Write a story that includes the line “I should’ve known better.”

Posted in Dramatic on Jan 3, 2025

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 87 stories

“Walnut Street” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #284

There was a way to love a moving man. Kate couldn’t say she’d ever learned what that way was, but she knew there had to be a technique. After living in New York for most of her twenties, she thought the one bright spot about moving back to her small hometown might be the lack of coming and going. People loved New York, but all the upwardly mobile men she met had their sights set on settling in Europe or Dubai. It wasn’t rare for a guy to take her out, buy her a disgusting drink, and then tell her “New York is over.” She wanted to meet someon...

11 comments 11

Read story

“A Taxidermist’s Guide to the Love and Care of Undead Pets” by Mary Butler

Submitted to Contest #284

The squirrel in the pink tutu was staring at her.Morgan Finch leaned closer, squinting at the squirrel in the pink tutu as if proximity would make it less horrifying. It didn’t. The glass eyes were crossed—one pointing skyward, the other glaring accusingly at her wallet, pleading for release from its eternal tutu-wearing humiliation. “Ten bucks,” the seller said, her gravelly voice sounding as though she’d been gargling ashtrays. Morgan squinted at the taxidermied squirrel’s half-missing tail and garish tutu, its crossed eyes plead...

34 comments 34

Read story

“Millenium Dad” by James Scott

Submitted to Contest #284

Spam and concrete. I looked around at the sad state of affairs and knew immediately something had gone very wrong. The grey box I was presented with paled in comparison to the Christmas I had left behind. The warm lights, smells of cinnamon and table laden with steaming dishes were now miles away, locked behind the door of my mother’s house. Carols and laughter were left dwindling in the cold winter breeze that had chased my exit.Dad had claimed New Year’s Eve as his own, years ago. He knew Mum would have fought tooth and nail to retain Chri...

14 comments 14

Read story

“The Seeker and the Bird” by Nat Fendie

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #284

The setting sun cast glowing embers in the sky, as if stretching its magnificent yellow rays to capture the expanse one last time before dying, if only for the night.Thomas, lying on his back, extended his hand as far as it allowed, and it wasn’t much, to touch the sky. To feel the warmth of the sinking sun. But all he felt was the cold on the back of a mule cart, where he had been since this morning and three before.“How much further?” He asked the old man in the front. Talking to the back of his head, which looked like a white furry carpet...

20 comments 20

Read story

“The Bedevilment of Danny Webster: A Tale of the Arts Department” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #284

NOTE: Mature subject matter“I should have known better.”Melissa was sorry she’d brought the whole thing up.“Yeah, probably,” Professor Urquardt uttered. She should have let Zinna Garver slide until Monday. What should have been a simple “What the fuck is the matter with you, and how can we fix it quick?” pep talk had turned into a Sarah Jessica Parker therapy session, and Melissa blamed the Big V. Valentine’s Day, and, she guessed, the other one, too.“So, you’re done with him, right?” Melissa nonetheless persisted when Garver failed to slink...

15 comments 15

Read story

“The Girl and the Desert” by Dana F

Submitted to Contest #284

It was the summer before college, when the world seemed to lay out in front of her, just waiting to be walked upon. Any path, in any direction, could be hers. Ava was young and grown up all at the same time and she was ready to have adventures. It was the year 2000 and the world hadn’t ended, as predicted. Anything was possible. She was going to visit her friend Ryan. Ryan was a girl who never missed an opportunity to tell people her name meant “descendant of the king”. She thought she was so cool for having a boy’s name. Ava thought it was ...

14 comments 14

Read story

“Once? Forever to be more precise...” by Iqra Sarakwas

Submitted to Contest #284

I need to hurry; I have an appointment with Dr. Gupta, a Neurologist. I take my phone and look at my reflection in the mirror. "hm, I've lost plenty of weight", I speak to myself and then descend the stairs, with my son waiting in the car. As I settle into the passenger seat, he starts the engine. I Suddenly realize "Wait, My reports!", glad I remembered at the right time but Charles sighs "Dad.." and head upstairs to get them. As he returns with the reports, I give him a genuine smile, maybe it'll cover me being vague. We drive toward the c...

6 comments 6

Read story

“The River and the Red Tree” by Penelope Stansfield

Submitted to Contest #284

“I can’t believe we’re finally here,” Sally lifted another box onto the kitchen table and began unpacking more crockery, “the way the solicitors dragged their feet, I never thought we’d move in on time.”“Well, we’re here now,” said Pete, putting down his drill and hugging his wife, nuzzling her neck beneath her dark hair.“Hey, no time for that, get on with putting up those shelves,” said Sally playfully, pushing Pete away, “it would be nice to get things sorted and unpacked, I thought we might go to the village pub later, show our faces, mee...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Functioning Adult Status” by Maisie Sutton

Submitted to Contest #284

September 15, 2024Functioning Adult Status Application Dear Universe, I respectfully submit this claim as evidence that I have reached “Functioning Adult Status.” I kindly request that you review my “Hard Lesson” summary below, along with the required “Life Lesson Impact Statement.” For your convenience, these lessons are listed in chronological order but are not necessarily in the order of gravity or life impact. My therapist has indicated that these rankings may change over time as I become more mature and better able to understand m...

6 comments 6

Read story

“I'm Not Crazy” by Savannah Hoover

Submitted to Contest #284

TW: This story contains mentions of mental illness, blood, and... murder? You'll have to talk to him about that one.You still think I’m lying, don’t you? You’re judging me. You think I’m some kind of monster, right? I can see it in your eyes, I can hear it in the way you’re reading these words, like you think I’m crazy. You think I’m just making this up, trying to get out of something I did. I can feel it. You’re judging me, aren’t you? I can hear you saying it in your head: “He did it. He’s guilty. He’s crazy.” Well, guess what? You’re wron...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Horses” by Oliver James

Submitted to Contest #284

For twenty-three years, I attended the same church every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning. My family would sit together in a pew near the back or towards the middle, the front rows unofficially reserved for the most enthusiastic congregants. My mother was the exception in our family, and the reason we attended so faithfully. She stood, arms lifted above her head, tears flowing, and joined her prayers in the language of the Angels with the chaotic symphony of others. Their voices together produced a roiling boil of indecipherable noise ju...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Three Bits of Symmetry” by Colin Wadeson

Submitted to Contest #284

*Adult content*It was 3 AM and snowing outside. The police officer gave Frank his details and left the Cotton residence having not, in Kelly's opinion, been much of a help at all. 'Thank you, officer,' said Frank, and shut the door.'Is that all?' said Kelly.'What did you expect? A forensics team? Dusting for fingerprints?''Well, why not? We pay our taxes, don't we?'The officer had traipsed snow over the laminate oak flooring in the hall. Frank pointed to Kelly's feet. 'Careful you don't slip.''Don't slip? Don't slip, he says! I sli...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The revenge of the snowman” by Elliot Stevenson

Submitted to Contest #284

- Isn’t it beautiful?Tim stopped to admire the masterpiece. It’s not every day that you can build an eight-feet tall snowman, especially not one from actual snow. This was not one of those cheap imitations that you can pick up from the stores for a few bucks: this was as real as it can get.The snow began to fall on the 23rd. First, it was just a few flakes, dancing around in the morning sun, as if they were the lead artists at some glorious parade. By noon, they drew a white moustache on the face of Rachel’s car, just above its license plate...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Christmas is a Busy Season for the Necromancer ” by Audrey Knox

Submitted to Contest #284

When Karen Joy first heard rumors about a real, practicing necromancer in her city, she hadn’t realized it would be so difficult to book her services. Apparently, like most merchants, Ella Parker was busiest during the holiday season. Karen Joy was surprised to hear this. She assumed that Ella would be most in demand around Halloween. But Ella told her that was only the second busiest day of the year for her services. The veil was even thinner on the night of the winter solstice. Plus, it was easier for a necromancer to contact someone on th...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Emma Goes Outside” by Andrew Elliott

Submitted to Contest #284

“Emma Goes Outside”Short Story by Andrew Elliott Emma lay sprawled on her bright blue bed, her fingers absently tracing the soft fabric beneath her, a great imitation of silk, she had been told by her mother long ago. Above her, holographic stars swirled in mesmerizing patterns, casting a dim glow across her futuristic room. The walls vibrated with light, reflecting her mood, their current muted blue in synch with her simmering frustration. Surrounding her, a cocoon of gadgets...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who receives a gift or message that changes their life forever.

Dramatic – 93 stories

Center your story around a character spending their first holiday alone.

Short Story – 66 stories

Center your story around an unexpected guest who changes a traditional get-together.

Short Story – 38 stories

Set your story in a place where everything should be familiar to your character(s), but isn’t.

Dramatic – 58 stories

Contest #284

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Great Expectations with Insecure Writer's Support Group

$250

Prize money

342

Contest entries

145

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 10, 2025 EST

Won by Reese Blaise 🏆

Title: Humanity’s Rebirth

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story that includes the line “I should’ve known better.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 87 stories

“Walnut Street” by Story Time

“A Taxidermist’s Guide to the Love and Care of Undead Pets” by Mary Butler

“Millenium Dad” by James Scott

“The Seeker and the Bird” by Nat Fendie

“The Bedevilment of Danny Webster: A Tale of the Arts Department” by Martin Ross

“The Girl and the Desert” by Dana F

“Once? Forever to be more precise...” by Iqra Sarakwas

“The River and the Red Tree” by Penelope Stansfield

“Functioning Adult Status” by Maisie Sutton

“I'm Not Crazy” by Savannah Hoover

“Horses” by Oliver James

“Three Bits of Symmetry” by Colin Wadeson

“The revenge of the snowman” by Elliot Stevenson

“Christmas is a Busy Season for the Necromancer ” by Audrey Knox

“Emma Goes Outside” by Andrew Elliott

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who receives a gift or message that changes their life forever.

Center your story around a character spending their first holiday alone.

Center your story around an unexpected guest who changes a traditional get-together.

Set your story in a place where everything should be familiar to your character(s), but isn’t.

Contest #284

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

342

Contest entries

145

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: