Write a story that includes someone saying, “You can’t run forever.”

Posted in Dialogue on Jan 26, 2024

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✍️ 65 stories

“Dispatched” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #235

“9-1-1. What is your emergency?” Casey moved to the edge of her chair, fully aware that all eyes in the Dispatch Center were on her. She struggled to focus on her first call, her mind ruminating on the “we-need-to-talk” text she sent Michael that morning. Her boyfriend had grown distant since starting classes at the community college. “9-1-1. What is your emergency?” she repeated more loudly.Click.Casey tapped her console, disconnecting the line before immediately calling the number back. She had been trained to expect numerous han...

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“Run, Fatso, Run.” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #235

Harris and I have been trampling the tarmac for decades now.We know we’re a couple of fatties at heart, there’s no denying it. But if I cease my regular run, I’ll lose the bet and return to Fatsville.I have a recurring nightmare about my wager with Harris. There’s tsunami of wobbling belly flab, thighs and bingo wings. It chases me across fields, down a high street and all the way back home.Breathless, I slam the door behind me and it charges down my road.I’m sure if I stop running, it’ll catch me.God forbid that happens.*&nbs...

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“Another Brick in the Wall” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #235

Another Brick in the Wall “Miss Chandler, Miss Chandler. The boys are at it again.” Third-grader Tali Grumble hurried over to her teacher at recess. “What are they doing now?” Miss Chandler inquired. “Playing baseball and running the bases.” “Not again? How many times must I remind them? Guess I'll have to report them to the principal this time. He will not be happy about it and will probably give them detention. Thank you for letting me know.” !o!o!o! “Mr. Carr, I am sorry to report I am having trouble with the boys at recess again. They ...

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“The Little That You Have” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #235

The poor in Farthing keep getting poorer. The less you have the more they take. That’s Farthing. Take Lucana and me. We live in Widow’s Mite, on the border of Fayetteville, in a boxable unit, in a stack of similar boxable units, in a dirty forgotten quarter, on a nondescript block, that forms a section of an unpaved tract, beneath a jagged palisade, where the city planners neglected to account for stormwater drainage so that it floods with every single storm, where Jackboots come and go where they please, and freely take our belongings or st...

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“Walter, Eddie, and the Crocodile Monster” by Chelsey B

Submitted to Contest #235

Walter came crashing through the back door. He zipped into the playroom and dumped out a bin of costumes. Frantic, he dug through the clothing, and gave a sigh of relief when he found what he was looking for. Walter slid a red superhero mask over his eyes, then threw a red and yellow cape around his neck. He fumbled with the velcro. In his rush, he struggled to get it to stick. “Ugh! Why won’t this stay?” Walter grumbled. “Slow down and focus, Buddy,” his mom, who was reading a book on the couch, reminded hi...

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“A Decently Modest Proposal” by Allan Bernal

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #235

Hey you! Yes you, reading this story! Don’t worry, this isn’t some piece of meta fiction, I’m dictating what I say to a gracious volunteer who’ll post it for me. I’ve got an offer for you – and no, not like a door to door salesman peddling dull kitchen knives or what have you. You see, my offer is as genuine as a baby’s first laugh. My name is Donald Basemore-Cooper – quite a mouthful I know, my friends call me Donnie, DB, Coop, Basement, and so on, take your pick, they're like paint samples. But the people I do business with? Oh, they cal...

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“No More Games of Run and Hide” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #235

Susan shoved a second slice of buttered toast in her mouth as she searched for her running shoes. Boxes upon boxes which should have been clearly marked, announcing their contents somehow eluded that particular task. Never again will she move and think as she’s packing, “I’ll remember what’s in this box.",because she misplaced her marker for the fifth time that afternoon. Well, at least she was able to find the box containing the toaster, and more importantly, the coffee maker. Susan amused herself with thoughts of a new social media sensati...

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“C-Section Scar” by Bri Heron

Submitted to Contest #235

I can pack all of my belongings and my son’s in under thirty minutes. I attribute part of this to my military kid upbringing. My parents liked to live the minimalist lifestyle, they’d only put a few decorations up here and there. And while I hated seeing bare walls on each house or apartment we lived in; I definitely see the appeal now. My son is homeschooled because it is easier to do that then explain to his teachers why we move so often. And before you ask, it’s not because of the military. Granted, my son is only in first grade, so I’...

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“Hitting the wall” by Sophie Irish

Submitted to Contest #235

Getting in from work, I found myself stood in front of my long, rectangular mirror in my bedroom, filled with the usual self-hatred. At only fifty four years old I was dangerously obese, the sides of me not even fitting in the skinny mirror standing several feet away. My face was haggard, the lines filled with deep sadness and time wasted. My eyes looked like I had been in a bar brawl, dark circles engulfing my once pretty blue eyes; years of neglect and 3 hours sleep a night visible to everyone. What was left of my hair was grey and plaster...

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“The Reading” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #235

“I’ve reached out to Marie several times with no response.”“I have as well. She’s gotten older, it isn’t easy for her anymore,” Liz explained to the women waiting patiently with her.“You think tonight will be different?”“I do. There’s strength in numbers, we’ll make ourselves heard. If anyone can take down that bastard it’s Marie.”***“You know this is a crock, right?”“Come on, don’t be like that. It will be fun.”“Fun? I doubt it. I won’t even know anyone there.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter, thinki...

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“Surrounded by the Darkness” by Mae-Ling Kao

Submitted to Contest #235

“You can’t run forever” The cold sharp cackle echoed throughout the stony chamber. Fear, silver and icy washed over Faelan. The fast warm pulsing of blood pounded in her ears. Her fingers gripped the cold stone behind her as her eyes darted across the dark recesses of the cavern. Her heart beat desperately like a trapped bird trying to escape its cage. Faelan tried quieting her breath, but she could barely focus. “Come now little rabbit” The familiar voice echoed louder in the chamber, “How much longer are going to make… me… WAIT”. The sickl...

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“Dead Last” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #235

His running outfit lay on the bed, with his number bib—ninety-four, a jab at his increasing age?—set to the side.Edmund Lyndone sighed. He’d been at this running malarkey for years and had never cracked the top ten even once. Still, today could be his lucky day. What was it the kids said? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. He pulled off his t-shirt and slipped his designer running shirt over his head.Dena groaned from the doorway behind him. ‘You’re not actually doing another one, are you Dad? It took you almost two weeks to recover ...

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“Run for Good” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #235

Lacy left her lazy husband. She kicked up the dust as she ran. She didn’t think beyond that moment. It was better not to think too far ahead. If she did, she’d panic. She left the house without anything but the sneakers on her feet and a couple of bank notes stashed in a wallet secured to her torso. Her legs felt long and free. They’d felt ensnared for so long. Stretching them was a kind of ecstasy she’d been imagining for a decade.She was an athlete in school before she met Tim. She thought he was a good guy, but she hadn’t known the real T...

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“A Tale For The Gods: Cassandra's Gift” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #235

Archinae, goddess of time, sat on her golden throne, absent-mindedly spinning the Sphere. She didn't mind if she span it too fast at times – the mortals on Earth wouldn't notice if time sped up a little more than it should have. “I will not be able to wait until my Horae have grown,” she whined to her twin sister, Aphrodite, who was sitting by Archinae's pool of sight and watching the affairs of men, occasionally dipping her finger in to create a ripple and see a different image. “But surely you do not wish to abdicate so early?” Aphrodi...

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“In Memoriam Flight ” by AR R

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #235

In Memoriam Flight by Adam Ryan (Note: This story deals with survivor's guilt from the death of young man, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol/recreational drug abuse) On the way to Will’s house, you and Danny smoke a thousand cigarettes, but don’t talk much. It’s tense. A couple in a fight with kids sitting bug-eyed in the back. But that’s not it. You’re not a couple and neither of you say anything because there isn’t anything left to say – you may be headed to a party but you both know what it really is. A funeral encore. There’s a roach i...

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Write a story that includes someone saying, “You can’t run forever.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 65 stories

“Dispatched” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Run, Fatso, Run.” by Howard Halsall

“Another Brick in the Wall” by Mary Bendickson

“The Little That You Have” by Jonathan Page

“Walter, Eddie, and the Crocodile Monster” by Chelsey B

“A Decently Modest Proposal” by Allan Bernal

“No More Games of Run and Hide” by Myranda Marie

“C-Section Scar” by Bri Heron

“Hitting the wall” by Sophie Irish

“The Reading” by Hannah Lynn

“Surrounded by the Darkness” by Mae-Ling Kao

“Dead Last” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“Run for Good” by Keelan LaForge

“A Tale For The Gods: Cassandra's Gift” by Khadija S. Mohammad

“In Memoriam Flight ” by AR R

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one or two characters going for a run.

Write a story in which a character is running away from something, literally or metaphorically.

Make a race an important element of your story.

Write about a character who suddenly cannot run anymore.

Contest #235

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

312

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: