Write a story in which a character discovers that a truth they've believed their whole life is either false or not the whole story.

Posted in Dramatic on Feb 7, 2025

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✍️ 73 stories

“To Build a Mice Civilization” by Giulio Coni

Submitted to Contest #289

PART ONEDr. Amedeo RinaldiDr. Amedeo Rinaldi had dedicated his life to one purpose: rebuilding civilization from scratch. Only the world didn't need another human civilization. He had already seen the disaster men made, and he—an outcast scientist, reduced to living in the basement of a university that ignored him—wanted to prove something different.So he chose mice.It wasn't an experiment in the traditional sense. There were no cages, no rewards for conditioning. There was an entire miniature city built in his basement: tunnels made of page...

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“A Full Love” by Michelle T

Submitted to Contest #289

"Dad loved a lot in life," Jolene said from the front of the room. "He loved basketball, he loved hosting parties that lasted hours past when they were supposed to end. He loved watching my brother, Henry, play his guitar. He loved pulling pranks on me, especially when I needed a laugh,” Jolene paused for a moment to keep the tears from straining her voice. “He always seemed to know when I needed one most. I know, of the many things he loved in life, he had the most love for our mom. Their love is something I've always looked up to. It is a ...

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“Unenchanted” by Katie Weed

Submitted to Contest #289

In September, Kansas weather could be anything, but then that could be said of many months in Kansas. That day, early in my sophomore year of college, was the first day of fall, and I was glad I had thrown an oversized jean jacket over my cami because, even though it was nearing noon, the weather was turning colder than it had been in the morning, and there was a stiff breeze.Walking the stately university campus, I paused to run my hand appreciatively over the native limestone wall of one of the buildings. Among the books in my backpack was...

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“Places to Hide” by Gabriel Savage

Submitted to Contest #289

I used to think some people were born incomplete, like the universe got distracted halfway through making them and just let 'em loose, unfinished and jagged at the edges. My old man? He was one of those. All the necessary parts but no spine, like an unassembled engine rusting away in some forgotten backyard.I didn’t think much about him growing up—not like the other kids did, sitting around wondering why their fathers weren’t around. I didn’t wait by the window on my birthday or fill my head with questions I already knew were too big for my ...

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“False Reclamation” by Daniel Coniff

Submitted to Contest #289

TW: Racism, Transphobia, Ableism, Child Abuse, Blood and Gore Screams reverberate throughout the convenience store, repurposed as a trading market, as my mind replays the gunshot over and over. I clench a matte black handgun aligned with careful precision at the blown-apart skull of a boy with tawny skin who looks my age - fourteen - give or take a year. Crimson blood and pinkish-gray chunks of brain matter ooze out of a quarter-sized borehole exposing checkered tiles through the other end. The beige walls of the bathroom are coated uneven...

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“Unbelievable” by Renee Bogacz

Submitted to Contest #289

God is not real. He doesn’t exist. He’s totally made up to try to guilt all of us into being good people so we can avoid an eternal afterlife in hell. At least this is what Terra was raised to believe. From the time she was a very little girl, this concept was hammered into her head. Her parents were staunch atheists, refusing to celebrate any holiday with even a skosh of religion. That meant no Easter and no Christmas, most notably. So Terra never had the chance to feel the wonder of waking up on Christmas morning to a festively lit tree sp...

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“Why am I Broken? ” by Ian Walker

Submitted to Contest #289

What does it mean to be broken? James thought to himself as he stared blankly at the shattered glass on the tile floor of his kitchen. I guess it just means that something can’t be fixed. As the sounds of the broom combined with the glass scratching over the tile, there wasn’t much going through his mind. Just making sure he got all of the damned glass off the floor. The damned glass. It just slipped between my fingers. Everything always feels like it’s slipping away, but this time, it actually is. Perspective is a hell of th...

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“The Housekeeper” by Arpita Roy

Submitted to Contest #289

The breeze whispered through the open window, brushing against Lora’s skin as she stood by the kitchen sink, washing the delicate dishes her mother had once used. Her hands moved with practiced precision, the porcelain plates gliding through her fingers like memories. The house was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the soft rhythm of her own breathing. She had been alone here for as long as she could remember, but the house was always so full—full of the warmth, the laughter, the life of her mother.Her mother.Lora couldn’t pict...

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“To Form A Stronger Society ” by S.M. Knight

Submitted to Contest #289

“Welcome to the Nursery.” Debera said behind her mask. “Thank you, I’m excited for my second year as a Healer.” Ava answered behind her own mask. “I’m glad to hear it. I can tell just from looking at you that the Council chose you well when they assigned you as a healer. Come let me show you around and get you familiar with your duties.” The older woman led the way. Her figure was healthy with a straight back and black head wrap. Her steps were smooth, as though she was floating through the ward. Ava was less graceful. Full of excitement and...

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“I Thought We Were The Good Guys” by Cedar Moss

Submitted to Contest #289

I thought We Were the Good Guys The United States of America. A beacon of hope and light, democracy and prosperity for the whole world. We are the defenders of human rights and democracy and always there to help the hungry and the oppressed. We live the good life here in America. We live how everyone wants to live and how everyone should live. The land of freedom that oppressed people from all over the world escaped to. We are the good guys. A light without a shadow. Oh yeah. Of course, when...

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“More Than Black or White” by Veronica Hues

Submitted to Contest #289

Once upon a time there was a black and white mountain. At the bottom of the black and white mountain was a black and white meadow, filled with black and white sheep. The sheep were separated into two herds, black and white. Sometimes the herds would mingle but would always separate at the end of the day. This worked perfectly well for the sheep. They felt comfortable around sheep who looked like them. The black sheep felt they were the most beautiful with their deep rich coats. When their wool was made into a coat it was the warmest coat, pu...

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“Clearpool” by Matthew Durban

Submitted to Contest #289

It was stiflingly hot in the MV Clearpool’s aft hold. Situated just above the engine room, the smell of grease, diesel and sweat was overpowering. The four men worked quickly to secure the pallet and release the derrick hook from the net. As they looked up at the retreating cables, their upturned faces blinked in the tropical sun like startled cave dwellers. “Alright Stewy,” the Bosun nudged him in the ribs. Kristiono smiled weakly. Years at sea, physical work above and below decks had given his face a wan look to match his skinny frame. ‘St...

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“Sunset Tobacco on the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción” by Bryce Dana

Submitted to Contest #289

He took a long draw from the cigar, the embers writhing at the end with each sunset glow. “Say mijo, how would you describe the smell of tobacco, mm?”“What? The smell of tobacco?” The shifting atop the deck made the ropes squeal under the weight of so many barrels.“How would you put the smell in words?”“What do you need words for?”“No need. What if I want to write a book, mm?”“A book about tobacco?”“Mm.. something else, maybe.”“You’ll write no book about anything.”“Why not? Why can I no write a book?”“You’ll write no damn book.”Putting his w...

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“Dad's Funeral” by Rosie Bennett

Submitted to Contest #289

The cigarette was clenched confidently between two shaking fingers, and placed then between the black painted lips of the smoker who drew a lungful, blew, and watched as the expelled smoke tumbled away into the air above her head. The smoker was Abigail, and Abigail had quit smoking three months before, only to start again sometime after her Dad died. Today was Dad’s funeral; she had already smoked her way through a pack, and was now three deep into pack two. She hadn’t slept much the night before, mainly as all the family being in Dad’s hou...

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“Family lies” by Zaneta Dwamena

Submitted to Contest #289

Rexonus Jackson "Jake" Luxemburg drives towards the big gold and emerald gates. Jessica looks out of the passenger window. Her anxiety heightening as he honks his horn, alerting the occupants of the large estate that they are here. As the gates slowly open, her boyfriend of four years brings the car to the entrance of the manor. Jessica can feel the stares of the staff stab her. Jake then places an assuring hand on her lap, his touch meant to alleviate her nerves, but it feels more like a weight pinning her down.They step out of the car...

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Write a story in which a character discovers that a truth they've believed their whole life is either false or not the whole story.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“To Build a Mice Civilization” by Giulio Coni

“A Full Love” by Michelle T

“Unenchanted” by Katie Weed

“Places to Hide” by Gabriel Savage

“False Reclamation” by Daniel Coniff

“Unbelievable” by Renee Bogacz

“Why am I Broken? ” by Ian Walker

“The Housekeeper” by Arpita Roy

“To Form A Stronger Society ” by S.M. Knight

“I Thought We Were The Good Guys” by Cedar Moss

“More Than Black or White” by Veronica Hues

“Clearpool” by Matthew Durban

“Sunset Tobacco on the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción” by Bryce Dana

“Dad's Funeral” by Rosie Bennett

“Family lies” by Zaneta Dwamena

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with the lines: “The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here.”

Write your story as text messages or an online conversation between two characters — and at least one of them isn’t who they say they are.

Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.

Your character is getting changed in the bathroom of a nightclub or restaurant, then emerges looking completely different. Why?

Contest #289

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

364

Contest entries

155

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: