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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Start a story that begins with a character saying “Speak now.”

Posted in Dialogue on Mar 17, 2023

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✍️ 86 stories

“The Jouralist's last stand” by Andres Perez

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now”, he spat with his hoarse and raspy tone. It wasn’t necessarily an inviting statement to get me to talk, yet I remained steady in my efforts to not collapse from fear. In front of me was a man of an inconsiderable size probably around 4’3, who had dark brown hair, accompanied with severe burn marks on his left cheek.  As I gazed at them, I could tell the man was not fond of spectators, concerning that particular area which was at least then adequate.  Lowering my gaze, from his face to the 32 inch bat, I was certain he...

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“See the light” by Julie Rich

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” The man in the white coat pushed his glasses up and looked at Jenny with intense focus. “What would you like me to say?” she asked. Well, those were the words her brain formed, but her vocal chords delivered a harsh, wet grunting noise. Wide-eyed, she clapped both hands over her mouth. Her chest heaved as she sucked air in through flared nostrils. “Feel free to try again.” Appalled at the thought of repeating that ugly sound, she shook her head. “Okay. I understand,” he replied with a small nod. He left her glass corner offi...

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“Speak” by Laura Orrantia

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now,” she hears a voice whisper. She uncrosses her legs and tugs at her hemline. She questions why she chose to wear this sundress. It is suddenly making her feel more exposed. The woman sitting across from her repeats a question, “Lucy, what made you decide to come see me today?” The woman speaks softly while somehow still exuding confidence. Her sleek, jet-black hair is pulled neatly into a bun, not giving away the length. She is stunning and looks elegant in a silk top that perfectly matches the summers clear blue sky. It is loosel...

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“Rory” by T C Milton

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.”A rumble of chuckles emanated from the gathered family and friends, and Katie scrunched her head down and flashed a nervous half-smile at her husband-to-be, who grew her smile into a full grin with his effected eye-roll followed by a wink of his left eye. Tension eased itself out of Katie’s shoulders and neck and she knew, somehow, that all the stress leading up to this moment … this moment they had planned for, hoped for, looked for … was not going to overshadow the joy in her heart and the sheer excitement of becoming Mrs. Dona...

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“The Good Church Boy” by Reece York

Submitted to Contest #190

"Speak now." Father said. His arms crossed firmly against his chest, so tight that you could see muscle strain against his red polo shirt. His gaze pierced and forced Gregor's eyes down by the judgement it contained.Gregor wish he could explain, truly he did. He was used to being in good graces with the grownups in his life, but now his lips were sealed, and his hands trembled. He grimaced at the hot burn in his eyes and nose. The indignation of doing the right thing was fresh with him.His father sighed in resignation. "Alright. Go to your r...

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“Speak from the Heart” by Pete Obe

Submitted to Contest #190

"Speak now, child", the words of her father echoed in Sarah’s mind as she stood at the front of the church. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell her story. Sarah had always felt like an outsider in her conservative community. She was drawn to women, but she knew that her feelings were considered taboo in the community. She had been struggling with her sexuality for years, but she had never found the courage to tell anyone. That was until she met Emma. Emma was everything that Sarah had ever wanted in a partner - kind, caring, and unde...

1 comment 1
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“The Chaotic Trial of the Gaffer” by Lisa H. Owens

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now, for to hold your tongue is to condemn this boy to death. What say you, my constituents? Will you execute the gaffer?” Father Yosemite slowly ran his claw-like titanium fingernails down the gaffer’s cheeks, leaving behind identical deeply etched mazes. Bloody hallmarks of shame. “The floor is now open for discussion,” he spread his arms wide—a humble man not afraid of discord—then pointed to the focal point of the chamber. A slab of granite retracted to reveal the Open Floor, a natural phenomenon, burping and expelling noxious fu...

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“The Son” by Maddie Nagan

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” “Yes, to go, please.” He walked out of the café/bookstore/grocery store/clothing store hybrid into the rushing public, charting a path between the tall, small, male and female figures to the building just in eyesight a couple of blocks away. The bicycles on the path next to the sidewalk didn’t need to be taken into consideration since it’s only the sidewalk pedestrians walk on, and yet there is occasionally a cyclist who could not care less about any other people’s motives or lives and simply rushes through the people walking, s...

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“A Writer's Lament” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #190

                           A Writer’s Lament “Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Am I dreaming or am I getting married to Bev again? I have this choking feeling and seem to be in a semiconscious state. Wait a minute! I am dreaming. I am trying to commit suicide. Yup, that’s me hanging from the ceiling fan with a sheet around my neck. I can’t seem to do anything original. Even the note pinned to my tee-shi...

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“Or Forever Hold Your Peace” by Chris Mueller

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now or forever hold your peace,” the priest said like he has a thousand times before.  Nick peered into his lovely bride's eyes as sweat bubbled above his upper lip. He ran his hand through his jet-black hair and gave her a smile, but it looked like he was checking his teeth in the mirror for leftovers.  A month ago, he called his family back home where he grew up. He hasn't seen them in over a year. “I have news,” he said. “I’m in love. We've known each other for eight months and we're getting married.”  “Whhaaat” h...

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“Speak Truth!” by Tricia Cundiff

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” I heard the voice: I could hear it quite clearly. But what to say? I was blindfolded, hands tied behind me, and feet tied to the legs of a chair.  “I don’t know what to say,” I began. “Speak only truth,” the voice said.  Male voice, I was pretty certain. The expectation of rape or worse. Was there worse? Of course, there was. There was . . . nothing. Death.  “I will tell the truth. But I don’t know what you want me to say.” “Not what I want! Truth. Say what think.” English must not be native to whoever this was. I...

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“Speak Now Your Sorrow, Jesse Turner” by Christopher Gunn

Submitted to Contest #190

THIS STORY CONTAINS DEEP GRIEF, LOSS, AND DEATH. “Speak now.” It answered from the dark of the woods. “You have called and I have come.” She’s been in the ground a week. The house groans in her absence. Every settling timber seems to call out her name. The sound of it haunts me late at night. I can’t sleep. Rebecca, it calls. But she doesn’t answer. Her side of the bed is cold. Every wrinkle in the sheets lays the same as the last morning she got up to the aroma of coffee brewing in the kitchen. But the smell of her shampoo is gone from th...

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“THE SOUL OF THINGS” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #190

THE SOUL OF THINGS/ THE SOUL IN THINGS “ NOW speak,” Anthony said. The invitation was addressed to Geronimo, an elderly Indian who lived in a hermitage on the mountain for decades. Anthony had met him by chance while afflicted by the loss of his son, he was wandering through the woods in search of peace, but indeed in the absurd hope of finding his son again. Even when he had glimpsed Geronimo from afar, appearing and disappearing among the vegetation, he had hoped he was her son Daniel. Anthony knew that Daniel had died and he couldn’t co...

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“Cali, last of the Calico's” by Michelle Wolk

Submitted to Contest #190

"Speak now!" demanded Cali. She couldn't get over Bear Bear's shyness. " We'll never find him at this pace." It had began to snow in the mountains of Virginia, as Cali and her black and white kitten adventurer, Bear Bear began their journey into the woods. Bear Bear had been named for his plushness as Cali was named for her calico markings. The kitties human mama would be worried if they were gone for more than a couple of days. What had sparked this adventure was Cali's human mama telling her she was so rare, that she would be surprised if ...

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“Speak now” by Craig Brown

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” An invitation to confess to someone else’s crime.  Laszlo sat behind his desk, peering over grubby half-moon lenses, a fierce midday sun illuminated a half-cleared fingerprint, the greasy remains of his breakfast sausage. The day’s heat enticed a sheen to his hairless dome, a lone bead meandered toward his jaw, ignored, his hands occupied with a switch, flexing the cruel rod, warming it to the task ahead. In the court of Laszlo, justice is swift, often misplaced. He doesn’t care for the testimony of the inn...

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