Write a story that includes the phrase “Maybe in another life.”

Posted in Dialogue on Apr 28, 2023

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✍️ 74 stories

“A Snake Girl Goes for a Walk” by Darya Silman

Submitted to Contest #196

After we die, our words stay forever in the ether. THE EVENING"Tarya, how about today, five o'clock, near that KFC where you worked? We've been texting for a month. Don't you think it's time to meet in person?" Anton hid his hope with histrionic cheerfulness. "Eleonora, sweetie, I'm sorry. Day's been a mess. My friend asked me to help with his car. I totally forgot about the dinner with your cousin Tarya," Anton said, playing a fool. THE NIGHTThe taste of the lotus tea mixed up with the metallic taste of blood in Tarya's mouth...

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“What Could Have Been ” by Amira Brown

Submitted to Contest #196

(Trigger warning: domestic violence, death)I’ll tell you a story. A story about the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known. Her name was Jordyn.Jordyn was about 4 '11, dark brown curly hair with a slim figure. When we first met, I had only considered her a close friend, but as the months went by and the seasons began to change, so did the way I felt about her. It started when I would imagine what it would be like to kiss her. Nothing too bad. Just an innocent kiss. Then soon after for reasons simply beyond my control, those feelings began to gr...

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“Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Newsletter No 27” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #196

Dearest Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Thank you for attending last month’s meeting, which we agreed will now occur on the third Monday of every month, excluding public holidays. We were able to raise, through thievery and theft, one hundred pounds. I am happy to announce that these funds will be going towards the catering bill for our Christmas luncheon, which will be held in the public bar of the wonderfully atmospheric ‘Murdering Monks’ pub on the 23rd of next month. Ensure you have your Secret Santa gift ready.&nb...

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“Celestial Justice” by Richard E. Gower

Submitted to Contest #196

Contains sexual and physical violence and gore. Artemis lay back in the cool, crisp starched sheets of the hospital bed with her hands folded across her stomach and thoughtfully considered what the officer had asked her.“Maybe in another life,” she said.Detective Sergeant Roald Garcia frowned at this, and consulted his notes. “Are you certain, Miss Devon, that you did not know this man, Victor Sanvini? Had you ever seen him before?”Artemis, descendant of Zeus and protectress of women, had little experience in conversing with mortals, but she...

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“The Soul Shifters” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #196

Lawyer Percy Campbell sat holding an envelope marked ‘Personal. Miss Victoria Trent had left the country and presented him with this letter for her uncle and aunt, if she made no contact before year’s end. He hadn’t received the call to destroy it. Victoria had mentioned possible danger but nothing else. Percy had been her lawyer since before her career as a well-known artist. He knew her aunt and uncle when she first lived with them after her mother Rose’s death. They had 24hrs before they would know the letter existed.His curiosity mounted...

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“Warmth” by Soumyaa Panddey

Submitted to Contest #196

I wish there was a way to love you,I wish we had better times.I wish the world was a simpler place,Without an obligation, a judgement or a timeline.We are doing this for a better life.But would we be better without each other?Or is it all a lie?I loved you so much, I still do,But something inside me, I love more, than I do you.I know there will be a next time.Just meet me halfway baby, Maybe in another life…***Forty years later.The bell chimed as the door swung open and an old woman walked into the bookstore. Outside was a thick black c...

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“This Is Not Real” by John-Paul Cote

Submitted to Contest #196

Even the sky was entirely blue with the repeated warning, Your Device needs to be repaired. This application or operating system could not be loaded because a required file is missing, corrupt, or contains errors. File:\OSC\system 414\Xxxxx.xx Error Code: 0xc000s174-b48-000c Error Code: 0xc000s178-a12-000d Error Code: 0xc000s182-b67-000j Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Error Code: Only minutes before, Michael had been studying at his favourite coffee shop. The finals were here. The last on...

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“Entropy” by Warrington Williams

Submitted to Contest #196

EntropyBy Warrington Williams03/4/23Later that night, we were standing on the north end of Pawleys Island looking at a dull red glow in the sky over what used to be Myrtle Beach."As I see it, God is a careless son of a bitch, and you just like to watch. So, just do any damn thing you want with me."Those were her final words to me. She wasn't angry, upset, or being melodramatic; it was a simple observation along the lines of 'You are wearing a plaid shirt.'Mercy was never her strong suit.We had grown up together, our mothers bonded in alcohol...

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“May 3rd, 2023” by Sylvia Carruthers

Submitted to Contest #196

The sun descended like a guillotine, marking the end of Julian’s day as a freelance graphic designer. Julian often felt trapped by the demands of his clients. His dream job had been reduced to the endless critiquing of design illiterates selling useless products in a world full of trash. He was still a wage slave, even though he didn’t occupy an office or work normal hours. There was no escape from the culture of capitalism. At least at work he could fully occupy his mind with fresh ideas and answers to design problems. Theirs were simpler...

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“The Crow's Wonderland” by Stefania Reale

Submitted to Contest #196

Before the orange specks of dust called light began awakening to take place of the stars in the sky, or else they were only the stars returning to ash because they’ve simply had enough of the world’s burdens of nightlights, and decided to leave it whilst they had a moment of daybreak to conceal in; it was at that particular moment where the stillness of the early morning was marked by the rustling of feathers outside of the lone windowpanes. A flock of crows is called a murder. A premonition. To which it was the moment w...

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“Life Beyond Life” by SUNIL VARSHNEYA

Submitted to Contest #196

Life Beyond Life By Sunil Varshneya This is the story of my friend Peter. We met in the college. Peter was not attractive. He had a face only a mother could love. During lunch, he would sit alone in the corner of the cafeteria as it was said that if you want to lose your appetite, you sit with him. I could see him beyond his physical body and liked him. He was a well-aware human being and knew more about this world and human beings than anybody else in the college. I had a special connection with him and tried to be with him as much as possi...

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“The Gamble” by Nona Yobis

Submitted to Contest #196

The poker chip feels cold and smooth in my hand as I nervously roll it around in my sweaty palm. All around me, people crowd the tables where people lay down their chips and take their chance at rolling the dice. The room is filled with anxious souls awaiting their fate, each one hoping to leave a winner. Several tables occupy the dank, low-lit space, which has an inexplicable layer of smokey fog blanketing my line of sight. I elbow my way in to stand at the edge of one of the tables, just in time to see someone turn in their chip an...

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“Eudora” by Spryte Magnus

Submitted to Contest #196

Eudora Spencer didn’t object to joining her mother for tea with Wolfram Belvedere and his son, Quinn. Quinn was two years her junior, but she was almost eighteen-practically a spinster! There didn't appear to be anything wrong with Quinn. He was charismatic, intelligent, and handsome. Unfortunately, Wolfram’s son held nothing of appeal to Eudora. In contrast, when his sister Daphne burst into the room shrieking like a banshee and swinging a fire poker–and clad in no more than a dressing gown–she had everything that Eudora never knew she want...

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“I Will Never Have You, and That is Okay” by Marii Anya

Submitted to Contest #196

We met during a time that most considered the end of the world, but because of you, I considered it just the beginning. You had your odd ways and quirks, you would wear your pants low and would never take off your beanie, and for some reason, you never did any of the classwork. You would submit everything on time or a couple of days late but refused to do work in class, instead, you would lounge in your chair and pester me to explain the assignments. I would explain, at first because I did not know how to say no and then it was because I cou...

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“Gamophobia” by Seraf Al Zaurak

Submitted to Contest #196

A story as old as time, but not the story I ended up with. It started off classic enough. 1969. New York City. Upstairs-downstairs neighbors running into each other, flirting, casual sex, calling the cops on each other. The usual. He was a musician, full of groove and sperm, a smooooth talker. Lips wet, long curly bedhead hair and eyes that had seen the birth of worlds. And when he turned those eyes on her, he saw the flawless composition of her being, her body a symphony, her words polyrhythmic, her heart a steady metronome. She was a m...

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Contest #196

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Write a story that includes the phrase “Maybe in another life.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 74 stories

“A Snake Girl Goes for a Walk” by Darya Silman

“What Could Have Been ” by Amira Brown

“Dark Brethren of the Wigged Elk Newsletter No 27” by Kelly Sibley

“Celestial Justice” by Richard E. Gower

“The Soul Shifters” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

“Warmth” by Soumyaa Panddey

“This Is Not Real” by John-Paul Cote

“Entropy” by Warrington Williams

“May 3rd, 2023” by Sylvia Carruthers

“The Crow's Wonderland” by Stefania Reale

“Life Beyond Life” by SUNIL VARSHNEYA

“The Gamble” by Nona Yobis

“Eudora” by Spryte Magnus

“I Will Never Have You, and That is Okay” by Marii Anya

“Gamophobia” by Seraf Al Zaurak

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character unknowingly experiencing a “sliding doors” moment. Write your story in two halves; what could have been, and what actually happened.

You’re walking down the street, when you spot a familiar figure. It’s another you. And they’ve come from an alternate reality to warn you about something.

Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.

Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.

Contest #196

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

279

Contest entries

149

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: