Start your story with someone saying “I can’t sleep.”

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 10, 2023

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✍️ 87 stories

“Electrical Storm” by Guy Thompson

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” Nothing from Colin except a snort of soft air from the other side of the bed. There was a rumble from outside, and it took her a moment to categorize it - distant thunder. Emma rolled over, her face illuminated by the red numbers staring back at her: 4:34. Crap. “I can’t sleep,” she said a bit louder. Colin’s breathing didn’t change. He was still in his own dreams. Dream. Yes. A dream. What dream? Hers? She wasn’t even sure she had been asleep. Most of the night, it had felt like she had tossed and turned. Maybe she ha...

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“Suicide Inc. ” by Thomas Charles Wheetley

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can’t sleep," Dahlia lay restlessly in the dark confines of her bedroom, her plea for sleep falling on deaf ears. With desperation, she pulled her beloved orange flat-faced cat, Hamms, closer to her. In response, Hamms let out a shrill meow, expressing his indignation at being prematurely awakened from his slumber. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Dahlia's mind. Having made the difficult decision to drop out of college, the consequences were now becoming starkly apparent. Her mother’s resolute stance on not renewing the apa...

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“Vigil of the Valiant Void” by Haliya May

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. I lay, staring up at the ceiling because when I close my eyes, I’m there – the vibration of the fluorescent lights, the whooshing of the ventilator, the echo of the EKG machine all crescendoing to a roar around me until I hear the struggling sound of gasping. My eyes snap open. I had let myself close them after days of unrest. I should sleep. I need to sleep. I need to focus. My husband lays next to me, sound asleep, lost in his wistful dreams, but I stay tethered to the Earthly plane. I shut my eyes again. I count my br...

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“NOCTURNAL SOJOURN” by Wade Douglas

Submitted to Contest #224

NOCTURNAL SOJOURNBY WADE DOUGLASS11/17/23 "I can't sleep," whispered Lexis staring at the ceiling in the dim glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. “You ALWAYS say that!” Yawned Remi, her eye lids opened to half-mast. “And ALWAYS at 3:00 AM!” she scowled, having just turned to stare at the clock-face on the night stand. She spoke in a clear but muted whisper so as not to awaken their parents sleeping in the bedroom across the hall. She sighed and then rubbed her eyes with the back of their right hand in a half-hearte...

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“NIghtmare” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” Lester whispered as he rolled over in bed and touched Marge gently. Marge, his wife, was snoring loudly making it impossible for Lester to fall asleep. He had spent the last few nights sampling a variety of ear plugs and even tried wearing a noise cancelling headset to no avail. It was driving him crazy and effecting his work. Lester operated heavy machinery in a car factory and could not afford to be sleepless. He tried to be patient and understanding but his lack of sleep made him irritable. They had been married for twent...

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“The Magic Rocking Chair” by Fiona Stanley

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” Andy whined, tugging at Momma’s blanket trying to wake her up. A storm was brewing outside and the ghostly hissing of the wind through the cracks in the windowpane only made him more anxious. Momma didn’t stir. He tugged again, harder this time, but still, she remained motionless. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning lit up the room, followed closely by a deafening clap of thunder. Jumping at the sudden noise, his body tense with fear, Andy let out a piercing scream. He began to shake her frantically. Finally, Momma stirred and...

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“Can I Live in a Fantasy?” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep," he mumbled. I rolled my eyes. This was his routine whenever he wanted something. "What do you need?" I asked, cutting to the chase. Mal cleared his throat, a habit he had whenever he needed a favor. "I really can't sleep," he admitted, taking a seat across from me at our small kitchen table. "I wouldn't mind some company." I rarely slept early like him. Poor Mal, always needing to turn in early. "Okay, let me finish my tea, hon," I replied, sipping on my tea with honey, a nightly ritual I cherished all day. "I need to...

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“Insomnia's Visitor” by Dane Campbell

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. It’s nothing new. If I had dollar for every night I had put my head on a specially designed supportive and temperature-controlled pillow and performed my meditation, deep breathing, and mind clearing I could probably take a lifelong vacation only to not fall asleep on the shores of a beautiful warm beach in some far off exotic land to the sound of waves crashing. If tonight were any different than the thousands of others in my life when the prospect of sleep ran screaming the moment I placed my body in between th...

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“(to write down messages in the night)” by Paul Crehan

Submitted to Contest #224

(to write down messages in the night) A short story by Paul Crehan “I can’t sleep,” he said. Francoise looked up from her book and over the top of her reading glasses. “Maybe take another gummie?” she suggested. George’s brow knit. Francoise said, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you throw yourself in the oven thinking you’re a leg of lamb.” “Very kind of you,” G...

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“Night of the Dragonoid” by Kimmy Book

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep” Clara groaned rolling over to lay on her right side. The night was starless, no moon, no lights at all coming from the endless black sky. The trees surrounding them whispered softly in the warm, gentle, spring breeze that blew through the woodland. The fire had dwindled to a flicker, and thick, white smoke rose up from the ashes. Through the smokescreen she sees his yellow eyes blinking back at her. “Tell yourself a story.” “What story?” He shifts, sitting up to lean on his extended arm. His legs curled in support. ...

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“The price paid” by N Martin

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep," murmured Jonah, his weary voice barely audible over the distant hum of drones patrolling the desolate city. He lay on a tattered mattress in a cramped, dimly lit apartment, surrounded by remnants of a world that once thrived.Here, sleep was a luxury, a fading memory in the minds of those who survived the upheaval. The cityscape outside Jonah's window was a labyrinth of crumbling buildings and flickering neon signs, a haunting reminder of what had been lost.The constant surveillance, imposed curfews, and the ever-present thre...

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“The Circus Is Always In Town ” by E.A. Ridley

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. The rising sun leaks through my bedroom window as I toss and turn in bed. The sound of the morning birds chirping indicates the point of no return. I’ve been here before. This time it’s not due to a drug filled all nighter. Sadly, that is not the case. Rather I find myself here awake and alone with my thoughts. In my mind, the circus is always in town. Sometimes it’s entertaining. Sometimes it’s terrifying. However, most of the time it’s simply unmanageable, and I try my best to keep the voices at bay. Sure, that ...

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“Whispers of the Past” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #224

It was nearly two o’clock in the morning. Everyone was sound asleep in the house, except for one person. She had just finished counting sheep number 607 when she opened her eyes, trying to think of another way to trick herself to sleep. “I need to sleep, I want to sleep, I must sleep, …. but I can’t sleep!” she kept saying to herself in the middle of the night. Lily was the eldest child of Langston and Martha Harrison—the wealthiest family in town. They lived in an old mansion, known as Hillcrest Manor, which was nestled amid rolling hi...

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“As Much as I Can” by Grace Cooley

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. It’s an ongoing problem. I have a pattern by this time. First of all, as I’m getting ready for bed, I wonder why I’m even bothering. I know the outcome. But I let myself complete those mindless tasks anyway. Then upon getting into bed, I immediately start phase one. Phase one is me lying here pretending to sleep. I close my eyes; I force my breath to slow and deepen. I lie still. I relax as much as I can – which always amuses the part of my brain that finds this entire exercise sarcastically humorous in its repetitious futilit...

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“Once in a Winter Night” by Andrea Sotelo

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep,” the little girl answered, standing in front of me, completely undisturbed by the horns on my head or the lack of skin and muscles on my face. Her bright, blue eyes stared right into mine, her little head thrown backward to look at someone three times her height. The night was frigid, cold even for the brumal nights of the Winter Forest. This was no place for someone so feeble and minuscule like the insignificant child who trembled before me, touched by the cold air that sang through the barren trees, her fingers already red...

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Start your story with someone saying “I can’t sleep.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 87 stories

“Electrical Storm” by Guy Thompson

“Suicide Inc. ” by Thomas Charles Wheetley

“Vigil of the Valiant Void” by Haliya May

“NOCTURNAL SOJOURN” by Wade Douglas

“NIghtmare” by Rudy Greene

“The Magic Rocking Chair” by Fiona Stanley

“Can I Live in a Fantasy?” by A.J. Williams

“Insomnia's Visitor” by Dane Campbell

“(to write down messages in the night)” by Paul Crehan

“Night of the Dragonoid” by Kimmy Book

“The price paid” by N Martin

“The Circus Is Always In Town ” by E.A. Ridley

“Whispers of the Past” by Mara Rouge

“As Much as I Can” by Grace Cooley

“Once in a Winter Night” by Andrea Sotelo

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story before dawn. Your character has woken up early for a particular reason.

Write a story about two people living together who have opposing sleep cycles, and only cross paths at dawn and dusk.

Write a story about someone pulling an all nighter.

Write about someone who can’t sleep due to jet lag, and decides to set out and explore their new city at night instead.

Contest #224

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: