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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 Return of Matt” by Benny Njuguna

Submitted to Contest #81

Amanda diverted her gaze from the night sky beautified by the half-smiling moon, and some bright and diminishing star, and what she thought was Venus as it didn't twinkle like the rest of the stars. She felt and heard a vibration on her right leg. She sat quickly on the bed, and picked up the phone that's lying on the bed, and pressed the power button. She saw an inbox label at the top of the screen, in the middle. Excited, she unlocked the phone by inputting the password, and opened the message. Disappointed, she threw it on the bed, ...

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“Aisle Three ” by Abigail Mitchell

Submitted to Contest #81

On the first sun-filled day in July, I left the sanction of my small city apartment to head towards the florist on the corner of Essex and Seventh Avenue. It was late afternoon and from the moment I stepped out onto the bustling concrete walkway, I could feel the sweat beading on my skin, the heat of the sun making the air all around so thick. Quickly, my feet seemed to find their pace that would carry my body those fifteen or so blocks but my mind felt far away. Since the distant days of high school, Sunday’s had always been the day ...

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“A Love That Never Really Happened” by Stephanie Barber

Submitted to Contest #81

Miranda stopped dead in her tracks when she saw him on the sidewalk walking in her direction. She had not seen or thought of Mark in a few years, but here he was just strolling down the street when she happened to be back in town. “Let’s get together and catch up,” Mark suggested. Miranda’s heart gave a little flutter. She had always admired him, but things were never in their favor when they encountered one another. Back in high school, Miranda had a crush on Mark, but he had a girlfriend. Not only did he have a girlfriend, but he als...

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“Love Forever and Beyond ” by Sheila Sarrett

Submitted to Contest #81

I was walking along a beautiful tree lined street with my best friend Sue when I heard someone call my name. “Who was that?l I asked her. That guy he is not only gorgeous he is a jock as well.” ”How do you know that?” “It seems everyone but you know Matt. Besides being good looking he is very friendly and smart.” “How do you think he knows who I am.” “Perhaps it is because you are friendly too.” Once again I herd “Hi Sheila” as he walked across the street where I was standing. Sue turned to me and said “time for me to leave. Remember he just...

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“Period” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #81

All she had wanted was a quiet Saturday night. She was ten chapters deep into a mystery novel, and sinking deeper into her bean bag chair by the second. That's when she heard the banging at her door. It was tempting to ignore the sound. Perhaps she could have pretended she wasn't home, and they'd go away, leaving her to the final two chapters. The knocker was persistent. She placed her bookmark in her novel and forced herself out of the chair. It was a chore, having sunken in pretty deep. The knocker sounded to be running out of steam by the...

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“A Siesta in the Castle” by Aisha Khan

Submitted to Contest #81

Grass tips were poking him but he stayed still, lying on his back and his half-empty bag substituting a pillow. It had been a while since he had a good rest, but that was just him being dramatic. The sun was sharp, and moistness was covering him. He was sweating but didn’t budge once. “Hey!” a voice roared. He finally opened his eyes to look at the intruder. It was a female. For a second, neither of them said anything and locked in an undeclared staring contest. Her hand was raised to her forehead, but the sunlight still made her cower. He ...

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“I'll Never Let Go ” by Bree Davis

Submitted to Contest #81

“Hey Annie. Do you remember the first time we met?” Says Yuuto as a wrinkled smirk stretches across his face. I close my eyes in memory. If you would’ve told me I’d be here with him now on that day, I would’ve laughed for sure. Yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 18 years old, the world was consumed fully into World War II. I had enlisted in the army as a nurse and was sent overseas to a military base in Japan. It was a primitive place, made to look like any other little village among the forest. Myself a...

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“White Walk” by Cale G

Submitted to Contest #81

Misty air and dollops of snow painted an otherwise familiar park known to an old man and an old woman, a painter of roofs and a painter on easels, world weary walkers. It did not rightly matter whatever the weather decided when their decision was always final: they will walk in this park, and come rain and hail and other mailman obstacles, they will always walk in this park. It surprised them, however, to spot others on the trail in these conditions. They glanced at each other sharing such surprise, and they did not smile nor frown but, inst...

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“How we meet?” by Gracy Kerketta

Submitted to Contest #81

It's a season of Christmas, snow and family. Everything work fine if family is together. Even we live somewhere else, but we get together for Christmas. We are not very big family, but we love each other very much. Me; Tia studying in High school near by my house. And I love spending time with my grandparents. They're so lovely. My uncle john and aunt Maria had arranged marriage, I was very small to remember anything of that. They're story inspired me, like how a two strange person get together and have beutiful story. At first they were ...

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“its not routine, its Love.” by Nomsa Vanessa

Submitted to Contest #81

It’s not routine it’s LOVE. I was happy to be starting the new year, new resolutions and honestly speaking I was hoping for a better start at life but my one wish was to mend my relationship with my long time abusive boyfriend who made it obvious that I was not enough for him or I’ll never be enough for him but hey! I kept going back over and over again. As happy as I was to be starting the year I was also determined to make new friends have people to talk to, go out for coffee once in a while given the weather in London. 31st January. It...

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“Fast-forward and Replay” by Irene Shi

Submitted to Contest #81

Annie had been up since dawn as she usually was, this time, she had been busy watering the plants that were close into withering away, sweeping the floor and dusting basically everything while her husband, Lito was in his room, humming the same tune repetitively since last night. She came back home last week and this time, for good. She had been living with her daughter, Pam and her son for almost two years in the province where the girl works, giving her company, helping her in taking care of her two year old child. Annie’s husband, Lito ...

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“Our Vow” by Meggysa Nine

Submitted to Contest #81

My grumpy grandpa always scolds me for doing something -- even if it's just a small mistake -- his eyebrow will instantly narrow at me and then shake his head because of irritation. My Dad, Grumpa's and Grandma's only son, told me that Grumpa does not hate me. He's always as grumpy as he was in his younger days. My Dad even rebelled against Grumpa's strictness, he couldn't live his life fully because of Grumpa. I kept laughing at my Dad's past story because I finally knew that the recklessness I have was because it runs through our genes...

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“And So It Goes” by Susan Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #81

Elaine could hear the scrape, scrape. scrape of a snow shovel being worked up and down the front walk and driveway. Poor Rob! out in below zero weather while she sat working quietly in her den. When the sound stopped, she got up without thinking about it and peeked out the window to make sure he had not stroked out or something. No - he was watching their dogs romp in the snow drifts. She sighed. He was so handsome. His silver hair was getting a little shaggy, the cowlick grown out over the widow's peak. At 65 he still took her breath awa...

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“Last True Love's Kiss” by Mackaylah Waibel

Submitted to Contest #81

I look over at him. My beloved David. I remember the good times and the bad. My chest feels like a cobra is wrapped around it squeezing it until I can’t breathe. I’ve lived a good long life and I couldn’t have been happier. But now I can feel it like how you feel a storm coming. I’m dying. I slide out of the bed, stumbling as I lift my weight up. I hear a groan behind me and turn my head to look at the lump. I sigh, good he’s not waking up. I take a deep breath then step forward again. I walk out of the room and head down the hall, to...

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“Love at First Sight” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #81

“Grandpa, how did you and Grandma meet?” As Sarah sat on my lap, she me and innocent smile, knowing I couldn’t resist it. “You know I told you this story a thousand times. Why do you want to hear it again?” Sarah bounced in my lap. “Because it’s so hard to believe. It’s almost like magic.” “It does seem like magic, doesn’t it? I’ll tell you Sarah, truth can be stranger than fiction.” I pulled her close to my chest. “Alright. Close your eyes, for I’m going to take you back to the beginning. It was February 1975…” I was living in West Eat...

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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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