Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Posted in Dramatic on Sep 16, 2024

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✍️ 121 stories

“A Closet Full of Chaos” by Dhruv Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #185

If you had wandered into James Orton’s apartment, you may not have seen the clutter at first. His front door, an elegant, clean brown door, opened into a little foyer with just enough room for his three pairs of shoes and a coat rack which held two coats. He liked having a pair of winter boots, a pair of running shoes, and a pair of walking shoes. James never went to social functions, so he didn’t need anything more formal than that. His two coats were neatly hung exactly ten inches from one another so their sleeves did not touch at the bott...

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“Whatever You Do, Don’t Let Go” by Javelin Lawn

Submitted to Contest #185

I looked at the button and clicked it. Just another harmless item, right? It was just a spice rack for $15, less if I subscribed to the website, and I did. I entered my email and made up a password, a rush of adrenaline coursing through me as I pressed the button. A tear drifted down my left cheek and I brushed it away, both of my eyes burning at the sight of the computer screen. I blinked and a painful sting hit me, one that I knew too well. I needed to get off the computer, but I just needed to buy one more thing; some cute shoes for...

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“Letting go of what was.” by Brooke Coleman

Submitted to Contest #185

Have you ever felt stuck. Stuck in this loop. This on going pattern of what was. You felt like you can't let go of the past and your holding on so tight that it's almost clouding what's right in front of you. The present. Well, I have had this issue for many years now. It left me feeling empty, unsure and full of anxiety on so many levels. It effected friendships and relationships. It gave me trust issues and made me disassociate from others. It wasn't until I started unpacking the things that hold me back in therapy that I started understan...

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“Late Regret” by Mengqi Wang

Submitted to Contest #185

Encasterated in a god knows forsaken place as I lost track of time; left to rot in a devious place as I tremble in fear. A twisting wave of panic, shock, helplessness dashes through the deepest regions of my soul. Regretting not having to let go of this earlier. Let me tell you how I found myself in this nerve wracking predicament in pain and sorrow… A long time ago, when I was free as a bird, I was the daughter of a rich business woman: Ella. Gaining everything that I wanted, therefore not being able to learn how to let go.&nbsp...

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“Gog, Magog, and Little Ada” by Julia Dragu

Submitted to Contest #185

There once was an old man named Gog. That wasn’t his real name, of course. Perhaps at one time, many years ago, there lived people in the little town who knew the old man’s name. Yet, for as long as anyone could remember, the old man lived in his three-story house alone. All those years, he never bothered to speak to anybody unless he had something to complain about.Now, a three-story house might sound like a very grand place to live, but in fact each level was a single room. You see, Gog (we will call him Gog for now, since that is what eve...

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“A Teen's Unending Love” by Darene Staniszewski

Submitted to Contest #185

Once upon a time, there was a teenage boy named James. He was a bright and talented student in his high school, with a passion for photography and a kind heart. James had everything going for him, except for one thing - he couldn't let go of his first high school love interest. Her name was Sarah, and she was the most beautiful girl in the school. James had fallen head over heels in love with her since the first day they met, and he spent all his time and energy trying to win her heart. He would leave notes in her locker, offer to walk her h...

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“The Space You Used To Occupy” by Scarlette Ash

Submitted to Contest #185

Unrelenting ticking dominates my otherwise quiet room—the damn pocket watch. The one from your damn grandpa. The one who cursed at you for being in love with another man. In love with me. The sound continues. Tick-tock. It won’t leave my awareness, and it summons your green eyes framed by golden curls in my mind. Your wicked smile. You were always scheming something extraordinary. I was thankful to be along for the ride. Tick-tock. I can’t handle the sound. It pulls me from my warm bed. Walking around the bed, I yank the damn thing from the ...

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“Come Out Here, You Know What You Did” by Renee Gant

Submitted to Contest #185

Jenny checked her high braided dirty blonde bun in the rearview mirror as she turned the corner and her tire hit the curb. Familiar toughts of her little gold mustang stranded with a flat tire flooded her angry mind. These dim mental glimpses were quickly replaced by the clear site of a black man standing by the side of the road. There ahead of her in a long tan coat she saw Howard. Jenny couldn't let go of the brakes and so the high pitched squeal lasted a second longer. Her car jerked and the back of it slid a bit to the side. She then ...

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“Hidden Creatures” by Deborah Allion

Submitted to Contest #185

By the time Brother returned home, the sun cast an orange glow over the surrounding canopy. Crisp linen was rolled above his elbows and each step with his leather shoes crunched over the gravel drive. The unspoken ritual of his day finally began yet he questioned his destination with a soft smile. The tennis courts were vacant. The gazebo stood alone. And only the large oak tree swayed gently in the late spring breeze. He knew he would never have to check inside, yet the only sign of life was the movements of hidden-away creature...

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“Together ” by Ruby Zaidi

Submitted to Contest #185

TOGETHER So this is how dreams end , l thought , as my eyes clouded. The household goods were arranged room wise on white tables laid out in our immaculate lawn. The banner proclaimed , ' Build Your Dreams '. The furniture including my favourite recliner and our white and gold bed had already been returned. However even the curtains - the lace ones and the heavy silk ones were folded up neatly and kept in piles. It was too early for the shoppers to arrive so l had that part of the garden to myself. I wandered ov...

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“Five Potatoes” by H. Peter Alesso

Submitted to Contest #185

Five Potatoes Five, I thought with satisfaction as my bony finger touched the last scrawny potato. I’ll eat for five days. The smile on my dry lips only lasted for a moment because I recalled that the radio had announced that relief couldn’t reach this village for at least two more weeks. Survival requires good decisions, but it was harder and harder to think clearly in my weakened condition. This disaster seemed to go on endlessly. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a real meal. Or a bath, for that matter. I almost laughed at the t...

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“Swav.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #185

You might meet this fetching couple anywhere. Boy, did they have a tale to tell. The male significant other was Swav. He was around that age, cool, well built, tall, a handsome man. His female other half was Donna, just as tall, wavy red hair, emerald flashing eyes, creamy skin, athletic. These days, they were a devoted Christian couple, parents of three good looking sons, all enrolled in Sunday school. You might never believe this couple survived a very rocky start of their relationship. Opposites do attract, or so it seems. Donna and Swav ...

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“The Pyre” by Jill Johansson

Submitted to Contest #185

Sam looks around at the people invading his house and he can feel his nerves already starting to fray. It doesn't matter what Debbie says dear, we've talked about this having the people come to you gives the impression of being magnanimous they come here to see you as much as your collection all these strangers makes him want to hide in his office and never come out. Is this the way things are gonna be like now? Just people walking into his home for 7 hours every day? We have to be open on the weekend as well, dear, some people work for a ...

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“That Can Be Fixed, We Aren't Made of Money” by Jeanne Kiesinger

Submitted to Contest #185

"Wait. What are you doing with that lampshade?" "It's broken and covered in mouse poop. I'm throwing it away." "What a waste! It can be fixed and cleaned. No wonder you and Bob haven't got a pot to piss in." My sister-in-law, Ivy, was determined to keep her toppling, mega-stash of unwanted, broken, stained, and unusable items from being chucked out with the trash, where they belonged. When faced with confrontation about the questionable usefulness of items she would throw insults at my husband and me to change the subject. "What lam...

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“Candy Hearts ” by Sabrina Rose

Submitted to Contest #185

Jane spent her Friday night in front of the screen doing side missions for her newest game Badlands. She particularly grew annoyed with the current one, where you had to take out a horde of nomadic zombies just to retrieve some canned beans for some rando NPCs for another basic side quest. She wanted to throw the controller against the wall when the screen flashed DEFEATED, but they weren't exactly cheap and she already had to replace her first one. She just bit her lip in frustration and continued, what else was there to do...

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Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 121 stories

“A Closet Full of Chaos” by Dhruv Srivastava

“Whatever You Do, Don’t Let Go” by Javelin Lawn

“Letting go of what was.” by Brooke Coleman

“Late Regret” by Mengqi Wang

“Gog, Magog, and Little Ada” by Julia Dragu

“A Teen's Unending Love” by Darene Staniszewski

“The Space You Used To Occupy” by Scarlette Ash

“Come Out Here, You Know What You Did” by Renee Gant

“Hidden Creatures” by Deborah Allion

“Together ” by Ruby Zaidi

“Five Potatoes” by H. Peter Alesso

“Swav.” by Julie Grenness

“The Pyre” by Jill Johansson

“That Can Be Fixed, We Aren't Made of Money” by Jeanne Kiesinger

“Candy Hearts ” by Sabrina Rose

🌟 Similar prompts

Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Start a story with someone saying, “It’s mine, and you can’t have it!”

Write about a dragon who doesn’t know what to do with their hoard anymore.

Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Contest #185

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

138

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: