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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story with a character pouring out their emotions.

Posted in Dramatic on Jan 24, 2025

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✍️ 46 stories

“Time is a Golden Coast” by John Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #287

(Note: One of the characters in the story has previously died.)“I don’t know, Bob,” said Janet, looking down into her coffee. Tarne’s Coffee was the place to be at this time of day. All the aspiring writers and moguls left their day jobs to pontificate in private ubiquity. “What is it that you don’t understand?” said Bob. “I just…I don’t think this is going to work out.”Janet had just lost her job at a local real estate firm selling high-end condos on Chicago’s gold coast. She had been their best performer for years, breaking the record for ...

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“ TEA's HOT!” by Happyflix Movies

Submitted to Contest #287

The Café It was a crisp spring afternoon in London, 2010. The city was alive with the rhythm of footsteps and the hum of double-deckers weaving through cobblestone streets. In a quaint café tucked away in Camden, a man named Happy sat at a corner table, staring at his untouched Earl Grey tea. The café buzzed with laughter and chatter, but Happy’s thoughts drowned out the noise.  At 28, he was ready for life to settle into something meaningful. His friends called him a hopeless romantic—a man with simple needs but a heart that wanted not...

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“The Hibiscus Tree” by Jessica Brooke

Submitted to Contest #287

The Hibiscus TreeA moment in grief The wind was rustling through the hibiscus tree, swaying back and forth, softly dropping the pink flowers into the sparkling pool below. I watch the birds dancing in the branches as I sit in the grass, letting the wind whip my hair around my face. I hear my daughter calling my name, searching for me, bringing me back to reality. The backdoor slides closed somewhere behind me “Mummy, what are you doing, I was looking for you!”I take a breath and gather myself as she walks over. I look up at her sweet face ...

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“The Worst Cup of Tea” by Jacob Gauthier

Submitted to Contest #287

Nick’s tea was magic. Not in the “wow, this is so good” way—more like the “this is legitimately having a magical effect on me” way. Customers at The Warm Mug would occasionally find themselves completely at peace after just a sip of chamomile, or maybe emboldened after a cup of masala chai. Most didn’t realize that Nick was the reason, and those that did kept his gift a secret. “Here’s your strawberry honeysuckle white tea; it’s already been steeped,” Nick said as he placed a deep green mug in front of a middle-aged woman. She’d clearly been...

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“Beyond the Letter” by Alijah Guy

Submitted to Contest #287

Dearest Grace, By the time I write this, it is the last of my efforts to reach out my final message to the land of the living. This is the final letter I write, and oh, how it is an honor to be you. Time is a hell of a thing; who knew I would write to you after these few years? Remembering the short time spent together, both in hatred and love, brings back great memories. I suppose that all of this looks pretty confusing. I wouldn’t question it, but now I see that regardless of what happened and what I have done, it is now my end. I hope tha...

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“I Don't Like Emotions” by Jennifer Burrell

Submitted to Contest #287

“I don’t like emotions.” I tell myself as I can feel the corners of my eyes burn from trying to hold back those said emotions. As my eyelids try in vain to hold back the impending flood, I begin to replay in my mind what has brought me to this point. It is a silent movie playing all of the top hits in the very unpopular genre of feelings and emotions. If reviews were available for this particular highlight reel it would read like this, “while presenting a rather ordinary, boring life the main character seems to find herse...

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“It’s My Life” by Habiba Altantawy

Submitted to Contest #287

“You’re just a child, Ashley, you don’t know what you want.”“Passion fades away, practicality is what matters.”“Just say you don’t want a future.” My parents’ voices flooded my mind, making it impossible to focus on the task at hand; the college application form in front of me. “I can do this,” I think to myself, “I know what I want.” As I press submit, the weight on my shoulders only gets heavier knowing I still have to inform my parents of what I have done. “Deep breaths.” I take one shaky step after the other, heading over to the living r...

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“Brewing a Gentler Future” by Angi Rae

Submitted to Contest #287

I have to sit up or risk drowning in my snot. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I hide my face in the blanket, muffling my sobs. The last thing I need is Mom barging in, or worse, Dean with his lewd comments. My breath comes out in quick puffs. Stupid Dean and stupid cast for being frat boys. Sniffling, my lips stretch into a smile. I bet they had an actual dick-measuring contest. I chuckle. Maybe I’ll be brave enough to use that next time he teases me. Although not everyone acts that way. I wipe my nose on my hand. What am I, a toddler? Grim...

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“Love is patient but not so kind” by Lupita Raya

Submitted to Contest #287

Against all odds I still have hope for us.  I know it has been exactly two years since we were together. And you are married now, your new partner is quite a beauty to see. I can't deny that. I remember how we used to talk about our future, our kids, the way we would snuggle them to death for watching scary movies and we have our time together when they nap.  You used to tell me how much you wanted to marry me, and I never considered marriage until I met you. Ever since I met you, you made my heart race so fast. I loved how fast yo...

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“Frankie” by Hal Perry

Submitted to Contest #287

Frank flushed and exited the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He paced back and forth for a few seconds. Then he walked back to the refrigerator and got a beer.He cracked it open, took a healthy swig, and sat on his modest couch.After a moment, he emptied the rest of the can, crushed it in his right hand, and made like Gary Payton as he took a shot at the trash bin in the kitchenette.It bounced off the wall and went in.After another moment, he crushed one of the two other empty beer cans sitting on the coffee table and took another s...

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“The Last Ride” by Holly Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #287

CW: Contains themes of animal aging and impending lossShe was in utter disbelief, leading to a string of confusion and anger as she looked down into her porcelain cup of organic lavender tea. Tears had been held back only briefly, and she wasn’t proud of letting them out in front of Anna earlier. Esther didn’t normally cry in front of people, but she also didn’t usually get angry, either. Things could usually be thought through. Things could be reasoned with. Things could be explained. Not this. Not when an unexpected ending felt so clo...

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“The Excess” by Tayla Naden

Submitted to Contest #287

The metal clinked against itself as they turned the bucket over to pour its heavy contents into the bushes. The colors, vibrant against the smooth silver tin, coated themselves on the branches and leaves. The leaves rustled under the weight. The moon glinted off everything in sight. This was the ritual. This emptying of the guts. But it had to be done. They wretched again, bent over their vessel, one arm searching for the solidity of a fence post and the other resting on their knee. Deep muscles rumbled in their bell...

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“That Darn Ex-husband” by Taryn Jean

Submitted to Contest #287

“Hi, how are you today?” Beep. “Oh! I’m great, thanks for asking! I’ve actually just come from a yoga class where we did the most peculiar movements. I’ve never taken a yoga class before, have you?” Beep. “Well, I—”Beep.“It made me feel emotions I don’t think I’ve felt in years! The studio was the most darling little place, it had these things called “money plants,” which I’ve certainly never seen before. Do you know what a money plant is? Well anywho, that yoga class was transformative! I’ve just gotten divorced from my husband, you know? A...

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“Separation: A letter to "The Love of my Life"” by Eduardo Padilla

Submitted to Contest #287

From the very beginning, when things got difficult, I felt it was always me having to take on the full weight of the problem. Without any room for error lest things get even worse. If I messed up, said the wrong thing, took the wrong approach, I felt as if it was my fault. But I also conditioned us to be that way, I never wanted you to deal with issues, mine or otherwise. So I just took it all upon myself not knowing that I couldn't handle it. And my pride wouldn't let me tell you that I couldn't handle it.  But there were problems that...

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“Tea and Sympathy at St Michael's ” by Alex Marmalade

Submitted to Contest #287

"You simply must meet my other African friend," Betty Howard had insisted, practically dragging Marie toward her Volvo after their chance encounter outside Tesco. "She's from Kenya – you'll have so much to talk about!" Now, checking her phone for the fourteenth time that morning, Betty surveyed her domain – St. Michael's church hall, where she'd coordinated the food bank for twelve years. The digestive biscuits sat in neat rows on the plate, each one identical to the last, a uniform beige that Betty found comforting. The ginger nuts, with th...

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