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

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 10, 2023

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✍️ 87 stories

“Magic and Blueberry Muffin ” by Nazdar Ayzit

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep." "Chamomile should help? Or something stronger?" "My worries for you will not let me fall asleep! Which young woman of your age, of your intelligence, spends the whole day idling about, staring at that TV screen with eyes that have no spark of intelligence left in them-" "Funny, I thought that I was an 'intelligent young woman'." "-and gives up on life entirely! Our family does not do that – especially not the women! Up you get now, Rojin; I cannot get a shuteye until you explore the island under the moonlight." "But yo...

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“My Relationship With Sleep” by Millie Kemp

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. At least, not when I’d like to. Once, I could. But not anymore. When I was young, I prided myself on the ability to fall asleep anywhere. When my family traveled, I bragged to my brothers that I could sleep on the plane while they couldn’t. I slept in the car on road trips, or on the 10 minute drive to the grocery store. My friends chided me for being the first to drift during sleepovers, but I never minded it. I didn’t wish to partake in the gossip and let myself leave to the solitude of sleep instead. My first 2 years in ...

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“"I can't sleep."” by CINTSA LIS

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep."After learning that I was selected to enter King Chivkeeb's consort elimination cycle, I took a cold shower to help scald away my frustration. Regardless of how much I look like a woman on the surface, I am still male, through and through. Each household had to send one woman to participate as young as 17. My older brother Adas entered my name in the drawing because participating would mean that our family would receive food rent-free until I got eliminated. The goal was to stay in the run for three months, but that wasn't th...

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“A Natural Conclusion” by Gary Robinson

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” Shelby whispered in Reneé’s ear. She pulled closer, “You haven’t slept in days, Honey.” Shelby climbed out of bed and started to dress. Reneé rolled over. She was worried about her husband. “Where are you going?” she whimpered. “I am going fishing. I need to clear my head, Angel.” He knelt beside the bed. “I promise you I will sleep tonight, OK?" Reneé pleaded, “Please, I am starting to stress about you.” She lifted the covers to reveal her pregnant stomach, “I have enough to worry about.” Shelby kissed her...

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“Sleepless nights” by Hannah Abrams

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” A son said to his father. “Ok. It’s what? 3 am? That sounds like a nice time to get up.” The father said and got up. He stretched and picked up the 5 year old. He had just put him to bed 2 hours ago and 2 hours before that. “Do you just get lonely or something?” The little boy only shrugged. “Are you hungry? I’m kinda hungry...

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“MY MOTHER FOUND JESUS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I AM SO HAPPY” by Terry Gartner

Submitted to Contest #224

MY MOTHER FOUND JESUS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I AM SO HAPPY I can't sleep-I just cannot sleep--I am so worried--I am at the airport now--I've been here for three hours--I am here to see my Mother--She is coming home.--Thoughts have come into my mind and I have not slept. My Grandmother -My Mother's Mother is with me--She brought me here--I got her up early -I was anxious and I could not sleep.--My Grandmother is the one who raised me when my Mother could not.--My name is Tim--My Mother's name is Julie--I am 8 years old--My Mother has struggle...

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“In the Dead of Night” by Shirley Good

Submitted to Contest #224

The hands of the clock glower back at me in the darkness. 2.15am. I can’t sleep. I’m standing at my bedroom window in the dark, staring down into the street. One or two houses show lights on here and there. Perhaps they can’t sleep either, or perhaps they live tranquil lives and are sleepily watching the end of a film on Netflix. I usually fall asleep on the sofa for a couple of hours during the day. I try not to, but I do. Then, come midnight, I creep around the house like a thief in the night. I do this until the grey dawn leaks under the...

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“Waking Dream” by Jamison Courcy

Submitted to Contest #224

"I can't sleep." The private investigator raised a brow at the woman sitting across from her. The office was quaint, a low, flickering light hanging over a sturdy wooden desk. The space looked more like a refurbished living room than a proper office. Floral wallpaper spanned from the floor to the ceiling, hardwood stretched far over the ground. Bookshelves rose high behind the investigator’s desk, various legal documents way above Ginny’s pay grade. Despite what should have been a comforting home, it felt cramped, as if she barely had space...

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“Love is a Safety Net” by Marie Ellis

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” I lied. In fact there was nothing I wanted more than to go to sleep but my head was pounding out of my skull. I took a couple Advil and rolled over on my side, one hand cupping my head and the other holding the phone to my right ear. I yawned into my pillow so my sister wouldn’t hear. “It’s four in the morning, you should really try and get some rest,” she replied over the line. “I know, I think I just overslept this afternoon.” Second lie - I couldn’t sleep this afternoon either. “Okay, well I’m going to bed. At l...

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“Lessons in Interplanetary Realty ” by Katherine Chupik-Hall

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep.” Dex says, hands hovering limp over the keyboard. Polly raises her eyebrows and slowly approaches the chair opposite him. It is an uncomfortable rounded fabric thing, something one might find in a bank or, in this case, an office. She slumps into it all the same, pushing her cat-eye glasses up her nose in what appears to be judgement. Despite her temperament, she is a good secretary. She has been with Dex for many years, and is oftentimes the only thing preserving him from ruin. “Not until this job is finished.” He ...

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“Awake” by Anthony Savasta

Submitted to Contest #224

“I can’t sleep,” I said. “That must be really difficult for you. How does that make you feel?” the doctor replied. “No doctor. I can’t sleep. Like ever.” “I’m not sure I understand.” “You don’t. I don’t even understand it. It affects me but not the way you’re thinking. I know in this day and age this is like everyone’s ultimate wish but let me assure you it isn’t how you think it is.” I paused. Not needing to sleep has afforded me a lot of free time. I’m used to taking things at an extremely slow pace to fill out the hours. You wo...

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“A WORN SPOT ON THE PAVEMENT” by Regina Martin

Submitted to Contest #224

I can't sleep... I sit motionless, in front of an abandoned brick storefront, occupying the same spot of pavement, for the longest six months of my life. I keep my eyes cast downward, focusing on the gaping hole in the toe of my frayed sneaker, so as not to notice people passing by, staring so blatantly. I pretend these stares are warranted because I am an attractive human being, even though I know differently. These stares are really an inquisition as to why a young woman is sitting here, without a home to call her own, with an old, rusted ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 87 stories

“Magic and Blueberry Muffin ” by Nazdar Ayzit

“My Relationship With Sleep” by Millie Kemp

“"I can't sleep."” by CINTSA LIS

“A Natural Conclusion” by Gary Robinson

“Sleepless nights” by Hannah Abrams

“MY MOTHER FOUND JESUS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I AM SO HAPPY” by Terry Gartner

“In the Dead of Night” by Shirley Good

“Waking Dream” by Jamison Courcy

“Love is a Safety Net” by Marie Ellis

“Lessons in Interplanetary Realty ” by Katherine Chupik-Hall

“Awake” by Anthony Savasta

“A WORN SPOT ON THE PAVEMENT” by Regina Martin

🌟 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: