Write a story that includes the line “Be careful what you wish for.”

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 13, 2024

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✍️ 40 stories

“The bald sniper” by Brian Carney

Submitted to Contest #281

David walked by his son’s room just in time to hear Rick yell, “I wish this game was easier.”“Having trouble with your game?” David asked, leaning into the room.“It’s impossible,” Rick complained throwing his remote down on his bed. “You’ve only had it for a couple of days, it takes time to learn all the right moves.”“NO, they just made it too hard!” exclaimed Rick in frustration. David walked over to his son’s bed and sat beside him. “So, you wish it was easier to play, without learning all the game's tricks.”“Yes, Charlie from school said ...

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“Ketamine Dreams” by Sheila C

Submitted to Contest #281

Content Warning: This story contains sensitive content about mental health and substance abuse.Elijah opted for the Champagne Lanson over the the cheaper Saldo Chenin Blanc he normally gets with his steak frites at The Golden Bull. After all, he just got promoted to Head of Sales at GoodMood, a startup that specializes in at-home ketamine therapy. Elijah and his co-workers, barely squeezed into the 50's style maroon booth, toasted to his future.“Elijah, how does it feel to be Head of Sales?” Tara, Head of Software Development asked.“It feels...

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“Head to Head” by Veronica Dowd

Submitted to Contest #281

Mother stayed home after the twins were born. Father worked outside the home. The Normans lived in a tow story house with a full basement in a nice neighborhood of average means, not an affluent or gated community. The Normans were comfortable financially and didn't need a flashy lifestyle to Garner attention. The twins provided more attention than desired as it was. Candy and Winifred just turned six years of age, conjoined twins who were currently allowed a few weeks off from their regular schooling and les...

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“The Life” by Evangelist Wright

Submitted to Contest #281

THE LIFE If I would have known how my life would have turned out, I never would have done what I did. When I say “Be careful what you wish for,” that's one I wished I’d have listened to. It was a cold and thankless night when it all started, as I remembered it. The drapes were brand new and the clock was ticking. I remember thinking to myself– what is this thing called love? I opened my eyes and your face was the first thing I saw smiling at me. There was such an earnestness in your eyes. I could not tell you then, all I could do was lose ...

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“Blind Date” by Júlio Miranda

Submitted to Contest #281

The taxi driver, who had been driving for two and a half blocks at very low speed, turning and craning his head and neck, paying attention to the house numbers, finally signaled to the right and parked next to the curb, in front of a mansion worthy of a Hollywood movie, in the most upscale neighborhood in the city. He disengaged the car and pulled the handbrake. “We’re here?” he turned and asked. “I sure hope so…” the passenger muttered, dumbfounded, his mouth already open before the words had even begun to come out. He didn’t look at the dr...

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“The Lonesome Ghost” by Nena Lopez

Submitted to Contest #281

Content warning: Themes of child neglect, and emotional and physical abuse.Be careful what you wish for. She was woken up by the growl of her stomach. Her mother failed to prepare yet another meal the night before. She never bothered to look after her daughter, claiming it was to make her independent, just as she had to be. The girl sat upright and placed her pink Care Bear doll against her pillow, giving it a quick peck on its fuzzy cheek. She swung her feet off of her bed and walked down the hall to the kitchen, looking through the cabinet...

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“Who Killed The Gingerbread Man?” by Apostolos Kaniouras

Submitted to Contest #281

The wind whispered through the trees and chimneys as snowflakes fell gently on the snow-covered rooftops. Not a man or beast was in sight. Inside the Addams household, the only sounds were the crackling fireplace and the occasional snore from Mr. Addams, interrupted by a well-placed kick from Ms. Addams. Yet, for those with keen hearing and vivid imagination, there was another, barely noticeable sound. “MURDERER!” “GUILTY!” “DAMN YOU, CRIMINAL!” “SILENCE!” Santa’s commanding voice immediately established a fragile silence over the wooden din...

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“Home for the Holidays” by Abi Kemp

Submitted to Contest #281

Home for the HolidaysAbigale F. Kemp My father often took my brother and me fishing at Alpine Lake, a reservoir close to my childhood home, and while I looked up to my brother, I was never very interested in the actual fishing aspect of our trips to the lake. I usually stuck to running around and being an annoyance, definitely scaring any fish away if there were any in the first place. One afternoon while my brother and father were fishing, amidst my boredom I decided to catch a fish. I dumped my father’s almost-empty coffee cup into a bush...

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“The Monster” by Sara MacFarlane

Submitted to Contest #281

I'm just a kid, not scared of the dark but of what's in the dark. Petrified of the monster under my bed. My parents say it's not there, but I hear it. I hear the noises it makes and see the scratches it puts on my bed frame. I hear the gurgling of its stomach and feel the bed moving as it breathes. It's terrifying. I do everything I can to avoid it. To avoid that feeling of not being able to move or even breathe out of fear or the feeling of wanting to wake up everyone in the house so I’m not the only one awake in the dark. Even my own siste...

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“The Christmas Wish” by Samuel Excell

Submitted to Contest #281

Lucy Thompson stared out her frost-covered bedroom window at the twinkling lights of Merrivale below, her breath creating small clouds on the glass. The medieval-style lampposts that lined Main Street cast pools of golden light onto the freshly fallen snow, and wreaths adorned every door in sight. In years past, this view would have filled her with wonder, making her heart flutter with anticipation for the holiday season. But now, watching the familiar scene unfold, she felt only a familiar ache of disappointment, a hollowness that seemed to...

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Write a story that includes the line “Be careful what you wish for.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“The bald sniper” by Brian Carney

“Ketamine Dreams” by Sheila C

“Head to Head” by Veronica Dowd

“The Life” by Evangelist Wright

“Blind Date” by Júlio Miranda

“The Lonesome Ghost” by Nena Lopez

“Who Killed The Gingerbread Man?” by Apostolos Kaniouras

“Home for the Holidays” by Abi Kemp

“The Monster” by Sara MacFarlane

“The Christmas Wish” by Samuel Excell

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a mysterious guest who arrives at a party — but no one knows who they are.

Start or end your story with someone receiving a strange — and possibly sinister — gift.

Write a story from the POV of a non-human character.

Set your story during the coldest day of the year.

Contest #281

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

309

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: