Start or end your story with someone saying, “We have all the time in the world.”

Posted in Dialogue on Jan 19, 2024

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✍️ 71 stories

“Gift of the Marge-i” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world, Tom. Well, at least forty-five minutes. Anyways, we’ll be in and out before anyone even knows we were here.” “But why are we breaking into a cop shop, Eric?” “Coz, it’s between shift’s, Tom. It’s only been open a couple of weeks on the high street, and still understaffed.” “That don’t answer why we’re breaking into the cop shop.” “Tom, breaking-in infers smashing a window or kicking in a door. We are not breaking in. We are simply entering of our own volition.” “Volition?” “On our own accord, mate.” “But w...

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“The Assignment” by Alexis Araneta

Submitted to Contest #234

TW: Mention of death, suicide“Diana Sétte, please proceed to the Rose Hall your job interview.”Diana stood up and followed the instructions of the melodious voice coming out of the intercom system. With each step, she noticed how light she was on her feet; it was as if she floated on air. Back out there --- Earth, all she’d known was weight. The heavy sensation of a bullet piercing her heart and taking her to the grandiose hall she was now walking in was but the last in a series of crushing weights she felt throughout her life. Perhaps, the ...

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“An Emissary from the Death Café” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #234

The Methuselah microbes buried in the Russian permafrost broke through the thawing soil like zombies rising from the dead. Only rather than arms reaching from earthen tombs and stretching bony fingers in a horrific gesture, they simply floated up into the dry Eurasian air off the shores of Lake Baikal on the Continental Ridge that divides Russia and Mongolia.And for the first time in a hundred thousand years, these apex predators were carried over the frozen plains to enjoy dominion over their world. The Baikal seals and the Mongolian gulls ...

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“My Love Letter to Hiroshima” by Angela M

Submitted to Contest #234

Trigger warning: contains representations of sexual and physical violence Time seems to stand still at Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome. Every morning at 8:17, I pass it for just one second on the train, but it feels like a lifetime. The structure is eerily beautiful and tourists flock around it all year, but all I can imagine are the rotting flesh on living people and the gaping mouths of dying children — humanity at its lowest. There are times I feel guilty for caring so much about the people of Hiroshima. “They deserved it” is what ...

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“Before tomorrow starts but after today ends. ” by Waaa Intresting

Submitted to Contest #234

As the noises of the afternoon began to unfold, a diverse collection of humanity converged upon this urban canvas. A multitude of souls that could never be counted for their worth. Several scents wafted through the air: the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delicate fragrance being sold of roadside flowers mingled with underlying bitterness that every city seemed to have. Perhaps it's because of the quiet cafes tucked away in cobblestone where patrons find solace amongst moments of reflection, accompanied by the wisp of smoke cu...

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“The Henchman” by James Lane

Submitted to Contest #234

I land hard on cold cement and something in me cracks. A rib, I think.Shit. That clown is not far behind. He crashes through the ceiling and I roll away before he crushes me. Pain shoots from my chest, around my shoulders and up my neck. Yup, it’s a broken rib, maybe a couple. The clown staggers to his feet. He lets out a howl, and falls to his knees - probably broke his ankle. He’s dressed head-to-toe in blue leather, like Batman, if Batman was a deluded asshole. Calls himself the Bookworm, and he’s got an orange grub etched into his h...

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“Tick, Tock, and Goat Yoga” by Martin Marriott

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world.” “If by ‘all the time in the world’ you mean three minutes and forty-two seconds.” “Time is a human construct.” “And this construct will blow us to smithereens if you don’t defuse that bomb in the next three minutes and thirty-nine seconds.” “You stress too much. Have you considered goat yoga?” “No, Frank. I haven’t tried goat yoga.” “You should. It’s good for those wrinkle lines.” “I don’t have wrinkle lines, Frank. I have stress lines. Stress lines caused by a certain bomb disposal expert.” “I’m your fav...

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“The Time Train” by Jim Robison

Submitted to Contest #234

Kalvin Carlyle “KC” Rogers, like all the others in the passenger car, looked out the window of the fast-moving locomotive, but the view didn’t interest him. All he could think about was Julie. He thought about how they first met. He was a junior account executive at an advertising agency working on a proposal for Amtrak. His idea was to promote the vistas available only by rail travel, and Julie was a freelance photographer with an impressive portfolio of landscape art. He would include some of her work in the proposal ...

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“1864 Arkansas” by James Moore

Submitted to Contest #234

1864 ArkansasEllen was awoken by the sound of her husband John's voice, coming up the stairs in a hushed but angry tone.“It don't mean nothing, Sarah. You'll still stay here with us. Think of us as your keepers more than your owners,” John said.“I've been hearing stories, Mister Addison, that’s all,” said Sarah.“That's just what they are, Sarah, stories. Pay no mind to them. You keep on with your work, and I'll worry about keeping this house over our heads, you hear?” John said in a tone that meant the conversation was over.Ellen got up in a...

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“Only a Fragment of Time in the World” by CJ Souza

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world,” Caleb whispered those sweet words against my neck during our last moments together. I dangle my legs down over the side of the porch swing, my eyes looking down at the rotting boards below me. I give a gentle push on the ball of my foot against the floor and provoke the swing to sway me. I pull my legs to my chest and cradle myself in the rocking, like a frightened child needing safety and comfort. The pressure within my heart releases through the tears that flow down my cheeks and stop upon my neck. My...

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“Realization...what a Concept” by Brian Bywater

Submitted to Contest #234

REALIZATION, what a Concept. It is a bit difficult to put an exact time, or even a date, on when it all started, it is not really important anyway. Once I tell you the full story you will have some understanding of why it is suffice to say time matters very little to me now. In actual fact I truly do have all the time in this, or any other world. First let me explain how an unusual medical problem is totally to blame for my current situation. According to my local medico, Dr Crow, if I do not have the blockage, which is stopping blood ge...

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“Kokura Luck” by Tim Dudenhoefer

Submitted to Contest #234

It was 10:28 am local time, Kokura. Grandfather reached up with ancient, gnarled fingers to brush Yukina’s dark hair out of her eyes, saying, “It will be alright, little flower.” He flashed a loving smile and pulled his handkerchief from the breast pocket of his suit coat to wipe her eyes dry. He was crouched, kneeling before her as he offered her the little white square of cloth, “Shall we blow our noses?” Playfully putting the cloth against his own face, he made a great trumpeting noise to get her to giggle as he had done uncountable times...

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“Something Real” by Eliza Levin

Submitted to Contest #234

CONTENT WARNINGS: Physical and Sexual Violence; Brief Description of Gore; Sexual Content“We have all the time in the world. I don’t care if this takes all night, if that’s what you need,” Lily said slowly from a chair next to the bed.Josh continued to pull at his restraints. “You can keep me here as long as you want, but I’m never going to know what you’re talking about. I don’t know how many more ways I can say you’re making a mistake.”Lily smiled. “Oh, don’t be like that. I promise I’m a good listener. I just want to hear your side of the...

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“War Time” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world!” said the salesperson as he glowed, his bald head glistening as his hands expanded.All over the counter, the watches sprawled and jostled in their cases, the cream-colored one tipping so near me that if I caught it, I thought I should be allowed to keep it. If only my father would let me. Which he never did.“This one,” my dad said.Black. With a plastic face and rubber strap. No kid had a watch like that at school. Least of all me, or so I hoped.“I don’t like it,” I said as loud as I dared.“I’m tired,” my m...

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“Mirror Image” by Karen Hope

Submitted to Contest #234

Hope felt good in her sensible blank pumps. Their 2-inch heel gave her a graceful lift without torturing her feet. Her slim-fitting black pants showed off her shapely legs, while her blue flared shirt hid the slight bulge in her middle-aged belly. She pushed aside the discarded dresses and tops that were strewn across her bed. She had practically emptied her whole closet searching for the perfect outfit. But doesn’t every woman scour their closet before she goes out for ...

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Start or end your story with someone saying, “We have all the time in the world.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 71 stories

“Gift of the Marge-i” by Chris Campbell

“The Assignment” by Alexis Araneta

“An Emissary from the Death Café” by Jonathan Page

“My Love Letter to Hiroshima” by Angela M

“Before tomorrow starts but after today ends. ” by Waaa Intresting

“The Henchman” by James Lane

“Tick, Tock, and Goat Yoga” by Martin Marriott

“The Time Train” by Jim Robison

“1864 Arkansas” by James Moore

“Only a Fragment of Time in the World” by CJ Souza

“Realization...what a Concept” by Brian Bywater

“Kokura Luck” by Tim Dudenhoefer

“Something Real” by Eliza Levin

“War Time” by Joe Smallwood

“Mirror Image” by Karen Hope

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone whose time is running out.

Write a story about someone who wishes they could turn back time.

Write about someone taking advantage of some unexpected free time.

Set your story in a place that’s frozen in time — literally or metaphorically.

Contest #234

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

340

Contest entries

132

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: