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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

“Clouds Above Love” by Meggysa Nine

Submitted to Contest #81

"Why did we left each other's embrace? Was my effort to hold on to our relationship isn't enough?" The look on her face crumbled and her eyes were like dark clouds starting to shadow her glistening gazes. She glanced at me for a while and then stared at the night sky. I want to fix her hair that is being blown by the wind. I want to caress her cheek and gently kiss her forehead. From staring at the dark murky sky, she diverted her gaze into her lap. "I tried..." I whispered, trying to find the right words, "I tried to stop you from leavi...

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“ THE HARDEST PART OF LOVE” by Esther Lune

Submitted to Contest #81

Warning: mention of suicide"I love you, I love you more than the sky loves the cloud, I love you more than the night loves the stars, the waves love the ocean and the bees love the flower". Joseph shouted in front of Lisa's house, it was the first time he had ever confessed his feelings to anyone, and even more, had done it in such a dramatic way. He could hear his heart beating louder than ever, his palms sweaty and knees weak. The wind whistled as it passed away, and the sun had hidden its face behind a cloud. All his head would sing ...

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“Mrs. Wilson” by Black Gyrl SOS

Submitted to Contest #81

This road trip with my sorority sisters back to our alma mater for homecoming was a better idea in my head than it has been on the commute. The experience is fun, but my bones just don’t do well with long car rides anymore and eight hours is quite the feat. As we pass the WELCOME sign that solidifies that we are back in the city that started it all, I decide to text him. I had been going back and forth with myself for the entirety of this commute and concluded, if I am going to let this man live rent free in my head for ...

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“Together Again” by Jareth Gaskin

Submitted to Contest #81

I sat on the edge of our lookout, once again alone. Still, it would always be our lookout, because it stopped being mine alone when I opened my heart to her. I sat and watched the tide roll in and crash against the rocks below. Lost in memories, I closed my eyes and began to hum. Though barely a whisper passed my lips, it did not matter… because in my mind, I could hear her sing again. Her voice was the sound of my childhood. Through the song that replayed on my mind, I could see two kids running around on the very stone I sat on now. ...

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“reunion” by Niké A.

Submitted to Contest #81

The woods have always felt familiar to Orion; he’s a hunter, after all. That being said, he hasn’t been to this part of the forest in a long, long time. It’s nighttime and the moon casts an almost mournful glow through the branches of the great oak trees that tower above his head. Something hangs in the air, but Orion can’t quite put his finger on it; his memories of this place have been subconsciously repressed and he feels them slowly start to unravel as he travels further along. A river rolls by with quiet yet fervent motion, almost as if...

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“See you soon.” by Alex Acosta

Submitted to Contest #81

I didn’t want to send the text. In fact I never wanted to text her ever again. I didn’t know what I was doing. My hands were shakily holding my phone. I never changed her contact photo. She looked so pretty in it, making a goofy face. You can do this. I wasn’t necessarily worried that she wouldn’t respond, it was more so me being worried about if our energy would still be the same. I’m not sure if I could handle the one worded responses anymore. I took a deep breath. Okay, you can do this. You’re doing this. Do it now. ...

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“Airport” by Laura Smith

Submitted to Contest #81

Luke found it incredibly hard to say no. It didn’t matter who it was or what they needed; he always found a way to help them out, so it was certainly understandable that the night he got a call from an old friend asking him for a favor, he couldn’t turn his back. Sophie was her name. They met in high school but barely talked to each other at all. One day, Luke fell into trouble he couldn’t handle alone and she was the only person who chased after him to help. Complete strangers yet she came to him, offering a helping hand during a distressi...

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“Valentine's Day” by Suman Gurung

Submitted to Contest #81

Night time, 11:30 PM, February 13th Origin is on her study table trying to focus on her studies but lot of things are going around on her head. She is a book worm and a career oriented girl. She's very ambitious and had into a relationship for the first time. It was the night of her first Valentine's day which she had already imagined after entering into the relationship with Sreyers, that she would be celebrating her very first Valentine's day with her boyfriend in a very extra ordinary way and was very excited. But we have to run w...

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“Rekindling an impossible love” by Kelly Stenning

Submitted to Contest #81

Nervous. That was the only thing that Damon could describe himself as he sat there in the booth waiting. He clasped his hands together, cringing at how sweaty they were. He quickly wiped them on his trousers. Tick Tick Tick Damon’s blue eyes flickered to the clock , the noise of its hands, clanging in his head. He looked away from it. Clock watching was only going to make things worse he told himself. However, the sneak peek at the clock indicated how much time he had left until she arrived. 5 minutes. He can wait patiently for 5 ...

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“Patched Up” by Kaela Bredine

Submitted to Contest #81

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF ASSAULT"It's been three years Christine. He isn't in your life and you told me you didn't want him in your life. You told me not to mention his name or show you him ever again."Ruby has been telling me this for weeks now, then again I've been talking about meeting up with Richard for weeks. I don't why I want to meet up with him all of a sudden. He hurt me, tremendously, but I guess that's what a toxic relationship does. It makes you come back to your manipulative significant other. Richard and I were together for...

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“Heels Over Head” by Russ Lydzinski

Submitted to Contest #81

It was the morning of May Eighteenth, Nineteen Hundred Eighty. Mount St. Helen’s was erupting in Washington State, and Thomas was taking his morning walk in Penshaw, Ohio. He stood on a familiar street corner in a drizzle, watching a tall, slender woman cross the street. She wore a raincoat with a plastic hood. With her collar turned up, he couldn’t see her face, but she had glanced at him without making eye contact. Was it Sherri? He raised his hand to greet her but stopped, not wanting to appear a fool. Instead, he followed her from a dist...

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“Challenge” by Emerson Gayhart

Submitted to Contest #81

I play the song one more time and then I get the video ready in the car, and start it. Carter was looking out the window, trying to pull out of the parking lot. I was going to do the kiss your boy best friend challenge. Carter turns back around and I smile at him nervously. Carter has been my best friend since birth pretty much. Carter’s mom and my mom are best friends. Carter’s three months older than me. He looks at me confused, wondering why I’m staring at him. The time on the song is coming up. He has no idea what I’m doing. I’m so nervo...

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“A Melancholic Anniversary” by Emma Ruth

Submitted to Contest #81

Joshua was on his lunch break. He’d decided to pick up a quick sandwich at the drive-through and stop by the store to get an anniversary card for his wife, Marian. This way he could go straight home to be with her as soon as he got off work. As he walked in to the store, he tried to consider what Marian would want for this anniversary, since it was so tragically unlike any other they’d had before. He approached the greeting card aisle and perused their selection, trying to pick out a card that could express his sentiments. He thought of Mari...

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“The Space Between Us” by Del Majima

Submitted to Contest #81

I stepped into The Birdhouse, the best jazz club in the city, and made my way over to the bar. A quartet was on stage playing a variety of Chet Baker tunes, you could tell the trumpeter hadn’t yet lived life. I mean, he was in tune and really into the groove, but something was missing. An edge. He was playing “How Deep Is the Ocean,” and quite frankly, it seemed shallow to me. I took a seat at the bar, furthest from the stage. I love Chetty, but I want...

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“I Still Love You” by Thea Louchibelle Cabuguason

Submitted to Contest #81

From dormitory, I transferred to a boarding house for some reasons, it was located outskirts the University Wall near the vast woods, a creepy looking one. It was already dark while I was on my way there walking just after hauling my things to get some fresh air, the road was empty. This particular side had no establishments and only occasional street lights that went on and off. It does feel creepy to walk alone in here but it is soothing at the same time. I don't know why but I feel like it. New ambiance perhaps, away from busy universit...

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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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