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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#83: Tropical Getaway

Sometimes we all need a break from our current circumstances. When the world feels gray and lifeless, thoughts of warm beaches and sunny skies can sound more appealing than ever.

Travel has been hard to come by for a while now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make an escape through our imaginations. So this week, let’s slather on the sunscreen, steal what daylight we can, and take our characters to the crystal beaches most of us can only imagine.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who goes to extreme lengths to get themselves to a tropical island.

Adventure – 91 stories

Start your story with someone emerging from the sea, and end it with them looking up at the stars.

Fantasy – 277 stories

Write about someone who’s lived on a tropical island their whole life and is leaving it for the very first time.

Dystopian – 83 stories

Write about someone who books a bargain vacation, only to be told when they arrive that they need to share a hotel suite with a stranger.

Dramatic – 148 stories

Write a fantasy story about water gods or spirits.

Fantasy – 227 stories

Stories

“The Houseguest” by Mallory Senn-Flinn

Submitted to Contest #83

Examining her pruned fingers, callused tips a form of proof that she exists here, she lets a wave push her back up to shore. It’s a gentle nudge, a friendly reminder that all good things must end and that there’s work to be done.With a quiet reluctance, she does as instructed and stands from her seat on the ocean floor, finding the water only up to her knees after that last wave. She knows she’ll be back this evening, but it’s still hard to leave. She wants to live in the water, be one with that kind, but occasionally temperamental, wave.As ...

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“'We do not go to the Water'” by Arwen Dove

Submitted to Contest #83

Rātia raced the wind through the trees, climbing over the long brown branches effortlessly. Her wavy, long brown hair danced behind her and her soft laughter merged with the sound of the waves. In her eyes lived the reflection of the sea, a swirling blue mass with an edge of white. The island was Rātia’s home. She was the only human on the island, and she had never met another human in her life. Her friends were the animals that lived there; the monkeys, the elephants, the dolphins and the whales. A small lizard lived on her shoulder, she na...

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“The Wedding Anniversary” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #83

Our first encounter with Richard Bridger was in the lobby of the Grand Hotel Palazzo the day before the first Coronavirus quarantine was announced. The lilt of his booming voice reverberated around the reception area where a party of sixty guests were waiting to check into their rooms.“Darlings, you can’t leave me here,” he says to the young couple. “Not on a Sunday morning, Amalea?”“Please, Signor,” she says. “We’ll miss our connection…” Mister Bridger turns to her partner. “You too, Bernardo?”“We can’t wait any longer, Signor.”&n...

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“Just Words” by Cathryn V

Submitted to Contest #83

I pretend that I’m deaf. Like I can’t hear the names and giggles from the stuck-ups as I walk by. Fat-girl and Froggy. They’re just words. Meaningless words.Leslie, my one and only true friend, tells me that I’m curvy, not fat, and so what my voice is a little a gravelly.I'm sixteen, size twelve, brown eyes, okay face, and brown hair that's long enough to sit on. I like loud music, not country, but almost anything else. Swim team, water polo, and high dive are my best sports. No dad and no siblings. Just Gloria, who is my mom, and me. My mot...

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“Hidden Identity” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #83

Willow Tuppingwon stood with her tail dangling in the water. The warm glow of the evening sun glistening on her pale cheeks. Her long brown hair flailed out behind her and she reached down to pick up a flower as the sunset slowly faded away. She brought her tale up onto the ledge and rested it there. She emerged from the water and sat silently. Pondering the questions of her world. No one knew she was a mermaid. No one could know. They would kill her. Mermaids were banned. Magic was banned. King Uther didn't believe that it was noble. He did...

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“what might be the birth and death of a goddess” by Kathleen `Woods

Submitted to Contest #83

All She could feel was salt, a sickening and bold smell remained on her skin, as new as the rough grit of the sand. The air was as she had never known before, as the salt and sea foam she originated from dried on nearly human skin. She was nowhere near one with it anymore, centuries passing without her acolytes to sing her praises. But who could ever know what she wasn’t anymore? As she lay sickening on the coast of her birth. It was a blight on whatever she had that approximated eternity. But she could survive it if she also forgot wh...

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“Bright Futures at Sea ” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #83

Bright Futures at Sea.Under the cover of night, Andrea Houghman finally finished her nightly ocean swim. As she arose from the Lush Island sea she reminded herself that this was not just any night. It was her late mother's birthday, and on the beach and in the sea were some of her fondest memories of time spent with her mother. As she did every year since her return to Lush Island, she took a late night swim to honor her mother. Swimming was her mother's favorite pastime, so living in an oceanfront home must have been a dream come true.&nbs...

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“Mistakes at the Movies” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #83

Mistakes at the Movies. Taking a deep breath, Dr. Rosalina James looked upon her creation. It was beautiful. Not 'it' but rather 'she' was beautiful. A little girl named Andrea, currently had the same fiery red hair, emerald green eyes and slightly pale skin that her mother also bore. Although red-heads often stood out from the crowd, bearing a resemblance to one's parents is natural. Thus, little Andrea was able to blend in with the people around her. If she learned she simply did not care for her appearance, or had a sudden need for a ch...

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“The World Beyond This Sea” by B Easton

Submitted to Contest #83

A dark wall rose above the horizon, and a once glorious sun vanished into cold, unforgiving waters. The creaking of the wood echoed below me as I leapt off the dock and onto the deck of my ship. Voices behind me raced through the wind, but their cries fell on deaf ears as the hull of my vessel freed itself from the clutches of the island. The first wave struck, a massive sheet of darkness against the wooden body of my ship, and immediately, I went flying forward. Salt water lurched over the side and splashed against my face, and before I co...

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“Finding Love in Unexpected Places” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #83

Finding Love in Unexpected Places.“This so-called 'bargain' vacation is too good to be true,” sighed a clearly disappointed Janet. She continued, “just because something online is said or shown to be true doesn't mean it always is true. Yes, the smooth golden sand with shells easily seen on the beach's surface is beautiful. Clear skies, clean ocean waves with happy children and their families together building sandcastles are a joy to see. The palm trees are a nice touch...those pictures are too staged and too heavily edited to be real! Als...

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“Paradise Unshared” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #83

Cheryl opened the door to see her husband, Dave, sitting at the kitchen table with his back to her. He didn’t move. She thought it odd that he didn’t acknowledge her entrance. Oblivious to all else, he stared at the portable radio which played quietly on the table. She watched him on the edge of amazement. Usually fidgety, Dave sat as still as she’d ever seen him, except when he slept. Even his sleep was restless. The radio announcer declared an imminent opportunity to ‘win big’. Dave picked up the pen and prepared to write. Having things ...

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“Salt and Sunshine” by Maddie Logemann

Submitted to Contest #83

Breaking from the surface of the sea meant sunshine. While water streamed from her skin, sluicing back to the waves she was pulled from, morning sun rays spilled over her too. They were startlingly warm, bright in her eyes. And they ate up the crisp cool of the ocean, wicking away moisture to dry out her skin, her red curls. Taking a gasping breath of warm air, she blinked against the harsh sun, water still beading on her lashes and dripping down her cheeks. Even ripped from the waves, the first thing she noticed was the bob and sway ...

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“Nepós and Fotiàs” by Meggysa Nine

Submitted to Contest #83

I am the lost child of the Blue Tribe. Blue Tribe possesses the water spirit which is known for its purity and innocence.The other tribes — Soil and Wind — respect the Gods' decision to give rise to the Blue tribe as their highest spirit rulers of the world called Earth.The people of the blue tribe are called Νepó while the soil tribe is called Láspi and the wind tribe is called Aéras. Nepós rescued me during the first massacre of the Blue and Green tribe.Ah... yes, the Green tribe. Known for their burning temper and hideous traits. They are...

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“Battle Under the Sea” by Praise Abraham

Submitted to Contest #83

It was an eerie night. The moon was mourning, clothing itself with the black sackcloth of night.Everything was still.No mouse squeaked. No toad croaked. No firefly lighted the lush weeds. No merry cricket dared to call out its signature mating sound.In the physical, a dancing ripple could be seen on the surface. Spiritually, it bubbled and boiled. Then, like a tsuanmous wave, it rose, gigantic and hulking.The silent night was pierced by the roar of an enraged warrior, followed by the shrieks of his accomplices.Like darts, imps, goblins, demo...

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“In My Galaxy ” by Angelina Jeong

Submitted to Contest #83

"I feel like this is Heaven," Tokyo Goldwell, emerged from the Hawaiian water, her tan skin glowing golden as it reflected on the sunlight. Her long brown hair was slicked back with the cool water, covering her bare back. "This is the dream of my life," Hazel, Tokyo's best friend, said as she laid her head onto the cushion of the beach chair. They have been friends since 15 and this was their 10th year anniversary of being best friends. "Let's go get lunch at the famous Hawaiian sandwich and pineapple dole whip place," Tokyo said as she ...

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$50

Prize money

826

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 05, 2021 EST

Won by Madalyn Meyers 🏆

Title: Burn Damage

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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