winter. Whatever, I didn't like being there at school felt like I was in some kind of solitary confinement. Rules, punctuation, ...

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“Second Best” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #81

What may have rated as an average first date for most was a turn into uncharted waters for Kailin. She took another sip of wine, her eyes darting between the dark, rich brown of Amandi’s eyes and the near-black red of her wine. A small frown played at the corner of her lips.Amandi reached across the table and took her slender, pale hand in his own; his deep brown skin contrasting starkly with her pink-tinged fingers. “You’re thinking something. Just say it. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to get to know you.”“I have a history with dating...

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“The Dreaded Date” by Cerelia Wolf

Submitted to Contest #81

Alice sat in the crowed bar waiting for her date to arrive. Her best friend had set this up for her because it have been over a year since the supposed love of her life and college sweetheart had broken up with her quite spectacularly on valentines day. Everyone thought that Alice needed to move on with her life (and more specifically her love life) but she didn't feel ready for that. She had spent the first six months wallowing in self pity and over the following months she moved onto self hatred and self sabotage. This time last year she h...

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$50

Prize money

915

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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