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

“Family Secrets” by Brian Webb

Submitted to Contest #289

“How was she today, Maggie?” I ask, dropping my work bag, keys, and coat in the entryway.“She’s struggling. She just had a few sips of soup,” the hospice worker says.“How long – I mean do you have a sense of - ““It’s hard to say exactly. But not long. Days at most? Maybe hours only.”I nod and feel a tightening in my throat. “Don’t be afraid to give her a few units of the morphine if she seems uncomfortable. That’s the most loving thing you can do for her now.”“Okay. ...

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“Heiress” by Cadence McKinnon

Submitted to Contest #289

Part 1: LyraeI couldn’t have heard that correctly, I thought."My Lady expects me to attend her after her wedding?" I gasped, meeting Lady Lysae’s jewel bright green eyes. Our gazes locked, rapiers crossed between us. We stood opposite each other, watching, waiting for the other to strike. "You are my companion for life, per my father’s directive.” she snapped “Why would my marriage change that? You will accompany me across the seas after I wed.” I forced myself to focus on our morning's sport; my stance felt slightly off ...

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“Efficiency” by Victoria Fortune

Submitted to Contest #289

She sits in her rocker, looking out at her rose bushes, the buds just beginning to form, wondering when they will bloom. A week, maybe two? “C’mon, Grandma. Time to go.” She startles, looks up. “Go? Where are we going?” “To our new home.” She shakes her head, confused. “This is our home.” “Not anymore, Grandma. Remember?” She looks around the empty room and furrows her brow. “Where is my bed . . . my nightstand? My medicine was on the nightstand.” “It’s all packed. Everything we can bring.” The rest has been sold, but he do...

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“The Shattered Illusion: John’s Journey to Truth” by Susie Bennett

Submitted to Contest #289

John Thompson had always prided himself on being a rational thinker. A scientist by profession, he dedicated his career to unravelling nature’s mysteries through meticulous research. The cornerstone of his life was a deeply held belief: that the universe operated according to a predictable set of laws, governed by logic and empirical evidence. However, a recent discovery began to unravel everything he thought he knew.It all started with an innocuous coffee break at the university. Gathered around the table with colleagues, conversations flit...

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“As It Seems” by Noah Essig

Submitted to Contest #289

As It SeemsNoah Essig CONTENT WARNING: THIS STORY INCLUDES MENTION OF THE DEATHS OF INFANTS AS PART OF SCIENTIFIC TRIALS AND PUBLIC EXECUTIONS OF MINORS. Tom ran from the Administrator's Building, feet compacting and then flinging snow up into the air behind him. He glanced back at the grand glass doors that were just now beginning to close. Nobody had given chase yet, but he still felt terror driving him forward. Turning back, he narrowly avoided a car, a police car, as he crossed the street. The officers within gave him derisive stares, b...

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“Behind the Throne” by Aarna Maurya

Submitted to Contest #289

I ran franticly around the hall trying to find a familiar face. My eyes narrowed on a small figure – someone with pink hair, the colour alike that of Cotton Candy. Anne. I rushed to her, my chest heaving, “it’s okay, everything is fine”, I told her, my voice trembling over the chaos, trying to comfort her. I didn’t know for who I was trying to convince my little sister or myself. This didn’t make sense, just minutes ago I was half-listening to some boring speech about the great country of Ciada by my father. The fog started to clear up. The ...

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“Openminded Worlds” by Kalisha James

Submitted to Contest #289

I hate it here! Karmen stood in front of the door frame, trying to be as respectful as possible while she waited for her mother to finish her ridiculous rant. Her heart was pounding in her chest so hard she was starting to fear her heart jumping out of her chest more than her mother. She clenched her fists in the pockets of her hoodie, hiding them out of view. Her throat felt like it was under the pressure of a thousand unsaid words; it was as if a lump of dirt had invaded her esophagus and was holding it hostage, leaving her unable to...

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“Verborgene Wiege” by Alex Marmalade

Submitted to Contest #289

Karl Schmidt's fingers trembled as he filled out the Hitler Youth application. One more form, one more stamp of approval, and he could finally prove his worth to Gruppenführer Müller. After two years of suspicious glances and whispered questions about why he wasn't already a member, Karl would silence the doubters. He just needed his birth certificate. Outside his father's study window, December snow fell on Munich's streets, coating the remnants of broken glass that still glittered in some shopfront corners, even a month after Kristallnacht...

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“The Reunion ” by Ellen Talboom

Submitted to Contest #289

"Snowing. I hope the rest of the family arrives safely," Mindy's mom said, looking out of the Resort's hotel window. Mindy was unpacking. "I'm sure they will," Mindy replied. "I do want to make a run or two on the slopes before we have to do the reunion meetup thing." Mom nodded, still looking out of the window. About an hour later, mom and Mindy with her skis and boots in hand, walked into the lounge. Mindy stored her ski stuff at the wall stands. "Hey, hey, look who's here?" Smiles and laughter ensued. Mindy and her mom min...

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“Breaking Free” by Glenna Mageau

Submitted to Contest #289

It was time.That thought almost had Maisy throwing up. She’d been ignoring, protecting, fearing the damn stuff for a long time. It was time.But to do what with it. It had felt like an anchor around her leg for a long time. What made today, the day?The doorbell rang. Maisy’s body spasmed as the ringing sound jolted through her like a cattle prod. She pressed her hand to her chest, hoping to slow her galloping heart. The good news was that it must be in okay shape, she hadn’t keeled over. Yet. The doorbell rang again.“I hear you,” she mut...

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“Little Lies for Life” by Rama Shaar

Submitted to Contest #289

“Easy for you to say, Em!” Franny said as she poured gravy on her mashed potatoes.I always hated that. Everyone was allowed to vent about life being hard, except for me.I mustered a smile and said nothing. Dad reached over and squeezed my hand. Franny saw that and also chose to let it go. After all, we were no longer eight and five. I can tolerate my little sister sticking out her tongue without kicking her in the shin.Later, while I loaded the dishwasher and washed Mum’s favourite gold embossed tureen, I looked outside the window at my sist...

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“The Ridgeline” by Shelley Lamie

Submitted to Contest #289

Jasmine looked out her backdoor window, the old crackled glass might have looked like art rather than age, but the skeleton-key lock told the truth of its origins. The sun was still high despite the lengthening hour of the day, but that’s simply the way of a Pacific Northwest summer. She spied her small red Igloo cooler on the picnic table and ventured out for it, breathing deeply the fresh air, cleared of July’s wildfire smoke. September may be considered Fall to some, but for Washingtonians summer was still ho...

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“I'm alive?” by Ann-Elise Davis

Submitted to Contest #289

Trigger warnings: suicide, self-harm, physical violence, substance abuse, curse words, and mental health. Please do not read if you are not in a good mental place. The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here. But that thought is swept from my mind by a rush of realization. The burn of bile climbs up the back of my throat as I press my hand against my pounding chest. I’m alive? A strange mixture of relief and horror fight against each other as my shoulders sag. Sweat erupts across my bare arms but quickly dries when a co...

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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

“Family Secrets” by Brian Webb

“Heiress” by Cadence McKinnon

“Efficiency” by Victoria Fortune

“The Shattered Illusion: John’s Journey to Truth” by Susie Bennett

“As It Seems” by Noah Essig

“Behind the Throne” by Aarna Maurya

“Openminded Worlds” by Kalisha James

“Verborgene Wiege” by Alex Marmalade

“The Reunion ” by Ellen Talboom

“Breaking Free” by Glenna Mageau

“Little Lies for Life” by Rama Shaar

“The Ridgeline” by Shelley Lamie

“I'm alive?” by Ann-Elise Davis

🌟 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: