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 Portrait Artist” by Steven Linebaugh

Submitted to Contest #213

We sat at a train station together. I never interacted with her but being a sketch artist, I did small sketches of her face while we waited. Every once in a while, she would look in my direction if I had spent more time staring versus sketching. which would redirect me back to sketching. Then the train came, we both embarked and my small black book was back in my pocket. A chance meeting with a woman that would change my life. It had been several weeks since our encounter when I thought I had seen her walking on the street. The memo...

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“Ribbons of Sound” by Jackie Ward

Submitted to Contest #213

Mary’s blood felt thick in its quickened course under her skin, flushing the covered pulse points brightly. Her numbed hands brushed her interlocked forearms as she stared at the projection screen. It was only a kiss. The man and the woman on the stretched black and white screen were just two actors, playing out characters that now were leading up to share a kiss, as the director so wanted. It was all make-believe, so why was she the only one uncomfortable with the stinging lightning in her veins? Mary’s friends giggled pleasurably between t...

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“My Love, Why Did You Go Away?” by Karley Greene

Submitted to Contest #213

He stared at the hot water on his hand. Burning hot water that he had spilled while pouring someone’s tea. It hurt. But it was comforting, in a way. A pain other than grief or sadness. A pain that‒“Dylan, is this done?” Dylan snapped his head up and looked at his coworker holding up the tea that Dylan had just poured. Dylan nodded and brushed his hand on his pants, wiping away the water. The wind pushed up against Dylan’s back as he began his walk home. The temperature had dropped in the past few days and he hadn’t been prepared. If he ...

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“The Starved” by A.J. M

Submitted to Contest #213

The Starved. That’s who she was, or at least, who she was meant to be. The guide from one lifetime to the next, the seer of memories, the keeper of secrets, a vessel for the Dark Goddess herself. Untouched, unloved, and yet needed. Part of the Order of the Eternal, pumping faith around the city like blood keeping a heart alive. ‘It’s a gift,’ they said. ‘A blessing.’ ‘They’ being anyone on the outside looking in. Staring up at the Order halls with its gilded walls, hallowed ground, and the power that came with it, it was easy to see why. Sel...

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“The Eye” by Harry Buck

Submitted to Contest #213

Jayden’s fingers dug into the soft sandstone behind him. His perch high on the cliff face would catch the first light of dawn. He’d climbed down as far as he could after sunset, from here there was a twenty-meter drop to the eye. He broke off a bunch of crumbling handholds on the way down. The way back up would likely end in an even longer drop. So he waited. And he watched. Either way, he had to move soon, the horizon was already visible against the brightening sky. He adjusted himself to sweep the area one last time. Nothing had move...

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“The Tempered Valkyrie” by Mohendra Shiwnarain

Submitted to Contest #213

The sound of teeth gnawing on flesh grew louder as Mikaela regained consciousness. She couldn’t move her body, her arms and legs were held tightly together. Opening her eyes, she saw a giant bat-like creature gnawing into her shoulder as blood dripped down its chin and her arms.The creature had enveloped her in its wings as it wrapped its long arms around her, binding Mikaela in one of the worst hugs she had experienced. She did not feel any pain, only the discomfort of intense pressure from the creatures' teeth against her muscles and bones...

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“Take life's challenges a quarter mile at a time ” by Levi Hill

Submitted to Contest #213

Life isn’t like television, although most of us have probably wished it were at one time or another, particularly when we are facing a challenging time in our lives and we need sage wisdom. Sadly, most of us didn’t grow up with an Andy Taylor or a Steve Douglas who could sit us down and, in profound terms, explain the world to us in a way that just made sense. Most of us grew up with honest, hard-working fathers who showed their love in actions instead of words and passed on their wisdom in deeds instead of sermons. When they did impart some...

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“Hours ” by Meli Mangos

Submitted to Contest #213

NOTE: Please be advised, this story is based on a personal true event surrounding the death of a friend. I sat in the passenger seat of my boyfriend's Honda Civic staring at the gravel driveway as we rumbled down it. He parked in the grass behind Jackson’s Volkswagen and shut the car off. We both sat still for a few silent seconds, looking at nothing in particular. All of our friends were here already. Jackson’s girlfriend, Emma, walked out from around the side of the house toward us. We got out of the car and she wrapped me in a ...

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“After the Storm...” by Rachael Hewitt

Submitted to Contest #213

I could feel the tension in her arms as she drew me closer for a long needed embrace. I felt her warmth radiate through every part of my body. Each of my muscles relaxed one-by-one. This is what I needed. I had needed it for a long time, but it was only now standing on her doorstep that I realised it. As she slowly released me I shuddered as the cool evening breeze whipped around me, making me long to be in her arms once more. I wiped away my tears, I had made a promise to myself only two weeks previously that I had cried my final tears for ...

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“No One” by Sissy Fleming

Submitted to Contest #213

“I am no one, I am nothing. I have never been anything and will never mount to anything. I am but a shadow.” The disheveled, young woman paused and looked up at the stars as if searching for answers. She shivered lightly against the cool Pasadena evening air. The bus stop allowed for shelter from rain but her threadbare sweater was insufficient protection against the wind. And this evening was particularly windy! She looked sideways at the elderly woman sitting next to her who encouraged her to continue. In a steady, mon...

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“The Indescribable Joy of New Love” by Sara R

Submitted to Contest #213

** This story hints at some mature themes that may not be suitable for 17 and under **Bryan’s arms wrap around me in the tightest of embraces and I feel as though I am finally home. The adrenaline his presence gives me is something I have never felt before in any previous relationship. He is loving and just so attentive to my needs … all of my needs. He reads my body language and responds in the most sensual of manners – folding his body into the very shape that exactly fits mine. I allow myself to breathe in his scent and enjoy this moment ...

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“Where words end, I begin” by Luna Lorry

Submitted to Contest #213

I couldn't stop them from coming. There was no other option. I've tried and tried and tried to keep them at bay. They've always threatened to destroy me. Try as I might, they win every time. With one last shaky breath, I allow myself to cry. The tears have been pooling in my eyes for the last 10 minutes. My chest heaves up and down, up and down. I feel like the ocean, consistent ebbs and flows. I can't stop crying. I can't stop crying. I can't stop crying. How did I get to this point? There's no one to blame but myself. I find myself spirali...

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“The Bright, Cold Concrete” by Leah Donato

Submitted to Contest #213

“Another friend. Gone.” she said to herself as she tossed the heavy, silver coin into the sparkling streams of water pouring from the fountain in front of her, “They all just seem to be drifting off from my life one by one.” She grabbed another silver coin from her denim pocket and tossed it toward the fountain with an even stronger force than before. She felt herself losing control of her emotions, but she felt as though she’d rather die than have a meltdown in public right now. Even if the only things around her right now are stray ...

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“THE HEALING TOUCH OF AN ANGEL” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #213

An Angel of God is sent from Heaven to a small town, call Twenty-One Palms to touch the lives of two families who are in desperate need of healing, love and faith. The Angel we shall call Angelica is sent to earth to Twenty-One Palms to the lives, the families Ortiz and Collins to bring good news. Each of these families is in need of love, faith and healing. These families have lost their faith in God, they have lost their love for each other and nothing in their lives can heal what they lost. The mission from God is to heal the families...

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“Obsession Without Direction” by Elin Su

Submitted to Contest #213

TW: MISTREATMENT OF HUMANSHere, even the sound of gale mercilessly tearing a branch from its tree in one instantaneous motion was tremulous. Here, it was always deathly cold unless we were inside His stone cottage. He fancied seeing us huddled on the freezing-cold ground, our skin paler than carnivorous caterpillars, our cheeks and lips plump and rosy. He fancied us untended, wretched, miserable souls. Real-life Bisque dolls with our prepossessed bodies and seemingly perdurable, tight smiles ruined under His sovereignty. He fancied us with o...

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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 Portrait Artist” by Steven Linebaugh

“Ribbons of Sound” by Jackie Ward

“My Love, Why Did You Go Away?” by Karley Greene

“The Starved” by A.J. M

“The Eye” by Harry Buck

“The Tempered Valkyrie” by Mohendra Shiwnarain

“Take life's challenges a quarter mile at a time ” by Levi Hill

“Hours ” by Meli Mangos

“After the Storm...” by Rachael Hewitt

“No One” by Sissy Fleming

“The Indescribable Joy of New Love” by Sara R

“Where words end, I begin” by Luna Lorry

“The Bright, Cold Concrete” by Leah Donato

“THE HEALING TOUCH OF AN ANGEL” by Melinda Madrigal

“Obsession Without Direction” by Elin Su

🌟 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: