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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#86: Springtime Flowers

March 21st may be considered the first day of Spring by many, but Mother Nature doesn't always agree. Depending on where you live, the daffodils could be showing their sunny faces or still hibernating under frozen soil.

For me, it’s usually a mix. Here you can be wearing shorts one day and shoveling snow the next, but one thing is consistent: as soon as the weather warms up, I’m bursting outside to gulp down that fresh air and watch the world come back to life. This week, regardless of what the weather actually holds, let’s celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal. After all, in our imaginations the sun can always be shining and the birds can always be chirping!

This week's prompts

Set your story at a park during a spring festival.

Spring – 82 stories

Write about a character coming out of a long hibernation (either literal or metaphorical).

Spring – 158 stories

Write a fairy tale about someone who can communicate with woodland creatures.

Kids – 168 stories

Start your story with one character pointing out the first sign of spring to another.

Spring – 107 stories

Write a story where flowers play a central role.

Spring – 278 stories

Stories

“Bearing the unbearable” by Ali Berg

Submitted to Contest #86

I felt my eyelids fluttering. It was heavy, cold, lonely. I felt drained and that I had lost all my limbs. Then I had realized, I was already awake. I found myself lying inside the hospital bed. The room was warm and comfy, the lights went blur when I had opened my eyes. I couldn’t remember who I was, what I did, did I get married, or did I have kids. Not a single memory had popped out of me. I even forgot that I’m a human. Thankfully, I saw a billboard outside the window with a man endorsing a new product. It had a caption—be a human. Well ...

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“I Am Fire and Rain” by ✰ 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐞 ✰

Submitted to Contest #86

I watched, my head resting on my hands, as the candle flickered. The fire danced. It’s strange how something so powerful can be so beautiful. How can it consume everything in its path, yet still glow with a warm passion? I waved my hand over the flame, it caresed my fingers, warmth trickled through them. “I’m getting worried about you,” A tall, slender girl approached my desk. She moved a pile of laundry off the chair beside me and sat down. “Go away, Jetta. I don’t need your words of ...

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“A Regenerating Dream. ” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #86

A Regenerating Dream.Picked up by her mother, young Andrea was placed onto her mattress. Bedtime was never easy for Andrea, who whined endlessly each night. Sitting up with her arms and legs crossed, she moaned “mom, why do I need to sleep? I'm an android!”The phrase 'recharging your batteries' was not intended to be taken literally; however, it was accurate regarding Andrea. Hidden under her left thigh was a small door with a battery. Impossible to remove, the battery was what kept Andrea alive. If she spent too long 'uncharged' she would i...

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“A Flower For Forgiveness” by Traci Neal

Submitted to Contest #86

It is such a sunny day outside. I feel the warmth of the sun. The sutal, spring breeze uplifts me. Now, my petals can sway back and forth to wave at my friend. My friend just woke up. Her name is Dawn. She looks tired as if she didn't sleep very well last night. I always assume it is because Dawn is an entrepreneur. She is a poet, a youth author, and an aspiring actress. Dawn loves bringing hope to people. She always makes me smile by welcoming me into her day.Before Dawn would start her day, she used to say, "Good morning, Daisy!" She then ...

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“First Rain” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #86

The residents of Imber, a small town nestled in the mountains, enjoyed Halloween. They decorated their homes with twinkling lights every Christmas, and they stayed awake until midnight every New Year’s Eve. They children even spent Valentine’s Day shyly handing each other fresh roses plucked from the Imber Gardens. But nothing compared to First Rain. The preparations began in late winter. Lucy sat at the window seat, watching the snowmen in the yard melt into pitiful puddles while the twins colored posters beside her. The kitchen table w...

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“Unfurl” by Ellie Yu

Submitted to Contest #86

“Snow’s melting.”She looks up from the cobblestone path. “Sorry?”He clears his throat. “Snow’s melting.”“Oh. Right.”Somehow, he persists. “I guess that means spring’s coming."“Yeah,” is the only thing she can say, because it’s not a surprise to her. She has a calendar hanging in her college dorm, all colors and bookmarks and bright highlights leaping off the pages. It’s covered in space photography. She’s always wanted to cup the galaxy in her hands.He chews his lip for a moment. “Do you-” he starts, and then he trails off. She basks in the ...

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“A tale as old as time” by Celine Aoun

Submitted to Contest #86

Even though the darkness enhanced by the distant sounds of nocturnal animals coming to life in the forest nearby was scary, the moonlight didn’t bring any comfort. It made it possible for me to make out the outline of his bear-like body standing on the balcony staring into the night. The silver light refracted through the glass slightly illuminating the old and forgotten contents of a dingy and gloomy chamber: a gold pocket watch attached to a rusty chain dangling from a wooden table on which stood an empty candle holder with the remnants of...

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“Groundhog Day” by Amy Donahue

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #86

I smile when I see the slough of fresh earth, tossed down the bank, and the clear dark circle above it. Our groundhog dug out last night, or maybe this morning, but not yesterday, when the smallest of openings was still visible if you knew where to look. Asleep for months with no day or night, only the rhythm of the slowest possible heartbeat. Today was the day, to come back into the world. The woods are still a sparse a collage of browns against the damp, gray sky. And then, there it is! It's leaner than in the fall, but still wide and ro...

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“You Choose Your Own Adventure. ” by Shannon Ruane

Submitted to Contest #86

You Choose Your Own Adventure. As you did every week, you visited the library. The worn brick building was gigantic, occupying the entire corner of the street. Normally a quick and pleasant stroll from your house, today you ran faster than lightening to reach your destination. You may get struck by lightening if you dawdled. Drowning in a flood if you did not hurry was a legitimate concern. Such a fate had befallen other uninformed people previously. Saturday arrived, bringing bad news. As you opened the curtains of your bedroom, antic...

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“Alessia Awakens” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #86

Alessia Alighieri looked around the room. The last thing she remembered was practicing her magic at school. She was not in her room. A woman in a pale green doctor’s uniform was standing at the end of the bed. Alessia recognised the Staff of Asclepius badge on the green fabric of her chest. The doctor looked to have been in the job for a long time, some of her eyebrow hairs were white. Veins showed clearly through the skin on the doctor’s hands.Alessia’s mother was by her side. Her mother wore a gold necklace over her purple silk shirt. Her ...

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“Yellow Carnations” by Amarah Friedman

Submitted to Contest #86

Part 1: Carriage, Chase meToday, Marcus would give anything to be on time.He stood by the cotton candy stand; his wiry frame pressed against the cold metal bars that drove it into the ground, keeping it from fleeing. Freezing wind chased festival goers from tent to tent, and rain pelted the muddy path in sheaths. And yet, Marcus held his ground; didn’t budge as rain bounced off the path, soaking his shoes and calves and sending chills racing up his spine. Frankly, he needed the distraction.Look for me wearing a yellow carnation, she’d writte...

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“Season of Hopes” by Sasini Athapaththu

Submitted to Contest #86

It was the second week of spring. Grace was sitting under a huge cherry blossom tree looking meaninglessly at the blooming flowers in front of her. The flowers seemed to be happily bathing sunlight, dancing to the rhythm of the faint breeze. A cherry flower fell onto her head, rolled down her face and onto her palm. Grace looked down at the flower and then up the tree as if she was expecting the tree to say something. That's when Grace noticed Felix who was standing by the front door of the college talking to another boy, she didn't recogniz...

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“A Life for a Life” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #86

She had never awakened before the first blossom of spring. Nymphs rarely do. Though, she still found herself stirred from her winter’s slumber by a warmth similar to that of the sun and a gentle crackling by her side. It most certainly felt like the warmth of spring; the warmth that told her to wake up, yet when the maple tree’s nymph opened her eyes, the reflective white of the snow around her nearly blinded her. Instinctively, she raised her arm to shield her light green eyes. By her side, she felt the same warmth like a loyal, heeling do...

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“Yellow Roses and Daffodils ” by Luna Wood

Submitted to Contest #86

"Mom! I'm going to head out." "Okay, sweetie." Today is the day of the spring festival. I go every year. My friend Laura and I always go together. There are so many stands full of beautiful flowers. There are also delicious food and a ton of rides. I take one last look in the mirror. I'm wearing a knee-length, yellow, flowy, spring dress. I have a cute brown sun hat over my curly brown hair. I recently cut my hair down to my collarbone and I think it suits me. I am also wearing brown boots. I look amazing. I grab my purse and r...

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“Budding” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #86

It started as an accident. Little Daisy Mae ran past seven houses, all the way from the local field, her arms full of sunny daffodils. A single flower flew out of her arms and landed on the driveway of Mrs. Pickens, who, at the time, sat in her porch rocking chair, reading. Mrs. Pickens watched the giggling child run, her long auburn hair flying behind her, and smiled as the yellow daffodil settled on her driveway. She rose out of her chair, hobbled to the flower, and bent to pick it up, wincing at the popping of her hip.The next day, D...

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$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 26, 2021 EST

Won by Scott Skinner 🏆

Title: Flowering Walrus

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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