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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 story of the couple who stayed together...” by Judith Veder

Submitted to Contest #81

My parents are the older couple who had been together since teenagers. They met in Camp Moodna in Mountainville, N.Y. in the 1930’s, children of immigrants, eager to leave the hot city each summer and grateful for this camp set up by the Grand Street Settlement. She was a camper, her family scraping together the dollars to send her there, he, a dishwasher, needing those dollars to help his mother and two younger sisters. Both of them were used to working. Sometimes she accompanied her Aunt Ethel to the home of the famous ...

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“Gelato” by Chelsea .

Submitted to Contest #81

It all started with gelato. Lanterns lit up the street and laughter filled the air. Music enveloped the crowds with a cheerful melody. Audrey let the grin spread on her face, ruby-red lips toward the sky as she dipped her head back. The stars smiled down on her and the night air felt lively, sending an excited chill throughout her body. She did it. She was finally here. After months of wishing, hoping and thinking she had given in. Audrey had packed up and gone to Italy, leaving the boring metropolitan that she had always known. ...

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“Chocolates and Emerald Earrings” by Jaylin Ferguson

Submitted to Contest #81

"Nana, how did you and Papa meet?" Sophia questioned, curiosity spiraling through her little mind. "Oh sweetie, are you sure you wanna hear the story? Kids these days hardly listen to us old folks." Nana frowned whilst she knitted."Yes, I wanna hear it! TELL ME! TELL ME!" Sophia shook her shoulders lightly.Nana put her yarn and knitting needles on the little side table that sat beside her recliner, and scooted over just enough for little Sophia to sit down. Her living room was full of antiques from the twenties and thirties. S...

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“Old love” by Ikpi Patrick

Submitted to Contest #81

Grandma was preparing lunch. Grandpa had gone out with his buddy, best, our dog. Today was valentine and he had promised to take grandma to the cinema to see a movie. 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚝. They had a romantic life right from their teenage age. They had eloped from home. Grandpa had stolen enough money from his father's safe, together they had ran away from their families. Grandpa owned a shop down the street, on the corner right. He sold homemade wine and pizza. He was well known in the street. Him and grandma were called "𝕝...

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“4 My Love” by Xavier Chavez

Submitted to Contest #81

There have been many love stories over the years. Some have ended in tragedy and some have lasted to stand the test of time. Love is not always easy and happy, but many will say its worth it. The famous quote from a British poet named Alfred Lord Tennyson, "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" is particularly relevant. The couple I interviewed for this agreed that love is worth fighting for and when you have a special connection you're always drawn to the other person. Although they haven't been together like ot...

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“A Love Like No Other” by Eesha T

Submitted to Contest #81

She was a beast, I was a hunter, you get the gist of it. Here goes nothing. This is the story of two younglings leading two very different lives yet fate would do what fate does best and have their paths be crossed. One of the youngling happens to be me. I am Elis Artemas, hailing from a family of triumphant beast hunters, at your service. Before we move on with the story, let me introduce my family properly. My great-great-great grandfather was the first man to hunt down and identify all of the mountains beasts of our land. My gre...

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“A Snapshot of our Love” by Moira Christensen

Submitted to Contest #81

Snapshots of our Love They were sitting contentedly, watching the last of the day disappear; dusk seemed to be coming earlier these days, so winter must be on its way. They did not mind the cooler months, more comfortable to sit outside on their patio, enjoying their garden. They bought their “retirement” house about ten years ago. This was to be the last move, as they lived a gypsy lifestyle for many years. This time, they were putting down roots, planting trees, planning never to leave. The little bushes planted t...

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“Hand in Mine” by Margaret Geverola

Submitted to Contest #81

When I think back fifty years ago, I remember sixteen-year-old Veronica awkwardly crushing on sixteen-year-old Toby – someone I had known since we were both kids, the perks of small-town living.I don’t remember exactly when the whole ‘crush’ started but I remember one day just thinking of him brought a smile to my lips and the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. I remember thinking that I was sick and had suddenly come down with some sort of food poisoning however, I realised it was something some would compare to poisoning when I thoug...

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“Paula's Goodbye” by Arah Shumway

Submitted to Contest #81

Paula was a year older than Fred to the day. She reminded Fred of that fact each year on their shared birthday. Each year at their shared birthday party, Paula would lean over to Fred and whisper, “you know I am a year older than you right?” Fred, smiling, would nod or whisper back “right.” Then Paula would say, a little louder “and that means I am a year smarter, a year funnier, and at least a year more clever than you right?” Fred would pause, look into his sweetheart’s eyes, feign as i...

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“Crayons” by Natalie Gando

Submitted to Contest #81

There she sat. In a fourth grade, Catholic classroom on a bright and sunny Spring day in 1984. In a desk with a very stiff uniform on. The windows were open and you could smell the nice weather through the breeze in the air. She was trying to complete a coloring project that her very young and out of college teacher bestowed upon the class. As she was concentrating on not going over the lines, an announcement blurted out from the teacher to all, “Class the sixth grade children will be coming in to help us complete our...

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“The Last Moments in America” by McThunder Gacha

Submitted to Contest #81

A girl asked how her parents met.21st August, 1995:A tornado was predicted to happen near a neigborhood. An 18 years old girl named Sara and her mom was waiting for her dad to come home anxiously. The wind blew stronger than ever, while they were trying to evacuate. They ran back to their house because the wind were too strong. They heard a car sound nearby but they didn't know who it was. After ten minutes of getting scared, they went outside. Seeing some flipped cars, broken trees and poles. Sara ran to a car that she thought she knew. She...

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“An old fashioned love story” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #81

“Are you sure I look alright?” he asked her for the umpteenth time that evening. “Yes Arthur, debonair and handsome, for an old guy”! She added. “We’re only going out with the kids, not to visit royalty”. “I know, but I hate dressing up. Why can’t I just wear my shorts and tee-shirt and be done with it? Where are we going anyway?” he asked. “It’s a surprise Arthur. I’ve told you that! The children have booked a restaurant for us – we’ll know when we get there, so hurry up and put the finishing touches to your outfit” she teased him. She was ...

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“A Perfect Match” by Janet Joos

Submitted to Contest #81

The ICU monitor had a steady pieps. She looked into his very blue eyes, remembering their first meeting and how mesmerized she had been, and still was. Holding hands, both of which were fragile and heavily veined, they had little to say to each other. It wasn’t necessary; of course, hopes were there for a cure to his ailment, but each of them knew that it would be only a matter of time. The hospital was a busy place, getting ready for the doctors' visitations, preparing the patients, nurses setting up their computers, pulling the curtains ba...

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“The Romance of a Sore Finger” by Trina Runner

Submitted to Contest #81

"What kind of man gets turned on by a woman's calf?" asked Margaret’s great-granddaughter as she listened to the story of how Margaret and Harvey met. "One that doesn't get to see anything else," Margaret said with a laugh. She said most things with a tilt of judgement for the young people. She said most things with a craving to be more like them too. As the story unfolded, her great-granddaughter leaned in to hear all the details: How Margaret was a cheerleader back when the skirts didn't show more than a calf, h...

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“Like Safety and Home” by Steven Green

Submitted to Contest #81

“Hey,baby,” Emily opened the front door and moved in to give her girlfriend a kiss.She was surprised that Regan,usually so reticent in public,reciprocated with ardour. “I did it,” said Regan once the door was closed. “I did it.I told my parents.” “Oh,my baby,” shrieked Emily. “You’re so brave.I love you.” “I didn’t feel so brave.I’ve chickened out so many times and I thought here I go again,letting you down.” “No,you could never...” “The strangest thing happened.My little brother came into my room without knocking,as usual,and I was about to...

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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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