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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

“Nothing's Perfect.” by Samantha Alner

Submitted to Contest #81

Marta was a pro’ at this - laying tables. She’d spent twelve years working in various restaurants since the age of fourteen, she was thirty-two now, and always paid impeccable attention to detail. She laid down the last knife and took a step back to scan a critical eye over her work. The cutlery was shining, the glassware sparkling, brand new candles sat in brand new holders, and everything was perfectly aligned. She had created a beautifully romantic setting and she allowed herself a smug smile, though it didn’t last long; a familiar sadnes...

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“An Inexpensive Plate of Love” by Amelia Ansell

Submitted to Contest #81

Brian couldn't cook. He could do plenty of useful things: knit colorful sweaters, fix a tire, pick up a local custom within minutes of being somewhere new. But for the life of him, Brian couldn't cook. Unfortunately, Brian, like so many others in New York City, was a hopeless romantic. It was Brian and Rob's sixth anniversary of dating, and it was also the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. How romantic, right? There was nothing like living in the epicenter of a worldwide pandemic and being young and in love. Each day that went by, Brain could ...

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“We did well” by Tatiana Vaillant

Submitted to Contest #81

I counted the petals on the floor and double-checked the dishes on the table. The fairy lights wrapped around the trunk were turned on, the engraved heart we both made years back was emphasized, and I tied the last ribbon by the tree. I patted my pocket and felt the tiny box poking my leg and I imagined the tiny rock on the thin gold band, glistened as it was perched upright inside. I went to the window to see if my suit was wrinkled, or my hair was still intact. Nervousness ran through my veins, I could feel my heart beating fast....

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“I didn't even know” by Kathy Landes

Submitted to Contest #81

February is one of my favorite months of the year. Of course it's usually cold were I live and more often then not there is snow. On this particular day the city was blanketed in about three inches. The plows had cleared the roads, sidewalks had been shoveled and looking out the window all I could think of is what a lovely winter wonderland mother nature had given us. If we got some more snow over the weekend I was hoping I could convince my lover to head out to a nearby skiing resort so we could get some skiing in and maybe even some snowmo...

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“October 14th” by Kay Swenn

Submitted to Contest #81

I was excited, and I'll admit I let myself be a little giddy. I had a reason to pull out my old cookbooks and I had been over the stove for hours making his favorite. Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread, some roasted mushrooms, a fresh salad, and a bottle of white wine. I pulled the peach pie out of the oven and shook a dash of sugar on top for some pizzazz. I put it on the counter to cool and rushed upstairs to shower and do my makeup and put on a nice dress. He would come home at 7 most nights so I had to hurry. I looked in the mirror at the...

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“Salisbury Steak for The Mister” by Faith Kristel Dela Pasion

Submitted to Contest #81

Salisbury steak for the mister. Of course. Sheridan has always loved steak, especially on this lovely day--Valentine's Day. I make the most exquisite steak in town, that much he brags about every chance he gets. "I am just so lucky I met her," he usually adds. On my way to the market this morning, I saw several trinkets and what-nots solely dedicated to celebrating this day. I saw lots of children running up and down the town with red balloons floating above them. Lovers here and there share a moment of public bliss. Oh, it's ...

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“The Night I'd Always Remember” by Jasmine Adams

Submitted to Contest #81

I hadn’t heard from Sam in a couple hours, which I thought was strange but maybe he just was busy? Today was our two year anniversary but he hadn’t said anything about it all day. Did he forget? Frowning, I pulled into a parking spot and parked my car. I got out of work early today, so I would have time to shop for a present for him. I stepped out of the car, grabbed the bags, and rushed inside to get away from the cold January air. My cold fingers had a hard time getting the key inside the lock correctly, but I finally pushed the doo...

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“No Tears for Katherine” by Dave Bede

Submitted to Contest #81

It took Pauline ages to scrub off the grime from the ’74 Cadillac she was restoring. But it was worth it, for she’d finally gotten the engine to start. If the neighbors hadn’t all heard her whoop of triumph down to both ends of the block, they’d surely heard the engine chugging, for she hadn’t bought a new muffler yet. In any event, she mused as she finally emerged from the shower and put on her favorite red top and white pants, that made two things Florence would be overjoyed with when she got home. Besides the candlelit dinner Pauline ha...

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“Ebb and Flow” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #81

Manuela's brow furrowed as her fingers danced through the pages of a favourite recipe book, seeking out those just-perfect romantic menu items for the looming meal with two of her most persnickety clients. Fred and Lyanne, married forever, possessing more money than sense, would be arriving at her residence at 19:00 hours, expecting the epitome of romance. After years of preparing, plating, presenting food and beverages for this couple, Manuela had discovered renewed determination to exceed their expectations. Fred and Lyanne held th...

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“Little Helper” by Matt Edwards

Submitted to Contest #81

Yvette knows how she wants this to look. The table, the food, the accoutrements – candles, napkins, some kind of flourish of colour (Green. Herbs in antique Mason jars, she thinks) – will all come together to form an environment of subtle nuances. If the date doesn't work out at least she knows she has created something, as ephemeral as it is, that itself has been lavished with care and attention. He doesn't eat meat, so she has discovered, which although not a shock has made her revise her plans and think a little harder about th...

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“A Love Lost ” by Jose Bermudez

Submitted to Contest #81

Candles light, waves crashing against the side of rocks that sat hundred’s of feet below A condo that had once been filled with love and laughter that now reeked of pain and desperation. A desperation to get back what he knew was essentially his everything. As the sun set in the distance on a blissful June evening when you can close your eyes and feel the sun go down by the sounds of the bugs, the freshness of the air that only can be felt when you can look up and see straight to the stars. As He looks off into the distance he's floored...

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“You” by Laura Wang

Submitted to Contest #81

You drape a silk cloth over your dining room table and marvel over how smooth it is, like water flowing through your fingers. You rub your hands over it and press your ear to it, listening, as if it still had a heartbeat. You pick it up again and fold yourself into it, pretending you are a fantastical king and it is your cape, dancing through the room with it, you transform into a marvelous princess, from a time long passed, exploring unfamiliar lands outside of a well-protected castle. An alarm buzzes, your first warning. You put the cloth ...

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“The date” by Rajnandani Singh

Submitted to Contest #81

The roof was perfectly decorated. Yes, why not? After all I have became the specialist in these sort of things. After all it is my fiftyfirst date. All of them call me a womanizer, alcoholic and blah, blah. But do you really think looking for your real soulmate is is called womanizing? For me the answer is NO! A big no! How can I choose the best person with whom I have to spent my whole life by just examining one person? Leave it! I have decorated the roof with all red and black. Black is my favourite and I can bet red is her. You know? That...

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“Fireplace Frame” by Jose Duron

Submitted to Contest #81

Candles, check. Red Malbec wine, check. Red carnations, check. Alfredo pasta with chicken, check. Lavender fragrance... two hisses of aerosols later, check. Engagement ring, check. This past Valentine's was a blow in the gut. It's February 21st, a week later after Valentine's Day. 'Why?' you ask, because of a severe winter storm that the midwest had never seen before. Sure the northern states were ready for it. They had the trucks, the sanded salt, ice prevention magical stuff, and other strategies that would've been nice to have in Texas....

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“Stained shirts” by Georgette Ball

Submitted to Contest #81

The biggest obstacle of the evening was going to be getting rid of his parents for a few hours, especially with all their questions. Josh wasn’t ready to share the romantic date he was planning, or even that there was in which he was interested. And besides, he was 34. He didn’t have to answer to them any longer about his personal life. It’s just that he was still living in his parents’ house and they still thought of him at times as a teenage kid.” Where are you going? What time will you be home? Who will you be with?” He was just waiting f...

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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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