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

“The Fortune Teller” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #213

‘Make sure you bring some paper and a pen’, said Lynne. We were off to a fortune teller called Ada. I always thought fortune tellers were rubbish, but Lynne was convinced they could predict our future events. I was in my early 20s and a dedicated people pleaser, and if Lynne wanted to have her palm read - well, so be it! ‘Why do I need paper and pen?’ I asked, confused by this request. It turns out I was supposed to listen carefully to Lynne’s reading and report precisely what the fortune teller had said. Lynne said that Ada ...

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“Last Call” by Josh Barrett

Submitted to Contest #213

Last Call “She left me with me with sunburned skin, Josh. That’s your name, right? Can I call you Josh? What do you like to be called Josh?” “Josh is good.” Then he continued to yell. “She left me with peels of flesh gathered in my trembling fingers! A first burn gave to another as I salted them up like jerky the desert sun...

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“A Mother's Hug” by Charmaine Reyes

Submitted to Contest #213

Favoritism, that's what most of the people doesn't want to think especially when it comes to family. It's hard to accept that our parents sometimes cannot be deny that they have their favorite son or daughter. It's quite annoying to think but it's like inevitable. Claire, second to the eldest in four of her siblings. She has a younger brother next to her and a youngest sister which has a big age gap. And she is one year apart from her older sister. And the two of them of her younger siblings are very close to the eldest which sometimes mak...

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“One Simple Gesture” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #213

(TW … depression, suicidal thoughts)“I honestly don’t know why I should even care anymore.” It was an unpleasant thought. She knew that. It was a thought to fight off, to wrestle to the ground and beat senseless, walking away the victor. She knew that.“Why do I bother? There is no point.” These thoughts, as if best friends, seem to show up together. The power of two makes it harder to fend off, needing a one-two punch to knock them both out.She had fought this demon many times in her life. It was an en...

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“Teacher of the Year” by Anna E. Walters

Submitted to Contest #213

Teacher of the Year Let me tell you, retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Here I am, Barb Marraine, 1999 Teacher of the Year for Castle Hills School District, sitting on my front porch with a crossword puzzle and a warmed-up ice tea, wondering why kids these days don’t play outside anymore. Of course I knew things would slow down when I left the classroom, but my life these days would bore a three-toed sloth. Sure, I volunteer at the food pantry now and then, and my first tropical cruise last month was marvelous, but on my pension,...

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“TOOTCH” by Daniel Knight Carroll

Submitted to Contest #213

And so, the moment arrives. Terrified, trembling am I, not of any irrational or justified fear to my life, just the good ol’ fear of fucking it all up. Doubts run through me like rabbits in a paddock, scattered in all directions but maintaining the same blistering pace. Why now? Sure, there were some throughout the process. Aren’t there always of some sort? But not like this. As my dad once said when I asked him, “What are you doing in there?”, as I was of the opinion he was taking too long, “I’m shitting myself, what do you think?” For ev...

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“Metamorphosis ” by Emma Cassidy

Submitted to Contest #213

“I’ll come back for you,” she says, hugging me tightly. I bury my face into her neck, trying to memorize the feel of her hair tickling my cheek, the scratchy sweater that she’s worn holes into, the smell of the cheap perfume she swears is just as good as “the fancy stuff.” I try to believe her, but we’ve been here before. For as long as I can remember, she’s been making that promise. For as long as I can remember, she’s been breaking it. Releasing me, she holds me at arm’s length. Her pale blue eyes are red and watery, her thin brown...

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“"I will always be here for you, never forget that." ” by Deliliah Smith

Submitted to Contest #213

Disclaimer: This story mentions, a brief mention of addiction, as well as one use of foul language. “I will always be here for you, never forget that.” The first time George uttered those words it had been in the early hours of the morning when the rest of the northern hemisphere aside the night shift workers and insomniacs were oblivious to the world around them, peacefully sleeping. George and Hannah, were tucked up in bed, wrapped up in her yellow polka dot duvet, basking in the dim glow of fairy lights, which felt like a hug in itself...

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“Promise ” by Emma Chavez

Submitted to Contest #213

Sean Pedalton sat in his multi million dollar mansion. He threw one leg over the side of his perfectly clean white chairs. He scanned the room and scowled at it. He thought it looked more like a movie set than a home. At this moment he couldn’t remember why he had let his agent and everyone else talk him into buying a house in LA. He had to admit the view was beautiful but he much preferred living under the cloudy skies of Portland or Seattle. Sean grabbed a piece of paper off the ground that he had thrown there moments earlier with s...

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“Tell the Wolves I'm Home” by Angelina Ferraro

Submitted to Contest #213

"Why do you have to leave? Why can't the knights fight the bad guys? It's unfair!"A four-year old cried into his big brother's chest as the older brother ran his hands up and down his back to calm him."Because it's my duty as a king. I have to protect the people, if I don't the bad guys are going to hurt you." He slightly pulled back to look at Tom in the eyes."I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt. I need you to be brave. Can you do that for me?" Danel gave a sad smile to Tommy."Please?""Fine." Tommy sniffled and tried swiping his sle...

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“A Rowboat in the Clouds” by Colleen Wouters

Submitted to Contest #213

I was annoyed when he asked me to come out in the boat with him today. At first, I was adamant that I didn’t have time to sit and talk. I didn’t have the time to sit and listen to him drone on about his mother, his poor handwriting, and sometimes his father or siblings, but somehow, he convinced me. Now, after I’ve been sitting here for at least an hour, listening to his many musings about his mother, the only thing that I’ve found to console my frayed nerves are the wisps of cloud that curl around my fingertips as I dip my hand over the bo...

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“The Human Touch ⋆｡°✩” by TARA A. A

Submitted to Contest #213

It was my graduation day, a milestone that should have been solely a celebration of academic achievement, a testament to hard work. As I stood there in my cap and gown, heart pulsating with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, I had no clue that this day would unravel the very fabric of my emotions. The sun's golden fingers caressed the landscape, as my name was called, prompting a polite applause from the audience. And then, like an unexpected gust of wind, it happened. The moment that changed everything. My father, a stern man har...

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“The Embrace” by Michael Hellwig

Submitted to Contest #213

In the early 1960’s my Grandparents on my mother’s side immigrated to the United States after leaving Greece. The couple was joined by their small daughter, and the three of them settled in a small town in Maine. Why they chose that location is beyond me. For all I know they had some connections or hidden insight? But I was too young at the time to make their acquaintances before being placed in foster care. My biological father had been a resident of Baltimore City. Joining the Army to do a 4-year stint in the infantry before returning to ...

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“Unwavering Hug” by Evelina Charles

Submitted to Contest #213

At the edge of a serene pond, Lucy sat with her best friend, Sarah. The autumn leaves adorned the landscape in a magnificent array of colors – a vibrant tapestry of gold, crimson, and fiery orange that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, as if nature itself were orchestrating a masterpiece. It was a scene of unparalleled beauty, a fleeting moment of autumn's glory captured in a tranquil oasis. They had spent countless hours in this idyllic setting, sharing...

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“Eric's Gift” by Marc Rothstein

Submitted to Contest #213

"People with developmental disabilities are only handicapped by how much we underestimate them." — D. Kirk Eric Lungrun stood near the top of the world in the center of a concrete rocket landing pad. As a cold wind blew through the tangles of his curly blonde hair, he inhaled deeply, and his chest swelled with pride. Never mind that his task for today was to sweep bits of gravel and leaves from the pad; he was, in fact, on the Esrange Space Center team, the pride of the European Union. Just three years ago, like many other locals, he'd l...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“The Fortune Teller” by Stevie Burges

“Last Call” by Josh Barrett

“A Mother's Hug” by Charmaine Reyes

“One Simple Gesture” by Hannah Lynn

“Teacher of the Year” by Anna E. Walters

“TOOTCH” by Daniel Knight Carroll

“Metamorphosis ” by Emma Cassidy

“"I will always be here for you, never forget that." ” by Deliliah Smith

“Promise ” by Emma Chavez

“Tell the Wolves I'm Home” by Angelina Ferraro

“A Rowboat in the Clouds” by Colleen Wouters

“The Human Touch ⋆｡°✩” by TARA A. A

“The Embrace” by Michael Hellwig

“Unwavering Hug” by Evelina Charles

“Eric's Gift” by Marc Rothstein

🌟 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: