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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

“Richard” by Serena Blade

Submitted to Contest #81

I took a look at myself in the mirror and made a face. I was not happy. I had a lunch date with Richard and I felt out of place. It had been ten years since I last saw him. I looked different. Age sure took a toll on me. I was not the same innocent teenage girl Richard had met. Not even with foundation, could I cover the circles under my eyes. Bearing two kids didn’t help either. Why was I being so harsh on myself? I was only meeting up with an old fling. Old fling? Ha! More like an old boyfriend. I sighed with nervousness...

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“Back to Work” by David Martin

Submitted to Contest #81

He stared at the empty glass on the coaster beside him, realising in that moment that it was a coaster she’d brought him back from a work trip to Sweden a few years ago. Unsure as to how the souvenir had ended up at his Mother’s house it was all the impetus needed to justify reaching for the wine bottle and pouring the last of its contents into that glass. Ian had vowed that he wouldn’t drink tonight, but clearly that promise had not been kept. Tomorrow was the first day back at the office and he was going to show up with a clear head and be...

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“Broken Pieces ” by Virginia Coleman

Submitted to Contest #81

I watch through the windows of the coffee shop as snowflakes trickle down to the sidewalk, forming a white sheet on the pavement. Pedestrians are walking around the street. Some carrying hot drinks and pastries. Some walking dogs on leashes. Some in a hurry, likely running late for work. Standing on the sidewalk is a young man who catches my eye. He is an attractive man with dimples and a warm smile. He looks oddly familiar, but I can’t put my finger on where I know him from. The man calls out to a young w...

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“Heptadecagon” by Alex Fry

Submitted to Contest #81

Heptadecagon 1 They were next to the fallen draperies. She rolled a dime across the floor and tapped out the count. “Even so, that’s not the only reason.” “Well,” he said, “where else is there to go now?” “What. Speak louder.” “What’s left?” “Don’t know,” then added, “they are too simple.” The dime toppled. She recorded the score. “Try to beat it. Here.” 2 They were in the basement. He examined the buttons in the jar. “Four deputy marshals were sent to corner them. One was informally processed by a judge. If that was illegal, h...

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“flawed” by B W

Submitted to Contest #81

Silently in the café that we always used to go to together, I wait for him. My mind runs wild with crazy thoughts but on the outside, I hold a calm and put together expression and stance. I stare at my coffee swirling as the unstable table wobbles when workers rush past. I think of the table, it’s placed on the wonky tiled floors, wobbles at the slightest of movement, and is the most difficult table to tolerate. Out of all tables in this whole café, I always choose this one. Why? Why choose to sit at the worst table in the café whe...

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“For Better or Worse - 62 Years Late” by Jennifer Byer

Submitted to Contest #81

"Harriet. Sweet Harriet." Oh, for the love of everything holy, he was starting out with a joke. Harriet wondered how The Almighty thought this was a good idea. Devon was the first of three husbands and the only one she mistook for true love. How could a man who was supposed to be her true love start out trying to be amusing? She started to turn back, but she didn't know where to go. So she did what she always did, "That's me. Sweet as a peach." Sarcasm begets sarcasm. The Devon she knew from de...

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“The Best View in the City” by Artemis Rowan

Submitted to Contest #81

I arrive at Toronto's Union Station. I'm planning to take the PATH to the CN Tower. That's where she'll be. While her text from last night is cryptic, I know her well enough to know what she means. Her text is referencing the restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. I'm almost certain of it. That is where the best view in the city would be.She texted me again this morning saying to meet her at 6pm. I'm early.Yesterday she stole the jewels that I had gone to the Royal Ontario Museum to steal. She left four of them for me. I had to use clues she...

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“Wonderland” by Hana Alradai

Submitted to Contest #81

Velvet waxy stick draw a line on her lower lip shape, changing its direction to upper lip it draw two velvet arches to assemble the shape of upper lip. With care and love, her finger spread color, she squeezed her lip then took a tissue placed it between her lip and pressed against it, the tissue printed with the unwanted velvet color from her lip. She waved her chocolate hair and stared at the mirror. She left her chin and kept going deeper and deeper into her sliver left eye. Amanda was not ordinary that for sure. Everything in hers was n...

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“Transcendence” by Tina-Gene Coetzee

Submitted to Contest #81

The view from the skyscraper was, for a lack of a better term, breath-taking; the streets, 150 floors below, stood empty, no sign of any cars moving around, no pedestrians wandering. The only sound being heard was the screaming of nearby birds, and the gusts of wind that blew trash around. “Should have figured that you’d be here, Melati.” Eyes of multitude, the colour of hot coals, moved from their observance, thin, bloodless lips curling into something that would look like a smile on anything else. Another Divinity suddenly stood on the led...

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“Cracked Hearts” by Emily Trucco

Submitted to Contest #81

Gemma stared up at the crack in the ceiling. If she squinted and tilted her head back into her pillow, she could trace it from the edge of the room above her all the way to the light fixture before the darkness absorbed its tail. Barely visible cracks covered the whole ceiling, but this was the most obvious one at night. It gaped down at her, threatening to bring the whole house crumbling down. Perhaps this is how her mother saw Gemma’s relationship. Or perhaps her whole life. Hamish was lying just out of reach, facing the door. Her pinkie ...

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“Just Friends” by Caroline White

Submitted to Contest #81

“Hi!” a girl with brown hair and blue eyes smiled at me. “I’m McKenzie Russel.” Her luscious brown hair bounced around her shoulders while she talked. McKenzie. McKenzie.“Hey, I’m Levi Jackson,” The first words I had ever said to McKenzie. Why couldn’t I have said something like “I’m sorry I ruined your life. I didn’t mean to and I still love you even though you don’t think I do.” I don’t care if McKenzie ever loves me again (actually, that’s a lie. I really want McKenzie to like me again). I just want her to know that I still loved her...

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“The love story that never ended” by Harrini R

Submitted to Contest #81

Once again, he sat down with a firm mind. “I can do it “, “I will do it” .He said himself louder. His hand scribbled something on paper. "No", screamed his tongue and now the paper was in the dustbin, crushed by the same hand that wrote. “I am not good at anything” he thought. His mood went off and his lights too…Later, the room was lit up by the sun. He sipped a cup of coffee and returned to his writing desk. “ I must read some motivational quotes before I start” said his mind and he switched on his internet.Ti... Ding…. His notif...

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“like grandfather, like grandson” by Karim Gamal

Submitted to Contest #81

A classic restaurant, big candles on the tables, soft lights, and high ceiling with huge chandeliers. Many suits and dresses surrounding the circular tables. A lot of waiters moving here and there, no music, just the noise sound of people talking at the same time, when you look at the scene you realize that no one is listening, everyone just talk, literally everyone ... except these two, they are sitting on two nearby tables, staring at each other’s eyes without even a blink. It seems that they don’t hear anything around them. It’s like they...

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“My Coalition” by Estelle Westley

Submitted to Contest #81

Lacy looked much older than what she was. In fact, she felt much older than what she was. What had happened these eighteen years for everything to be so drastically different now. When Robert had asked to marry me all those years ago, I was on cloud nine. There were great expectations of the life ahead with wonderful dreams. A house where Robert would come home to each evening. Two rosy cheeked kids - one girl and one boy of course - laughing and running to their Daddy who embraced them and showered them with kisses. The aroma of a fine dinn...

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“Not Quite New” by Ashley Fortier

Submitted to Contest #81

I gripped the wheel tighter and stole a glance at Robert sitting in the passenger side. He was stone-faced and dressed up for our Valentine’s Day dinner, looking obligatorily handsome. I supposed that’s where the attraction to him now ended. I could still see the weary, mean lines around his eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there when our relationship was new, probably caused by angry words, indulgent drinking; or, it was just my eyes opening to all of his bad habits over the years. He stared blankly through the windshield as the rain beat in...

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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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