Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Posted in Dialogue on Feb 16, 2024

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 59 stories

“Commitment” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #238

Oscar is in his fishing boat on his favorite lake, watching his bobber bob up and down in the sun’s glare. Light dapples across his face as a soft breeze tosses the few strands of his balding head. Suddenly, he feels a sharp pain in his side. He is snapped awake. Dolores’s bony elbow has hit him hard in the ribs. She hisses, “Oscar, wake up! You’re in church!”Oscar grumbles back, “I’m not sleeping. I’m listening.”“Yeah? Well, your eyes were closed!” Oscar lifts his chin defiantly, “...

5 comments 5

Read story

“The Golden Apple.......” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #238

In his nostalgic moments, as his life passed by, Marty often looked back on some of his life-changing moments. One golden memory was when Marty first told anyone he was gay. Directed by their mother, who had said, "You're reading too many books, go for a walk," Marty and his older sister had walked for a sunny afternoon of fresh air. Taking their library books under their arms, Marty and Louisa had sauntered into a neighboring orchard. There were no fences, the fruit trees overladen with ripened apples had all been earmarked for a housing de...

2 comments 2

Read story

“What a David Does” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #238

Alarms blared and an amber warning light flashed beside the airlock of the spacecraft Grace. Joshua David stood steady and still beside it. “Daddy!”Joshua spun to face the cry, and saw a girl running towards him, brown hair flying behind her. An older boy was chasing after her. “Lindsey!” Joshua opened his arms wide, and the girl ran into them. “Daddy, what’s going on?” His daughter’s voice was muffled against his chest. He hugged her hard for a moment, then let go and pulled back. He knelt in front of her and took her ha...

7 comments 7

Read story

“A Pack of Lies” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #238

He walked in wearing a backpack full of rocks. It was easy to tell the weight had taken its toll. Sweat stained his underarms and neckline, and his face flushed from overexertion. He moaned and groaned as waves of pain attacked his body while he walked to the nearest seat. Before he sat, he made a series of small stretches: rolling his shoulders, straightening his back, and moving his head from side to side. Every movement made him wince.“Let me take your pack?” A kind, middle-aged man stood to help.“No, thank you,” the hiker said, “It’s min...

6 comments 6

Read story

“A Demon Whispers” by Laura Ethington

Submitted to Contest #238

The early morning light was blinding as she stumbled out of the forest, confused and cold. Her dress was ripped and covered in mud. Isabella walked into the early morning sun, scared and off-kilter, but not knowing why. Early morning was her favorite time to forage, but for some reason, she could only think about getting home as quickly as possible and sitting In the warm safety of her hearth. While returning to the path she usually walked, she looked down and realized her basket was gone. The familiar weight of it missing in her arms. But s...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Aposiopesis in Aberystwyth ” by Jennifer Molidor

Submitted to Contest #238

“I can’t say it,” I said, pointing to road signs, as Detective Chief Inspector David Wells drove us through the Welsh countryside. I had just crossed the Irish Sea on the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead. David had come to escort me south to the station in Aberystwyth where he worked for the Heddlu Dyfed–Powys, hethlee duhved pows, the central Wales police force. He had sent for me from across the seas, in hopes I could help him solve a tricky mystery. Aberystwyth. I could say that. Aburristwith. But I could not begin to imagine...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Daughter of Lilith” by Natalia Cosnett

Submitted to Contest #238

Drumming his broad fingers on the pine wood of his vast desk, Thomas felt torn in half. He had a big decision to make. In front of him was sat his newly promoted chief midwife, Lila D’Lores. Kind hearted and full of knowledge beyond her twenty two years, Lila was by far the best trainee nurse he had ever had in his tiny hospital wing. In fact, just sixteen weeks ago, he had been thrilled to learn of Lila’s arrival, when he was informed that there would be a new young nurse coming to offer aid to the cramped and outdated h...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Sun's Penumbra” by Kiren Lee

Submitted to Contest #238

[Physical violence, Gore, and Implied Abuse. Vauge Mental health Issues.]She loaded the barrel and twisted, counting down to her revenge. In exactly eight minutes and twenty seconds these bullets will tear into Arnie Lynn’s head. By Sunday tomorrow, Eva will be free, one way or another. Fifteen rounds is all she needed to kill the underground’s infamous bogeyman. From their basement to the top floor, every last criminal here will die— and surely, so will she. How fitting that the weapon they’ve created will be their undoing? They’d neve...

0 comments 0

Read story

“First Pitch” by Lourdes Albarracin

Submitted to Contest #238

“A guest of a Blue Jays team player will throw today’s first pitch. The announcer says. “That lucky person is Paula Jimenez.” My sister and I look up from our conversation. “Paula come down to the field and throw that pitch.” He continues. “They called your name.” Carmen says. “Why would he do that?” I say and throw the remainder of my hot dog into a paper bag. “You didn’t know?” I shake my head. “Smile.” She says I do as instructed. “Good. No food between your teeth.” She hands me a lipstick. “This color will look...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Hank, The Cat Contingency” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #238

My name is Cynthia. I am the Personal Manager at my work. I hire, fire, and pay the staff's wages at the Salvador Hotel. It is of average size with 200 bedrooms, varying in size and quality. We need an extensive variety of staff to care for the guests, especially at peak times. Right now, is a relatively quiet time. Some staff have left, and we haven’t needed to replace them.I have a husband, Kevin, and two sons. My husband is a highly qualified electrician. Harry is in his first year at High School, while Jeremy is only ten and still at Pri...

7 comments 7

Read story

“A Late Night” by Aeryn Goodspeed

Submitted to Contest #238

Guavato sat at the edge of their bed, staring into their pajama-clad lap.They still saw it sometimes. Felt the metaphysical claws piercing into their eyes, tasting and smelling the viscous, green, almost glue-like ooze that had leaked into their mouth and nose. The rage from back then bubbled up once more in their gut, but they shook their head and squeezed their eyes closed.The thought crossed their mind to call Daybreak, but they’d just called him yesterday. For the same night terror, no less. No, their sibling deserved his rest. They coul...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Unspeakable” by Robert Radcliff

Submitted to Contest #238

A tall and towering distinguished-looking man with hypnotic eyes stood on the stage of the Great Hall.He titled himself the Professor and his close colleagues often referred to him as 'The Prof'.It is after 3am in the morning but due to the urgency of events he has summoned his three closest assistants to learn about how he would soon reveal to all in this auditorium and to the world about a dreadful incident."My friends," he said, pausing to stress that the group's diverse political affiliations didn't matter because they were all now worki...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Best Left Unsaid” by Corbin Russell

Submitted to Contest #238

“Could you just—” “Hang on a min—” “OWW. Stop touching th—” “OK, OK. I know this is weird, but you have to—” “No, I don’t wa—” “Wait wuh wuh, wai—GUH—” “I said—” “Listen, Oh—” “No! Stop it n—” “OK, OK, look here are my—” “Sto—” “Here are my hands. See? I’m n—I am not going to go any further than th—” “Just let me breathe a sec. I know—" “OK, but—” “I know this is hard. It’s hard for both—” “Hard? This has been impossible. Do you know—” “I know! Yes. I am not an idiot. But just because it’s hard—” “It’s not just hard. Like I said—” “Ha!” “Lik...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Ex Best Friend” by Jordan Tyler

Submitted to Contest #238

The dark purple, deep bags under the twenty-six-year-old's eyes pulse as they sink deeper. With the speed of light and the lucidity of a lifetime, the trauma of his teenage years replayed in front of him before he could blink twice. “Oh, G-d… no,” Mike whispered. Horrified, he lengthens his strides in an uncomfortable attempt to walk a little faster, as if he were walking on cinders to please a mad king. “Okay, it’s okay. Stay cool, Mike. Maybe he hasn't seen you yet. Quick, hit the vape over your shoulder. He won’t recognize you...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Lost Treasure of Cleocatra” by Jonas Einhorn

Submitted to Contest #238

A ragtag group of anthropomorphic cat treasure hunters finds themselves deep in the ancient pyramid that houses Cleocatra’s tomb, trying to figure out how to access the entrance of a hidden room filled with treasure. They’re led by George, who is accompanied by Dr. Bliffy the expert Purrgyptolgist, Amelia their Purrgyptian spelunking guide, and Father Joseph a priest from the Catacan. The group now walked down a long zig-zagging corridor upon steps of masterfully cut limestone. “Before we enter the chamber, I will douse each of you with thi...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Angst – 93 stories

Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Dialogue – 40 stories

Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Mystery – 49 stories

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Angst – 44 stories

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Aposiopesis

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 23, 2024 EST

Won by Weronika L 🏆

Title: Five Turns of the Hourglass

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“Commitment” by Ralph Aldrich

“The Golden Apple.......” by Julie Grenness

“What a David Does” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“A Pack of Lies” by Daniel Rogers

“A Demon Whispers” by Laura Ethington

“Aposiopesis in Aberystwyth ” by Jennifer Molidor

“Daughter of Lilith” by Natalia Cosnett

“The Sun's Penumbra” by Kiren Lee

“First Pitch” by Lourdes Albarracin

“Hank, The Cat Contingency” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

“A Late Night” by Aeryn Goodspeed

“Unspeakable” by Robert Radcliff

“Best Left Unsaid” by Corbin Russell

“Ex Best Friend” by Jordan Tyler

“The Lost Treasure of Cleocatra” by Jonas Einhorn

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: