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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

“A promise he made” by Shannan Harrington

Submitted to Contest #81

It was the first day of school at yet another high school, third one this year. Will we ever stay in one place finally, he thought to himself. Tyrel Anderson is the name, he said to the secretary in the office. I'm here to get my class schedule, and I really don't want to be late for class the first day. Awe, here you are Tyrel, better hurry the bell is about to ring. As I was walking really fast to class I came around the corner and boom, there she was. The most beautiful girl I had ever seen, with her flowing long dark brown hair and hazel...

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“A Lifetime of Loving You” by Niamh Brown

Submitted to Contest #81

Winnie glanced at herself sideways in the little bathroom mirror and flashed her teeth at herself. Will had always liked this scarf, this one that was green like mown grass, with the tiny butterflies on it. It made her happy to wear it, knowing that he’d know that she had worn it just for him. It was vanity to enjoy being admired, but he was her husband and Winnie was too sensible not to know how special it was that he still admired her (for both her looks and personality) after all these years. She trod quietly as she made her way bac...

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“Death Will Not Do Us Part” by Hussein Founouni

Submitted to Contest #81

19-year-old Joseph had many passions in life. The university freshman made the best of living on the shores of the Mediterranean by fishing during the winters and diving during the summers, and doing both in between those seasons. His high school best friends, all three of them, were accepted to universities in the same city – that guaranteed remaining inseparable. They all went clubbing together and pretty much spent all their time at the same places. He, however, was the shy one when it came to girls although he did not look it and neither...

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“A Tale as Old as Time” by Bee ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

Submitted to Contest #81

To whom this letter falls upon, a story of love between two souls is told and remembered through this letter. It is a tale told as old as time, a tale of fear and innate love that is profound and terrifying. I realized I have a habit of always saying things with an intent. An intent to hurt, to bring joy, or bring the words to life, watching it resonate in you and become something you can’t stop thinking of at night. I’ve realized that, most things I’ve said always had a double edged sword, I either wanted to hurt them or it ended up hurti...

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“HOW DO YOU SPELL LOVE?” by Adele Maree

Submitted to Contest #81

HOW DO YOU SPELL LOVE?She’s always had love in her life, Chelsea thought, as she sat staring into the nothingness of her bedroom wall. She had a love for music, singing, creating, animals and hanging out with friends. But that was common love, not the kind that could break her heart, made her act goofy, or kept her up at night because she couldn’t keep herself from picturing a future with a particular person. It wasn’t until much later though that this would become part of her life, when she actually stumbled across the person that would bec...

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“The dream between a men from Mars,women from venus...” by Dharshini Kandasamy

Submitted to Contest #81

"Love, Love and Love only...❤️" It was a pleasant Monday morning.. The cycle of nature continues as everyday . It won't stop for me or you. Our world see lot of birth, death, success, failure, blissful moment, sad moment and love. The word "love", really a magical one. In that magic, a man from Mars and a woman from venus are getting together. They both make a new world that was filled only by love. No one can change this. When a nature decided to make a pair, definitely it will happen. It won't stop for anyone. Like tha...

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“My James Band” by Yugel Losorata

Submitted to Contest #81

We were pinching ourselves in case it was all just a dream, one you would wake up from and find yourself back in your room laid down on your familiar bed. But we were really inside the room we could only wish to be in. Back in high school when I first saw James strum the guitar, I thought he looked awkward. There was a bit of an oddness in the way he carried himself. It made him unqualified to be among the campus crushes. He was too quiet to be even noticed, and he was also not one of the boys known for their laudable skill on the stringed...

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“Defying Boundaries” by Mercy Duke

Submitted to Contest #81

An old piano one side of the fireplace, an equally old stool made out of animal skin on the other side. Two rocking chairs strategically positioned close to the fire place. On one of the walls is a huge sculpture of a king. The house and it’s old furniture resembles a museum. An 80 year old man walks into the room and sits himself slowly into one of the chairs. The glowing fire makes the old man’s wrinkles more pronounced and shiny. “Why do you keep this piano grandpa? Look it has most of the keys missing. Are you going to use it one day?”...

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“Love and War ” by Maddy Bardell

Submitted to Contest #81

The sun soaked the evening in gold light and as Ruth looked out across her garden she took a deep breath in. It had been raining that afternoon and she closed her eyes in order to savour the fresh, earthy smell it had left behind. She smiled to herself as the sound of her grandchildren’s laughter floated down from the open bathroom window above her. She could hear her husband laughing as the sound of water splashing in the tub echoed down to her. Ruth let out a small laugh, picturing the state the bathroom would be in when they were done in ...

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“Auburn Street” by Gloria Puente

Submitted to Contest #81

The recollection of her along with all other fond memories of my youth had yet to slip my mind. My son-in-law sent me to an old-people home to die but it’s not like I even remember where I am half the time. I know that this isn't his fault that's for sure; I'm old and that's the course life takes. What really hurt was leaving the house that both my wife and I dreamed of, worked towards, raised children in, fixed random doorknobs in, and slept together in. Yes, I remember like it was yesterday riding my blue Gios bike and Jane’s red De R...

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“Past Tense” by Francine R. Romano

Submitted to Contest #81

Nausea. As if I had left a boat trip three steps behind me. Two seconds of a little mental confusion. I need to sit on the bed and analyze the topography of the room. It is foolish to expect happy endings to breed only among themselves and dominate the species. Good heavens...! Where am I going with this denial? The lines start to scribble around outlining the unfamiliarity of that scene. Linen sheets, brown flannel curtains, a slightly musty oak smell were concealed within those two seconds. However, it was the silence that hit me most hars...

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“David's Ghost” by Achieng' Odhiambo

Submitted to Contest #81

A black blanket begins to cover the sky and I watch as the stars gradually litter it. A cool breeze blows as if to erase all memory of the day’s heat. I welcome it with a whistle that matches its rhythm. “You’ll catch a cold, my dear.” A voice interrupts my cheery melody. The wind carries it in wave-like motions bringing it close enough to touch then snatching it back before I can. I know the voice too well. I would recognize it anywhere. “David.” A smile makes its way on my face involuntarily despite my grief. It was a dream. It had to be....

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“The Goldfinch who loved” by Sapna Amin

Submitted to Contest #81

The first time Harrison's wandering eyes landed upon Mae, she was climbing a sycamore tree wearing a dress the color of a dove. However, one could hardly tell what shade of white it was because the Earth had made its mark on her by covering her garb with fresh mud from the previous day's rain. Her focused eyes fixated on the branch beside a nest full of hungry, chirping baby birds. Though occupied with his sketches, Harrison glanced over at her ever so often. At the time, he would have said it was to make sure she hadn't fallen or st...

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“Coveralls and Sweet Love” by Patti McQuillen

Submitted to Contest #81

One line started a courtship of true love for the ages. "By the way, you're wearing his coveralls." A community theater director said this to my grandmother Dorothy after she showed up in her best Sunday outfit, ready to build sets. He told her to change into spare coveralls in the back. Then he introduced her to my grandfather Sherman. Sixty-two years of life, love, and family followed their wedding on Nov 13, 1948. My grandmother entered Heaven on March 10, 2011. My grandfather joined her there on November 20, 2016. A few times a yea...

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“At sixty-eight” by Tara R

Submitted to Contest #81

Every day I look at my husband, and I’m painfully aware: I’ve lost some part of him to the new presence in our marriage. Although he can drive, go grocery shopping, help clean a 4-bedroom house every week, and prepare dahl or sabzi every morning, there does not seem to be enough life in him. His legs have thinned, the bones more prominent than the skin. His back pains at least twice a week, while the knee pains only miss a day here and there. He tires easily in his efforts at taking care of me and executing the duties of the male of the ho...

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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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