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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

“The Perfect Match” by Daryl Price

Submitted to Contest #81

My hands were sweaty, my head was spinning, and I had circled around Harry’s Burger Shack at least a dozen times. It had been years since I had been on an actual date, and I had no clue who I was meeting. A few weeks ago, when this new app came out, I was sure it wouldn’t be any different than the others. The Perfect Match app promised to match you up with the most memorable date you had ever been on or they would refund you your membership, and expenses incurred on your date. I thought their arrogance was humorous, so I signed up for the pr...

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“The light I yearn” by Emily A.

Submitted to Contest #81

"Cor?!" "Florian? Wha-you-you're here?" "I could say the same to you!" Florian says as he smirks, letting his golden-brown curls hang loose, radiating a dreamy hue. I don't know where I am, but I feel a cold wisp of air skim my neck. I can hear a distant hum of what seems like a discordant melody slightly brush my ears. I feel as if an abyss had consumed my soul, only to be nourished by the gleam of Florian's smile and his translucent gray eyes, speckled with amber stars. "Florian, where are we?" "It doesn't matter where w...

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“Two of a Kind” by Daniel Harder

Submitted to Contest #81

It was just your average, run-of-the-mill Saturday evening first date from Match.com at the quaint little local corner diner with burgers and fries, and…. Ah, who am I kidding? Here with reservations at Gary Danko, one of the fanciest, most expensive restaurants in San Francisco, are two apparently well-to-do, sophisticated individuals with impeccable fashion sense, who recently became acquainted with each other from the website named HighClassHeart.com, where the elite of society are introduced and begin their courtship. The name on the gen...

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“The blind date” by Amber Chen

Submitted to Contest #81

"I can't believe you're making me go!" I exaggerated. Tyler looked at me annoyed, "You're the one who agreed to this blind date, Kyra!" I sunk into the couch, how could I have been so stupid? At first, I didn't think much of it, I've been on blind dates all the time! So of course I agreed to this one. None of them ever ended well, they all had their separate flaws; Slurping, chewing with their mouth open, and the worst of all: Country music. "Kyra you said yes and that means you're going!" Tyler grabbed my hand and before I knew it I was bei...

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“George, the Mechanic” by Charlotte Lewis

Submitted to Contest #81

Not many people can say that they met someone they came to love while having their car repaired. Well, I can. It was a minor issue but I was upset as the car was new. New as in less than two months in my garage. The service writer at the dealer was surprised I had arrived so early in the day. I was more than put out and wanted the matter taken care of before I went to work. It was so early that the service department wasn't actually open yet for business. But the mechanic who fixed the sort of problem I presented happened to be at work and...

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“Chance encounters” by Lara Walters

Submitted to Contest #81

Jack couldn't remember the last time he'd really enjoyed himself on a first date. After a bad string of awkward encounters, he'd actually wondered how he still had the energy to put himself out there at all anymore. Much less in a blind-date situation, in any case. "Oh well," he thought to himself as he straightened his bow-tie and took one last look in the mirror. Valentine's day was fast approaching and Jack was determined that he wouldn't spend another year alone watching planes pass and cooking dinner for his black domestic cat, Moo. Alt...

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“Heartbreak” by Kay Swenn

Submitted to Contest #81

Kylie was nervous, this was her first date in about six months since she'd broken up with Dylan after she caught him with another woman. She was wearing a red dress and heels, but was fretting with her curls that seemed to keep coming loose. She'd been waiting in her car now for half an hour, worrying and worrying. Two years she'd been with Dylan, and for the last three months of their relationship had he been with other people. She figured six months was enough time to sulk and hopped onto a dating site. It seemed to be more of a hookup sit...

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“Chance Encounters of the Romantic Kind” by Nina Thompson

Submitted to Contest #81

“I hate vegans! They’re always in my face about me eating meat! Like, get off of my dick, right?”The girl in front of me grins jokingly, and I force out out a laugh. “Uh, right. Well, you know, I’m vegan.”The smile slips off of her face. Her eyes drift away from mine as she takes a long sip of wine out of her fourth glass of the night. I really better call her a cab.Later, after shutting the door on her ride home, I take a breath of relief. I’m feeling a little tipsy myself, since I had to drink two mojitos just to put up with her, but inste...

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“The Bad Date” by Matthew Flick

Submitted to Contest #81

"Is it just me? Or is it really hot in here?" Nancy peered down at her vintage Pink Flamingo Swatch. If the watch is vintage, so is she, receiving the watch as a tenth birthday gift. She wore a fitted, low cut blue top and pair of smart dove gray trousers. Despite her choice in watches, she looked lovely. Sexy, but not slutty. Her hair set in shoulder-length, mousy brown curls. Emitting a low chuckle, Nancy said, "Well. Would you look at the time? I didn't realize it was so late." "It's only 9 o'clock", whispered Bill. "Yes. But I have...

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“ First Date, Last Date” by Yvone Mthembu

Submitted to Contest #81

Tim There he sat on the insanely expensive lover's seat he bought as a gift to his twin sister Tessa,his eyes landed on the VIP tickets and backstage passes for the Rock Band and tears falls afresh,he missed on his first date with a twin he has never known all thanks to his father's miscellaneous business while Tessa went for her last.He tightly wrung his shoulders the ugly olive rug Tessa sent him six months ago, she claimed it carried her soul since she knitted it herself especially for him.He had known her for only six months yet she e...

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“Alyssa Perie” by Konnen Kreevy

Submitted to Contest #81

Alyssa gripped onto the wine glass, listening to the classical musical of the restaurant and looking out to the cityscape. The smell of the dishes wafted through the air, and a bead of sweat trickled down her cheek. She gnawed on her lip, looking down and glancing at her watch every few minutes. She could feel the waitress’s eyes burning through her, full of fascination. A man slipped into the chair in front of her, she slammed the wine glass down onto the table, and she pointed to her watch and raised her eyebrow. “You’re late.” She said,...

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“Game, Set and Match” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #81

Game, Set and Match Dana looked in the mirror and saw, staring back at her, a 35 year old woman with shoulder length brown hair, falling around her shoulders, blue eyes and dark sweeping lashes that partially hid a faint, lurking sadness. Wrinkling her brow, she tugged at the scarf round her neck. “ Wrong colour for my shirt,” she muttered to herself, it wouldn’t do. The shirt wouldn’t do either. She took it off. Riffling through the wardrobe, she pulled out a white Erika short sleeve button- up. Why was she doing th...

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“First date of our relationship .” by Kulsum Kazi

Submitted to Contest #81

Ones I had posted a photo on Instagram and after 2 hours I got the message from unknown person which is in my followers list and also facebook friend but I never know about him. The one message from that person who is unknown for me,changed my life fully. He is my junior in college time. We are from same department and in college we came across with each other but never talked. Coincidentally we are from same hometown. So when I post that photo I mentioned the location so he had came across that and send message to me. The message was very s...

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“The Set-Up” by Chthonic Cat

Submitted to Contest #81

"I'm telling you, she's really your type. She'll want to see you, and she'll like you. Trust me, mate."My eyes travelled from the book back to my best friend Frans in one swift motion, like I was swinging the baseball bat. When my face wasn't shoved either in a textbook on psychology of crime, or in a fictional story, I loved getting exercise, accompanied by music playlists of all kinds of genres. Rock and metal really helped me get in the mood. And the hot baths after were the cherry on top of a good evening.All of that didn't leave much ti...

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“Glow” by Helen O'Connor

Submitted to Contest #81

Jessa could hardly contain her excitement as she rode on the number eighteen bus. She had travelled this route so many times with her summer friends when she was just a girl. A contented kind of nostalgia washed over her as the familiarity of the streets, sun washed as the last sun of the afternoon began to dim. It was a beautiful summer evening, like the kind in romance movies in Italy or Spain. A June day in high summer, just like the halcyon days of her childhood. Her linen dress was flowed softly over her slim fi...

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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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