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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 10, 2023

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 87 stories

“The Last Snail” by Caitlin Beitel

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep”. Janie whispers across to the twin bed next to hers.  The pile of dark curls seeping out the top of the black and white checkered bedspread stirs but doesn’t wake.  “PSSST.” Janie hisses more urgently.   The curl pile sighs, pauses, then reluctantly turns over. Her sleep mask with giant painted eyes is still on. She leaves it on as they talk.  “Yes, Janie. What is it now?” “I was- well- I just can’t stop thinking about the Moorean Viviparous Tree Snail.”  MJ pulls up her sleep ma...

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“Sunrise” by Jeremy Derry

Submitted to Contest #224

Sunrise          He couldn’t get to sleep. He had screwed up and let his anxiety lock his brain up at the worst possible time. The moment he had been waiting for, hoping for had finally come, and his brain prematurely activated the flight portion of his response. He was halfway to his apartment before the fog cleared, and he had realized what he had done. Or, in this case, not done. He should have stood his ground and professed his deep feelings for Holly, but he instead he ran out the door. Now...

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“The Wake-Up Call” by Monica Burgi

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep," Sophie muttered to herself in frustration.  Sophie checked the time on her phone, which read 4:00 am. She sighed in frustration and looked up at the ceiling.  "I'm so stressed. I can't call in sick to work tomorrow; that would put everyone behind." She thought to herself.  Sophie starts work at 8:30 am at the office. It has been a very busy work week with a lot of deadlines to meet, being tax season. Sophie has been working in accounting for about six months. She finished school and got her first full...

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“My Demons” by Taonga Nyirenda

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” I say. “And why’s that,” John, my therapist, replies. “I’m scared. I’m so so scared and the voices are getting louder too. I thought I healed. I thought I’m way past this, but I guess not. Help me understand why.” He places his notepad on the desk in front of him and adjusts his glasses, “What do the voices say?” “The same thing they always do! Do you want me to repeat myself just so that our session will last longer and you’d charge me more?” John stays silent, holding my gaze. I adjust in my seat and clear my throat, “I’m ...

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“Just a Name on a Tombstone ” by Trisha Surak

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” I whisper into the dark abyss that envelopes my small, drafty bedroom.  I can hear the creaking of trees swaying against the wind that beats against the shingles of the roof and the panels that line the outside of my small home. I’m not sure who I am talking to even as I say the words out loud; I know that he is not here. I waited for him since two o’clock this afternoon. I waited outside on the porch swing that hangs from an old oak tree in the backyard; in late August the leaves were still full and green. They dang...

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“When Giants slumber” by Dean Alexgard

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” she thought to herself as she hopped out of bed. The chamber that stretched out in front of her was mostly dark, lit intermittently by shimmering moonlight playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds. This slow cycling rhythm of pale brightness and inky darkness made it seem like the space was breathing in shadows, giving itself bare for a moment then retracting back in mystery. In those moments of clarity she got a good look at the layout of the place that she had familiarized herself with the past few weeks. She had set up cam...

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“Sweet Night” by ___ ___

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep, I finally decided. The clock flashed 1:54 AM in bright neon red letters.  Sleep is overrated, truth be told. Batman should be enough to show us that, Gotham has no hero if Bruce Wayne gets his 8 hours. When I was smaller and I suppose it may be the same for you, I despised when it was time to go to sleep at night. Staying up to see the after hours specials and graphic cartoons was a coveted treasure for a kid. But I’d venture to say that no one’s disdain for ‘bedtime’ surpassed my own. I didn’t only feel sleep was overrat...

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“I Can't Sleep” by Alejandra Labrado

Submitted to Contest #224

By Alejandra Labrado “I can’t sleep.” whispered the little girl as she tugged on her mother, Maria’s arm. Maria didn’t flinch. Her mouth was wide open with slobber all over her pillow. She was exhausted after a long day working at the hospital. Earlier that day, a drunken man had staggered into the crowded emergency room, slumped over an old lady in a wheelchair, and vomited all over the floor. Maria gagged as she mopped up the mess. Meanwhile, sick children were crying, the old lady was yelling, and others just stared at her as she d...

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“Echoes” by Caterina Baldi

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” whispered Ella, her voice barely louder than the rustling leaves outside her window. She turned on her side, eyes wide open, staring at the city lights on the ceiling. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting long, eerie shadows across her room. She had been awake for hours, her mind a restless sea of thoughts. Beside her, the Tesco guy stirred in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible. Ella envied people who slipped into dreams with ease. For Ella, each night was a battle, her mind refusing to quieten, her...

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“I Can't Sleep” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #224

 I can't sleep. I can't sleep. Will I ever be able to sleep again? Why did this happen? Did this have to happen? I can't sleep.     I'll watch television. Maybe that will help. The incessant drone and flickering lights. Maybe that will help. I won't really be watching... though. I'll just be staring at a constantly changing screen. Good idea. Anything is a good idea. I grab the remote and aim it at the flat screen. With a soft click the screen comes to life. Will that help? I don't know. I do not know.  &nb...

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“I Can't Sleep” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” I roll over and tell my wife Mona who is pretending to be asleep. Once again I struggled to get to sleep, but to no avail.  My eyes were wide open.   “Take one of your pills, Morry.” She yawns.  “I already took one.” I sit up in bed.  “Alright. Should I make you some tea?” She suggests. “No dear, I want to take a walk.” I put my feet into my walking shoes at the side of the bed. “I wish you wouldn’t.  You never know what kind of rift-raft you’re going to run into.” She shakes her head full ...

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“Insomnia” by Ava Hedouf

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. I can’t open my eyes either. I know the first thing I’ll do is look at the clock on the table next to me. The instant I know what time it is, I’m going to start obsessing about how late it is, and I’ll never be able to get to sleep then. I worm my down further into the sheets. A comfortable sleeping position exists. I found it once. I just can’t find it again. Maybe I can use my phone without looking at the time. I’ll just browse the internet for a bit. Then I’ll be able to fall back asleep. It was a stressful day. I just ...

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“Lone Wolf” by Susan Wakefield

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep. I can never sleep again.” Israel got up out of bed and turned on the light because it made no difference to him anymore whether the world was dark or light.  Israel Wolf was a grateful man. One could tell that he was a lucky man, too. A loving and caring father, he had a beautiful family and adored his two children, Rena and Stephen, and cherished his faithful wife Diana, who was always by his side. They had a good life in Australia, a far cry from the conflict of their homeland, Israel, from which Israel’s parents h...

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“The Puzzle in the Mirror” by Dolly Joyce

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep", I yell out loud to an empty bed in darkness. I'm tired, quite literally I am exhausted. The last few weeks I have felt more drained than a dozen pipes being snaked by a dozen plumbers.It isn't easy to watch your father die slowly.The man who once built buildings and started working at the tender age of 13, is losing a battle that is slowly leaving little cracks in his foundation. Cracks that no amount of plaster or elbow grease can fix.As I lie in bed, feeling the heaviness of my sadness, I see his face every time I close my...

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“Through Thick and Thin” by Tyler Porter

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep. I’m trying, I just can’t. I can’t even shut my fucking eyes without seeing it all over again. What do I do Trish? I’m so tired. Just tell me what to do. Please!” Rachel Turner begged of her longtime friend Trisha Perkins. Trish let her cell phone rest against her neck as she tried to figure out what advice to give knowing that Rachel was anxiously waiting on the other end of the line. The truth was she didn’t know what to tell her. And frankly, what could she tell her? Trish had never been in the position that Rachel was in ...

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