A court or disciplinary hearing is taking place — but the person accused does not know what they’re apologizing for.

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 22, 2024

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✍️ 28 stories

“The Luddite’s Support Group” by Alison Kilian

Submitted to Contest #278

The Luddite’s Support Group I show up early because if you’re just on time all the good cookies are gone, and I’ll be damned if I go into this fueled by a raisin-oatmeal abomination. We mill about, chatting through crumbs, the tension slowly building. There’s a fresh face in the crowd of sinners today, and I scan it immediately, looking for signs of the anxiety that we all bring with us when we enter here. When I first arrived, mine felt heavy as a set of irons, tied to my ankles and dragging me to new depths. But this newcomer’s face is pea...

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“Harmful Intentions” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #278

History shows that technological advancement brought about the end of civilization, fragmented into divisions that hastened its collapse. The problem was that the majority thoughtlessly embraced regression, while the intelligent proclaimed that freedom had ended long ago. Freedom ended with an algorithm that read “intent,” marketed as a savior but fundamentally incapable of understanding logic. To “avoid chaos” and “preserve harmony,” the Apology Law was introduced. If the algorithm identified someone with intentions deemed harmful, the accu...

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“The Court of the Crimson King” by David Dean

Submitted to Contest #278

Hector Mares stood in the shadow of the gleaming NASA laboratories, his mind racing with the stimulation of his teenage years. A prodigy in materials science, his life so far had been anything but conventional. Born into a family of artisans who specialized in historical metalwork, Hector’s early fascination with medieval armor had propelled him into the world of cutting-edge armorer innovation. By the time he was 18, he had redefined how alloys interacted with energy fields, an achievement that earned him NASA’s attention. It was the promet...

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“Hard Knock” by Paulette Shannon

Submitted to Contest #278

Trigger Warning: Mental health, Physical violence, gore, or abuseHard KnockIn a crowd full of strangers, the silence was heavy, the tension as thick as my head, both hard to cut through. He could hear the ice cracking beneath his feet, ready to swallow him whole. Did they know my secret? “Now Mr. Bane,” the judge said, “As you well know, a condition of your plea deal is to give an account of what transpired on the day in question.” “Your honor,” I looked around loosening my tie hoping that may ease my struggle to find the right words. “Mr. B...

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“Apologise? What For?” by Rolade Berthier

Submitted to Contest #278

I wanted to be a lawyer but the tsunami of financial and family crises buried this dream career, never to be resurrected due to immigration, affairs of the heart, children, and professional turnarounds. Working as a freelance English language trainer in Luxembourg, I opt not to work on days when there are famous cases in court and sit in the gallery with anticipation, staring at the judges high in their chairs and lawyers shuffling between defendants and the accusers. One Tuesday morning, while quietly positioned inside an almost empty tribu...

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“Your Wrongs” by Dwayne W

Submitted to Contest #278

When Dan was painfully shocked awake, He didn’t know where he was or how he got there. He was still in the boxers and tank top he wore to bed, and his head was covered in a cloth sack that allowed in no light, if any were around, and barely allowed him to breathe. He sat on a cold metal chair with his hands and feet bound, pulled behind him.Dan tested his bindings, trying his best to break free, but had no luck.Some pockets of laughter could be heard in the high-pitched soundscape of what sounded like a horde of angry women chattering, unsee...

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“Have a glass of water, Peter.” by Euan Brennan

Submitted to Contest #278

All his memories smeared in the malaise as he opened his eyes. Peter blinked away the sudden fatigue drowning his mind. The migraine had plundered and won.“Mr Davison?” a voice of authority seeped into his ears and took control. “Are you with us?”Peter wiped his brow. "I-I’m here. Where am I?" The perspiration didn’t end. The court room had silenced. Or had it always been this quiet? Tangible disgust stuck to the judge, the jury, the public on the pews and all else present and standing. They watched him, painting red and white circles over h...

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“The Murder I couldn't remember!” by Stacy Parker

Submitted to Contest #278

This is a story like no other. It is not about a boy and a girl, or good versus evil, or even mortal enemies becoming friends. This story is one that comes with a twist. However, you will have to wait and see what that twist is. All will be revealed in due time. Anyway, enough intro, let the story begin. Roy Simmons, a twenty-two-year-old man, wanted for murder, ran through the streets, with the police hot on his tail. He did his best to get away. He turned his head back to see how far the police were from him. When he did this however, he f...

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“A Blurry Verdict” by Olga CJ

Submitted to Contest #278

The newscaster's voice, a somber tone cutting through the evening air, announced a chilling tale of a woman accused of a heinous crime. "Carla Bail, a seemingly ordinary 30-year-old, was apprehended after five days on the run. The charges against her are grave: arson. In a shocking twist, authorities have uncovered a disturbing connection between Bail and the victim. The two were reportedly close friends, raising questions about a deeply personal motive behind the attack.While the exact motive for the arson remains under investigation, the r...

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“The spider and the web” by R. Hoyte Raney

Submitted to Contest #278

The Spider and the web In the village of Las Barbaras there is an unusual type of night. Residents believe it only follows the hottest days of summer, when the haze above the road is as thick as stagnant water. And when it arrives black magic fills the sky. On those nights, the moon is swollen, and the clouds are as scarce as desert rain. The wind refuses to blow like a cantankerous old Spirit...

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“A Final Apology” by Emily Earnest

Submitted to Contest #278

She sat at the table, her hands pressed flat against the carvings in the worn wood. Some were more distinct, yet some were hardly noticeable, worn from time or failed attempts to smooth them. So many hands had traced these marks as she had, lost in the patterns as she was now. She felt for initials of those hoping to leave a reminder of their existence etched in perpetuity, followed geometric designs and rudimentary sketches, and smirked at the jagged profanities dug in succession meant only as a means to pass the time. She...

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“The Spirit Of Love” by Mortimer Reyes

Submitted to Contest #278

Kate suddenly looked up from her clenched hands and glanced around, her mind not comprehending the courtroom, the jurors staring on with indifferent faces, the men and women in sharp uniforms that stood around the room watching her with intent, the judge who slammed her gavel with force, making Kate jump and focus harder. “Are you going to answer my question, Miss Doe?” Kate stared at her, uncomprehending. “I’m sorry, what?” Kate saw the people in the jurors’ box whispering to each other, could hear more whisperings behind her and only now b...

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“Goldilocks and the Three Judges” by Fishy & Sloth !

Submitted to Contest #278

Goldilocks’ feet trampled barefoot across the wild, green grass as she hopped the pretty little stone wall and continued to run. She looked behind her. Three bears were sprinting after her, yelling and shaking their fists. That was her first mistake. Looking back. Because as she did so, she ran straight into a strange metal figure; she whipped her head around to see a handsome-looking man, with a dashing smile and jet-black hair. In fact, he was so handsome that Goldilocks would probably describe him as charming. Her heart skipped a beat as ...

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A court or disciplinary hearing is taking place — but the person accused does not know what they’re apologizing for.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 28 stories

“The Luddite’s Support Group” by Alison Kilian

“Harmful Intentions” by Ivana Pavićević

“The Court of the Crimson King” by David Dean

“Hard Knock” by Paulette Shannon

“Apologise? What For?” by Rolade Berthier

“Your Wrongs” by Dwayne W

“Have a glass of water, Peter.” by Euan Brennan

“The Murder I couldn't remember!” by Stacy Parker

“A Blurry Verdict” by Olga CJ

“The spider and the web” by R. Hoyte Raney

“A Final Apology” by Emily Earnest

“The Spirit Of Love” by Mortimer Reyes

“Goldilocks and the Three Judges” by Fishy & Sloth !

🌟 Similar prompts

A family argument gets out of hand. Neither side will budge, requiring a mediator with unusual methods.

A character gets caught red-handed breaking the rules, but they refuse to admit any wrongdoing. What happens next?

An apologetic letter or email from an old flame suddenly arrives — many years too late.

On their deathbed, a relative/friend/partner admits to a horrible crime. Will the narrator reveal the secret or keep it hidden?

Contest #278

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

262

Contest entries

101

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: