A character crosses paths with a stranger who looks eerily familiar.

Posted in Dramatic on Oct 4, 2024

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✍️ 69 stories

“Scarlet” by Janet Lorimer

Submitted to Contest #271

SCARLETBy Janet Lorimer It all happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to think. I had the light, and I was driving with the flow of traffic. I maintained a few feet between my car and the car in front. Rush hour traffic in San Francisco can be tricky to navigate, but I’d driven in this city for years. It was second nature to me. I was on my way out of town to spend a few days with my cousin in Los Angeles. I was a little tired from a long day at work, but I didn’t think I was distracted. As my...

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“God goes on holiday” by KC Foster

Submitted to Contest #271

“I need a coffee,” Aerin groaned, climbing out of the big rig, careful not to slip and harm the babe in the carry pack on her back. Her long brown hair was tied back in a tight ponytail for work and she wore a tank top and comfy pants for driving. Her legs were weak and she needed the small boost the coffee would give her to keep going.“Coffee will ruin your bones,” replied her husband taking her place behind the wheel and beginning the paperwork to start his shift. Piles of logs and permits sat on the steering wheel. Pen in hand he beg...

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“Railway to Scotland” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #271

"Dear Diary, the date is September the 1st of the year 1851. I finished reading Jane Eyre, and now I must complete my needlepoint—Uhhhh!” Clara Ashcombe threw her journal across the candelabra-lit room toward the wall, nearly knocking over her used tea set from the morning. “Mum would be furious if she saw you chipping the wall.” “I’m unwell, Sister.” “Clearly.” Her sister, Abigail, paused to temper her judgmental glance. She sensed the genuine pain in Clara’s eyes. “What troubles you, Clara, dear?” “My life. My older sisters have found husb...

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“The Second Time Around” by Arlene Placer

Submitted to Contest #271

It had been such a dreary week.Gail was not in the mood to walk to work because of the possibility of rainy weather.She chose to drive the short distance to the building. As she entered the garage and found a parking place, thoughts of her sister and the marital issues she was experiencing raced through her head.Bang!The forward movement of her body toward the driving wheel jolted her out of her trance and brought her back to the present moment.It was fortunate that it was not sufficient to activate her airbag, but it was enough to star...

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“Trigger” by L.A. Breaux

Submitted to Contest #271

Triggerby L.A. Breaux Cw suicide, mental health Dedicated to the memory of Lauren Kennedy I knew something was wrong the minute I pulled into the driveway. Getting out of the car, my spine chilled in the lone wind. “Drew?” I said, quietly to not wake the whole neighborhood but strongly enough to be heard through an oak door. My voice shook like paper and there was nothing I could do to steady it. I reached into my purse and fished out my phone, which felt like a lead weight in my hands. Flipping open my phone and pening up my texts, I looked...

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“You have your back!” by Baldeep Singh

Submitted to Contest #271

A normal day for Ethan began like any other as he navigated his commute to the office. Just three months into his new job at one of the country’s most competitive consulting firms, he had settled into a routine. By 7:00 AM, he was bustling around his small apartment, double-checking that he had everything he needed for the day ahead. He had to catch the 7:30 bus; otherwise, he risked being late—or worse, spending 500 bucks on a cab.As he stepped outside, the cool morning air hit his face, refreshing yet daunting. He hurried down the cr...

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“Waiting for Sorry” by Michelle M

Submitted to Contest #271

Anna brushed the hair out of her eyes and rolled her aching shoulders. Quickly checking the watch pinned to her uniform, relief washed over her as she realised her shift ended in just over an hour. Barring any last-minute emergencies or staff shortages that is. “Oh Anna, great!” the warm voice of Anna’s Ward Sister called out. Thankfully Marjorie Fenwick was the antithesis of the nickname “dragon” given to many ward sisters. Known for her competence and compassion, Marjorie was fiercely protective of her nurses and did no...

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“Annus Horrilibis” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #271

Latin wasn’t John’s bag, but the phrase annus horribilis had stuck like snot on the periphery of his mind. The Queen had had a bad year and had labelled it in this manner. John found this to be amusing. There were some words or phrases that weren’t expletives, but could be spat from the mouth in the very same way. He imagined The Queen firing annus horribilis out of her mouth with maximum disdain, sending courtiers, ambassadors and long-suffering servants this way and that in a blind panic at this hilarious expression of rage. Now as he suff...

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“A Gripping Tale ” by Camie Castillo

Submitted to Contest #271

Date: March 12th, 2023 I always thought I was an average person. There’s nothing too interesting about me after all, I make sure of that but today…. proved otherwise. Just like any other day I walked home after school. If you've been paying attention to my entries, you know I'm avoiding ‘The Person’. Unoriginal I know, but I suspect I have a stalker. My reasoning? Because of the constant rustling I hear when walking home. That and hearing tapping on my window. I don't know who would stalk me. Like I said I'm an average girl and have no...

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“End Credits” by Chris Miller

Submitted to Contest #271

I stood by the side of the road out of town, my sodden suit jacket failing its audition as a coat. My small flight case waited beside me, a teenaged LAX luggage tag flapping in the dead black breath of the sea that steered the rain sideways through the rays of approaching headlights. I raised my thumb in surrender and pointed my gaze somewhere above the procession of approaching lights to where it might find the eyes of a merciful driver. The last of my money had been drunk in a brown, out-of-season bar the day before. The summer street fur...

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“The Ferryman” by Francis T. Baker

Submitted to Contest #271

"Flight cancelled?" Alice muttered to herself as she looked up at the airport notice board, checked the departures column again and shrugged. There were other ways to get to Chicago, surely.She wasn't particularly looking forward to this convention but her boss might notice if she didn't show up at all. Would he though..? No, no, he would and it would be a hassle. The clerk at the information kiosk certainly tried her utmost to dash Alice's unassailable spirits. If a stormfront had indeed hit Chicago it would appear it had hit her humou...

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“The Man in the Audience” by Abby Johnson

Submitted to Contest #271

I moved to the bustling city, filled with bright lights and endless possibilities, driven by dreams that were larger than life. I envisioned myself gracing the illustrious stages of Broadway, captivating audiences with my performances and bringing Shakespeare’s timeless words to life with passion and depth. Each night, I imagined stepping into the spotlight, the applause washing over me, thrilled by being part of something extraordinary. I dreamt of becoming the next big sensation, a star whose name would be whispered in awe and admiration. ...

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“Shadows of Marcel” by Ronald John MacLennan Jr

Submitted to Contest #271

The streets of London pulsed with an otherworldly energy as the sun dipped below the horizon. I moved through the encroaching darkness, my footsteps silent on the worn cobblestones. Two centuries of undeath had not dimmed the allure of this old city for me; if anything, its blend of decay and vibrant life called to me more strongly with each passing year.As I turned onto Shadwell, a figure caught my eye—a man standing motionless before an antiquarian bookshop, staring at the weathered antiques in the window. There was something ach...

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“God Only Knows” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #271

I have always taken pride in my strength to smile, be polite, and well-mannered, no matter how I actually felt. That's why I was shocked when, in a new city, among new people and colleagues, having transferred to a new company, I visited every department and introduced myself, except one. In the office sat about ten people, none of whom were interesting enough to describe, except Him—another stranger. I appropriately introduced myself to everyone with a handshake, and while they were all obviously staring at me, I nonchalantly passed by the ...

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“On the S-Train” by Richard Morris

Submitted to Contest #271

(story makes mention of sexual violence and suicide) "Damn, stupid window won't shut," said the first stranger, fiddling with the slide-lock. He hunched over the window for leverage, pulled the metal pin as far as it would go; it catapulted back and bit his finger. "Ow! Stupid thing," he pretended to himself. He was trying for the attention of the woman across from him - to start a conversation, to pass the time. "Never does," she replied, unbothered. A regular to the 6:45 S-Train southbound. The yellow fog of the evening rubbed its back aga...

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A character crosses paths with a stranger who looks eerily familiar.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“Scarlet” by Janet Lorimer

“God goes on holiday” by KC Foster

“Railway to Scotland” by Savannah Wagner

“The Second Time Around” by Arlene Placer

“Trigger” by L.A. Breaux

“You have your back!” by Baldeep Singh

“Waiting for Sorry” by Michelle M

“Annus Horrilibis” by Jed Cope

“A Gripping Tale ” by Camie Castillo

“End Credits” by Chris Miller

“The Ferryman” by Francis T. Baker

“The Man in the Audience” by Abby Johnson

“Shadows of Marcel” by Ronald John MacLennan Jr

“God Only Knows” by Ivana Pavićević

“On the S-Train” by Richard Morris

🌟 Similar prompts

A chance encounter brings together two old friends who have changed in surprising or strange ways.

Write a story that includes the line “Have we met before?”

Two strangers discover they have a hidden connection that alters their understanding of each other and themselves.

A character finds a clue or object linking them to a stranger.

Contest #271

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

389

Contest entries

137

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: