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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

“Tell Me Who You Are” by S. A.

Submitted to Contest #81

It wasn't easy living a double life. Having two faces and only showing one. Spinning around the city by night and trudging across the bustle and hustle of the streets by day. Yet, it was the life I chose. I wanted to help people. I wanted to save the world. It could be lonely sometimes, but that was the choice I'd made. Besides, there was only one person who'd ever caught my eye and it had been years since I saw her. Technically, we never officially met, I saved her from an explosion caused by a leaky pipe and she looked right at me. Her g...

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“Love That Waits” by Eve M. Jackson

Submitted to Contest #81

“We are lucky,” Zeus said, leaning back on the balcony of the marble palace, “we are lucky that we do not hate each other.” Hera couldn't quite hide her smile. She had hated him - by the Fates, how she had hated him! - but that hate always returned to love after a couple of centuries. His mortal lovers died, for mortals always do, and for a sweet generation or so, he was hers, all hers. Until he found another mortal woman to bless with his presence. But it was no good to reflect on resentment. “We are lucky indeed.” Hera le...

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“Flowers say more than words” by Andrea Itt

Submitted to Contest #81

Percy remembers the first date her husband took her on. They were teenagers then, he was quiet at the time and spoke with a stutter, his eyes constantly flickering to the ground asking her if she would like to go on a picnic. The place he had chosen to go was next to a river with green flowing grass and wildflowers that bloomed wherever they pleased. She laughed thinking back on it now, the entire week had been gray with solemn clouds slinking over the village. Of course a thunderstorm had happened on that day. Hadeon had given her his c...

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“Life Long Love” by Kendra Newton

Submitted to Contest #81

I met Lorraine when she was 5 years old, but to my 7-year-old heart I just knew we were going to be best friends. At 5 years old, Lorraine was spunky, full of energy and life. We went on adventures, got in trouble together, and began a friendship that would last through the toughest times. We would run out and jump in the pond every day after lunch, hand in hand. Splashing and laughing. We’d stay out until the crickets started singing then run back home, just in time for supper. Lorraine’s dad was the town drunk, and her mama was a quie...

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“Celebrating Lewis and Pearl” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #81

"You know I hate these family gatherings. Those at the beach house are okay, and thanksgiving is okay, and Christmas is always great. Guess they are not so bad after all. But why have one on Valentine's Day? I wanted to spend it with Rosy.""This Valentine's Day is extra special. Do you know why?""No but I guess you will tell me.""It is your great-great grandfather, PaPaw Lewis and your great-great grandmother, MeMaw Pearl's wedding anniversary. It is their 70th. They actually met when they were about your age,"I"Is Uncle Don and Aunt Mary go...

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“On her own” by Martin Cambridge

Submitted to Contest #81

She woke up, in the middle of the night. She slowly reached out her hand to his side of the bed. His side was empty, and cold. I want to wake up and feel his warmth, and listen to his slow, regular breathing. Now there is silence, horrible, cold silence. I had hoped it was just a bad dream, but now I know it really has happened, and that I am now truly on my own. He used to say that rest is almost as good as sleep, so at least lying awake now will not make me feel too tired in the morning. He used t...

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“Chess, perfume and bad lungs” by Dorotėja Gedvilaitė

Submitted to Contest #81

I guess you could call us cheezy if you like, that's how he would describe everything from the very begging of our relationship to the point where we actually got married. Valentine's day gifts - cringe, random gifts showing affection and love - unnecessary expences. I have no idea how we actually worked together so well, me being a hopeless romantic and him a realist. We would have never even met if not for the chess, old perfume and my bad lungs. It was one of those worm September nights where you are already back in school but the timetab...

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“Until We Meet Again” by Faye Goodwin

Submitted to Contest #81

I was sixteen, and you were seventeen. It could only, ever, have ended in tragedy. I will never forget the day we met, though it is many lifetimes ago. We were so young—that is how I will always think of us, as being young. The first time we spoke, I was struck with the inimitable certainty of some force, some great preternatural movement, having brought us together. We were pulled towards each other like planets to their stars. Like tides to their moon. It was like the crawl of continents, suddenly meeting in an inevitable slide, crashin...

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“Beverly Clair” by Margaret Viano

Submitted to Contest #81

When I turned sixteen, I had recently gotten a waiter job at Ruby Rose's Diner. The diner was a small building with a vintage look. It had a flashing sign that said EAT in illuminated reddish letters. If I had the choice, I would never had wanted to work there, but my parents strictly enforced that I stay busy over the summer. I had many great qualities; muscular build, wide smile, brown skin, most of the girls in my school had crushes on me, but my biggest flaw was my laziness. My next door neighbor, Mr. Macintosh owned Ruby Rose's he off...

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“Blind Love” by Robin Ruark

Submitted to Contest #81

Blind Love Love is such a strange phenomenon. Love can be so many things, this little 4 letter word. Dreadful and exhilarating, scary, hopeless, easy, hard, complicated and amazing are just some of the words to describe a love that you have experienced. Is it even possible to include the descriptor of forever in this thing called love? The county fair was in July and as usual, it was a sticky and steamy evening. The air was heavy with the smell of cotton candy ...

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“A Tale as Old as Time” by Rion Abrams

Submitted to Contest #81

It’s 5:45pm, “She will be here in 15 minutes, God, I hope she isn’t late,” George anxiously looks at his watch, pulling the curtain from the window, to see an empty driveway. “What if she is late? I hope she isn’t late,” George whispers to himself as he heads to the kitchen to check the cornish hens baking in the oven. “almost done.” He says as he shuts the oven door. He glances at himself in the mirror hanging on the wall, as he heads back to the dining room, to anxiously check the table setting one more time. Adjusting the color ...

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“Remember” by Jenni Ferris

Submitted to Contest #81

Remember Written by Jennifer Ferris "I wrote you a poem – you're not allowed to laugh!" She sat down next to him on the grass, tucked her legs under her and opened the piece of paper. Her eyes trailed over the lines and she shook her head, smiling. "Alright, so it's not very good poem, rhyming is hard. I'll just leave it here for you. " She placed the paper beside her, tucked her hair behind her ears, a nervous habit of hers and then smiled a small smile as she opened a second piece of paper. "I actually wrote you a letter. I wasn't ...

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“Memories” by Tommy Aitch

Submitted to Contest #81

57 years. That’s how long they’ve been together. Still as madly in love as they were when they first set eyes on each other. The alarm went off at 7am, and they would get ready to go to Reggie’s diner for breakfast. “Hun, have you seen my blue tie?” “It’s hanging up in my wardrobe, after you left it lying on the floor last week.” “Thanks, babe.” They would always dress up when popping out, whatever the occasion. Truth be told, every day was an occasion to them. They were so much in love, they never wanted t...

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“morning of love” by Donia Zaghloul

Submitted to Contest #81

Heroes never die. No, it is their love that does not die. The autumn leaves fell, the spring of life and the flowers of youth fell, but the love did not fall. Samar was the twenty-year-old girl with an innocent face and a clear heart. She saw beauty and love in everything around her. She saw fruits loved by trees, crops, beloved of the earth, and clothes who loved the body. She believed that everything there is for him to complete, even if it is a pen and paper, rain and clouds. Although Samar left her study, she is a good reader, always rea...

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“Once Upon a...” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #81

“Did you see this? Love in the time of COVID. A bit plagiaristic, but I can see the possibilities. If it worked for typhoid, I suppose it would work for COVID.” “I think it was typhoid Mary it worked for. Cholera might have been what you were thinking of, or are you attempting to instill the will to create in me? Or could it be you’re just making conversation to keep from having to take out the garbage?” I wonder at times why it bothers me so much, but it does. Talent is something one is born with. To not use it seem...

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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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