Start or end your story with a character receiving a hug or words of comfort.

Posted in Dramatic on Aug 25, 2023

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✍️ 101 stories

“Angel's Decision ” by Grace Jasmine

Submitted to Contest #213

Angel’s Decision Grace Jasmine Science Fiction 1296 words Gracejasminewritestheatre@gmail.com It was a bitterly cold morning. Dirk woke with a start knowing it was a special day. He crept down the hatch to the stairs to the cabin below and started water for tea. He rubbed his hand against the tiny round porthole and couldn’t see much. It was the same view all the time. Stars. Planets. Occasionally something like space dust or old space station debris wafting slowly through the darkness, illuminated for a moment, and then gone in an instan...

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“Good Day, Doctor Easterbrook” by Derrick M Domican

Submitted to Contest #213

For more years than he cared to remember, Stanley Easterbrook had been a doctor in the village of Newhall, driving every day through rain, mist, blinding sunshine or bone-chilling snow along back roads lined by wild privet hedges to the main street that led to his clinic. He’d served as GP for the small parish town for thirty-seven years and he knew the area inside out, as well as the people who lived there. To him, this was a good thing, as he believed it made him efficient at his job. He knew his patients’ ailments and their maladies...

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“A Touch of Heaven” by Stephanie Redieske

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #213

“Look around you,” Grandpa whispered as he gently rested his left hand on my right shoulder, and waved out in front of us with his right. “This is what I see every day now.” I looked out over rolling emerald hills, towering, snow covered mountains in the distance, and glistening, white-capped waves crashing into the sandy coast. I had never seen so much natural beauty in one glimpse. I thought to take a picture, but I didn’t want to move for fear of losing the moment. A warm breeze blew my hair softly behind me, and the faint sound of chir...

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“The Naked Driver” by Betha Darling

Submitted to Contest #213

Breathe in, breathe out. I prepare myself as I receive a chime notification that my rideshare driver has arrived. I linger for a few seconds, debating if I want to do this today. If scattering, one’s mother has one better day than another. Finally, I hear Mom’s voice propelling me forward, and I grab the urn holding her ashes and lock the door behind me when I leave. There’s a slight breeze outside, and I’m glad I wore a light blazer to combat the chill. I reach the rideshare car. It’s a silver Honda, and I hold tight to Mom’s urn. When ...

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“Just A Friend ” by Zach Shapiro

Submitted to Contest #213

Theo was having second thoughts. Erin had been in the bathroom for a few minutes, no longer than a normal amount, but his mind was still racing. Erin was cute, with inquisitive eyes and a charming, big-toothed smile. The conversation had flowed well thus far, about thirty minutes and one drink in. They had a darkly sarcastic conversation about their approaching thirties. But with her away from the table he was now seeing a bit more of the surrounding room and a different perspective of the bar he had chosen. The crowd was slightly younger, w...

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“I Heard Your Voice” by Elouise Woodard

Submitted to Contest #213

I Heard Your Voice as clear as day as I lay silently in my bed reflecting on your recent passing. Tears are slowly sliding down my face as I fight through the pain of losing you so young. I’m sitting here evoking on your laughter, your smile, and your touch. You were the favored brother who consistently made the entire family chuckle. You left your lasting impression on everyone when God decided to call you home. I heard your voice ringing in my ear over and over again, saying God, this pain is overwhelmingly excruciating and piercing. I’m s...

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“The Trouble with Terry” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #213

I hadn’t seen Terry for over a year when we spoke last week, and he’d suggested a night out at his darts club. Yeah, sure, I’d said. I can drive unless your car’s back on the road. Cheers, I’d appreciate it, he’d said. My motor's out for the count and my trotters are playing up. No problem, I’d said, confirming the arrangement. How does Tuesday sound? Fine by me, he said. See you at eight.#It was a shock to see Terry dragging his feet down the footpath and struggling to maintain his balance with a walking frame. With his silver hair and...

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“The Doctor” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #213

“Don’t touch me. Keep your distance.” I’ve heard that everyday now for nine months. Doesn’t make things easy when you’re the town’s GP. First it was the fires, then it was the virus, everything has turned to shit in Maui after the president was reelected. Ok, he probably has nothing to do with it, but we need to blame someone, don't we?I put on my PPE bunny suit and wait at the Kihei pier for the boat to arrive. “Second boat this month.” the Sergeant says. Locked and loaded,” I say, showing him my assault rifle and giving him a hin...

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“No Longer a Unicorn” by Anne Shillingsburg

Submitted to Contest #213

My grandmother’s breath nearly knocked me down as I pulled her into my arms, hoping that my voice and warmth would spark recognition. It was almost a dead animal smell, a smell that sent me straight back to this moment when I caught it again in the crusted fluid that had run down my fevered son’s face when his eardrum burst: rotting bacteria left to fester in a closed a body space, a reminder of how thin the membranes are that hold us back from death. But this is not a story about the frailty of bodies.I was twenty-one. I’ll probably mention...

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“Soul City” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #213

It was mid-November, and she remembered it was her birthday. Well, it might be, she wasn’t sure. There would be no party, no gifts, nary a celebratory gesture from anyone; after all she was alone, with one exception. She pulled the tiny satchel from under her tattered jacket and reached inside. She was sure there were a few cookies left in the package from yesterday. It wasn’t much but it would sustain them until later. She felt the sting of her tears as she fed half of a cookie to her best friend and her reason for living, Maisie. A gratefu...

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“Attaboy, Joey!” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #213

Attaboy, Joey!“Attaboy, Joey! Nice swing. You can do it!”Truth be told, Joey couldn’t do it.Strike three.Joey slowly walked off the field with his head down. His Dad understood the hurt and put his arms around him.“It’s okay, Joey, you’ll get ‘em next time.”Tom didn’t really believe that, but that’s what dads say.You may have heard a coach say something like, “What a kid lacks in talent can be made up for with hard work and desire.” Don’t believe it. Joey had the heart of a lion, and he made the Little Engine That Could look like a slacker, ...

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“Target(ed) ” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #213

“LIZZZZ! Liz! Hey!”I stopped in my tracks as that high pitched voice invaded my unprepared eardrums. The drawn out zzzz was like a nest of hornets swarming my head. I recognized that voice. I debated running. Hiding. I could slip down the housewares aisle and pretend I didn’t hear her. Stoop down low and really investigate the specifications on a coffee maker. Something. Anything. Nope. Too late. She was now jog-running at me. I could hear her quickening steps and knew it was n...

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“Fortune Teller” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #213

“I have to go.” Rachel sat there for a moment transfixed on her iPhone. Then, shot up explosively from their table with the white tablecloth stained by spilled red wine. Without a beat, she was on her phone. She barked furiously into the receiver. She held it in front of her mouth about six inches from her face. Her head jerked forward with punchy exclamations. She turned her back to him and walked out. Jacob was left sitting at his table in the River Palm Terrace in Edgewater, a half-finished filet on his plate...

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“The Familiar Pain of Not Knowing” by Jonah Balding

Submitted to Contest #213

It’s 9:00am and I have spent the whole morning and the whole night getting the best sleep of my life. The kind where you wake up and your eyes feel light and your muscles are completely loose. The kind where you know that no matter what happens between this moment of awakening and the next moment of rest, there is nothing you can’t do. I’ve woken up feeling like the most fortunate person in the world. I slowly open my eyes and and immediately notice a bright, beautiful white light that permeates the room. I take a moment to bask myself in th...

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“Sunsets of sorrows: A story of loss, hope and lifelong friendship” by Avinash Johnson

Submitted to Contest #213

The last rays of the sun had set on a very tough day when I found myself sitting alone on the only park bench in the park, a weathered and aged piece of wood that had witnessed countless stories, just like the one that was unfolding before it. This day had been no ordinary day; it had been an exceptionally challenging one, one that seemed to be a culmination of a series of unfortunate events that had unfolded in my life recently. The park itself, a sprawling oasis of nature in the heart of the city, had always been a place of solace for me, ...

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Start or end your story with a character receiving a hug or words of comfort.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“Angel's Decision ” by Grace Jasmine

“Good Day, Doctor Easterbrook” by Derrick M Domican

“A Touch of Heaven” by Stephanie Redieske

“The Naked Driver” by Betha Darling

“Just A Friend ” by Zach Shapiro

“I Heard Your Voice” by Elouise Woodard

“The Trouble with Terry” by Howard Halsall

“The Doctor” by Scott Christenson

“No Longer a Unicorn” by Anne Shillingsburg

“Soul City” by Myranda Marie

“Attaboy, Joey!” by Murray Burns

“Target(ed) ” by Nina H

“Fortune Teller” by Jonathan Page

“The Familiar Pain of Not Knowing” by Jonah Balding

“Sunsets of sorrows: A story of loss, hope and lifelong friendship” by Avinash Johnson

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character looking closely at something, or someone. They can't quite decide if what they're looking at is natural, or man-made.

Write a story about someone who is losing feeling in their hands and/or fingers.

Write about someone with a Midas touch: everything they touch turns to [fill in the blank].

Write about an AI or person trying to inject a ‘human touch’ into their work.

Contest #213

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

124

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: