Write about a character unknowingly experiencing a “sliding doors” moment. Write your story in two halves; what could have been, and what actually happened.

Posted in Dramatic on Apr 28, 2023

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✍️ 62 stories

“If at first, you don’t succeed… ” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #196

Big Ben had just struck noon. I had been asked to come out of retirement for a special mission. The Queen had asked me to investigate a person of interest who left for the States on the 11:15 flight from Heathrow. They had bought into the idea that this person knew something about a mysterious flying object seen over a military base. It had been years since I had been in the States. Opting to arrive hours before they did, the Concord was my best bet. If all went to plan, I could greet them at the gate. The goal was to interrogate them a...

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“Red Letter” by Julie Duque

Submitted to Contest #196

We were understaffed, overworked, and underpaid… just like every other wage slave in America. Difference is, about a hundred years ago some doof in New York thought it would be a bright idea to slap the phrase “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” on the front of the main office. It's not even our official motto, but people still got the idea that we were supposed to be dependable, even as our budget gets slashed and our systems are overloaded.You tol...

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“If Only” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #196

‘Drab. Who would design anything in drab?’ Carole looked around. It seemed everything sang a dirge of that same ‘blah’ color. Evelyn entered. Carole stopped sketching and watched her daughter make herself breakfast. She sat opposite her mother without speaking. “Good morning…” Evelyn nodded and took a bite. Carole returned to her sketch but soon set the charcoal onto the table. “Is something wrong? Are you not speaking to me?” Evelyn swallowed. “You always say not to talk with my mouth full.” She took another bite. Carole rolled her eyes...

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“Killing A Death Wish” by George Thackeray

Submitted to Contest #196

The bell clamored through the firehouse. Freddy Navarro leaped from the table where he had been writing a report and sprinted for the pole down to the garage. As he slid down, Freddy felt grateful to be stationed in a firehouse that still had a functioning pole. The little rush of adrenaline always helped to hype him up for another job. As soon as his feet touched down in the garage, he belted toward his locker and jumped into his kit. The record was 43 seconds and every time he dressed he pushed to try and beat it. Less than a minute later...

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“Special Someone” by Lena Chall

Submitted to Contest #196

Houston, Texas It was hot. Really hot. She’d never experienced heat like that before, the intense humidity making it hard for her to breathe. She heard the rustling of keys, then a bark, and the voice of the person she was going to fall in love with. She just didn’t know it yet. “I’m so sorry, there has been an accident on the I-45. I hope you haven’t been waiting out here long.” Julianne pulled her into a hug, her skin cold from the AC in her truck. A friendly dog tried to jump up at her. Not a very big dog, a boxer maybe, but bef...

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“Psalm 23” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #196

Psalm 23“In three words I can sum up everything I know about life; it goes on.”- Robert FrostLeaving the station“Dad! He’s been accepted!”“That’s great, honey. Uh, who…and accepted to what?”“Ryan’s been accepted at Madison!”This was good news. Ryan was Rachel’s good friend in high school, and knowing that she would have support in her next stage in life was comforting for Dad. Rachel was a tough kid…sometimes…about some things. But Dad knew she had great anxiety over leaving home and entering one of t...

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“The Harpswell House” by Mazie Maris

Submitted to Contest #196

“Julie?” the driver asked. I nodded, only looking up long enough to make sure the license plate matched the one on my ride share app. I opened the back door of the 1998 Nissan Sentra and plopped down onto the crusty tan-colored back seat. It was the smell that made me look up from my phone once again, and it took me less than a second to notice the paper pine-scented tree hanging from the rear view mirror. I smiled to myself, thinking of him. I was kind of shocked that a car this old and this crusty qualified as acceptable for a ...

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“The Last Saturday in April” by Tiffany Dugan

Submitted to Contest #196

I see a familiar person coming down the street. She reminds me of my mother but twenty years younger. She is beautiful, relaxed, and glowing like she’s been on vacation, just had mind blowing sex, or she’s rich. Maybe all three. She looks that good. As I get closer, I see she’s carrying a canvas bag. Leafy greens poke out from the top. I assume she’s just been at the farmers market. She also has a bag from Choc, a pastry shop further uptown. Her stride is very familiar. Her shoulders are back. She swings her arms easily. I can alm...

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“NPC's” by Jarrel Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #196

We are static characters. We are pixilated snails leaving trails of slime for no one to follow. We want someone to come along and acknowledge our existence. We want to be used for her needs, to provide her with experiences that will enhance her journey, this beautiful stranger. We live in some town or city or country with a name unimportant to you, where it is suggested that things are happening. That foods are being purchased even though the supermarket clerk stands mute and ignored and lonely. That buildings are being built even though no ...

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“In Another World” by Magnolia B

Submitted to Contest #196

In another world The lights in the car blind my eyes, making me squint. In another world, you and I are dancing on a beach, the sand between our toes. The wind tosses your hair in front of my face, making you laugh. The tide suddenly pulls in, splashing your dress, salty waves. Now, we both laugh, staring out into the watercolour sunset I promised to take you to today. Your eyes are sapphires. The car ride is long. I sit, watching the buildings fly past in a blur as I leave my memory of everything behind. In another life, I’m down...

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“Telescope” by Ada Nickell

Submitted to Contest #196

My name is Terra Chambers. I’m twenty-five, and I work for NASA as a mechanical engineer. This is a tale about a choice that defined and determined my life, and the story about how I met—and didn’t meet—some decidedly interesting people. I was fourteen, a freshman at Southern Valley High. My best friend back then was a girl named Amberly Tiscos, and she was, and still probably is, wretched. She was the kind of girl who vaped in the bathrooms, who whooped and hollered and was super loud while you were just trying to get to your clas...

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“The Haunting Melody” by Alisa Marković

Submitted to Contest #196

There is a lot of blood.Is it all mine? We learned that we were 70% water, not blood. Did the school teach us all wrong? It can’t be all my blood.I see his face. He is frightened. Freaked out.I know. He wanted to tell me that he was sorry, but he couldn't spill a word."It’s okay. I know you haven't done it on purpose," I wanted to calm him down, but the words never came out of my mouth.I love him. Or I loved him. I don’t know if I'm already dead.I hear the sirens. Is it the police or an ambulance?I never knew the difference. They were a...

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“Almost Everything ” by Nefeli Angastinioti

Submitted to Contest #196

POV 1: Emily1/1/2023 Dear diary, I am hopeless. You could as well call me “a hopeless romantic” since i am sicking to find the love of my life everywhere. Under every little rock, under the last ocean waves hitting on the shore and inside lost fairytales kids don’t seem to read anymore. I crave physical and emotional affection. And maybe all the kind of affections they are to exist. So if i am honest, here’s what i want:An honest mature man who loves to read. A man who will have his life put together and his goals under his dr...

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“One Day in July” by Fern Bryant

Submitted to Contest #196

Jean wakes up early, just before his alarm goes off. He looks outside and sees that it’s another typical London summer day, grey and cool. He feels clear-headed, glad that he limited himself to two beers at the pub last night. At a little past eight he gets a phone call from his new boss, asking him to meet him at 10am at an address in Kilburn to repair a faulty fire alarm and do a general maintenance check on the alarm system. Not exactly exciting but the kind of work an electrician is often asked to do, really a piece of cake. He’s glad to...

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“A Kid Can Dream” by D. Grimes

Submitted to Contest #196

Mayzie screeched her nightly serenade of Crazy Train, shook coins from the register for percussion, and waggled her golf pencil at Brian. The tradition started when he forbade her from playing Ozzy Osbourn in the store, despite how many of his sleeves hung on the dulled cyan walls.Brian stopped at the register, expectant. Mayzie held his gaze and continued singing, keeping him hostage until the end of the verse.“You’re already making me regret this,” Brain said.As if against his own will, he explained Rad Record’s managerial training program...

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Write about a character unknowingly experiencing a “sliding doors” moment. Write your story in two halves; what could have been, and what actually happened.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 62 stories

“If at first, you don’t succeed… ” by Scott Taylor

“Red Letter” by Julie Duque

“If Only” by John K Adams

“Killing A Death Wish” by George Thackeray

“Special Someone” by Lena Chall

“Psalm 23” by Murray Burns

“The Harpswell House” by Mazie Maris

“The Last Saturday in April” by Tiffany Dugan

“NPC's” by Jarrel Jefferson

“In Another World” by Magnolia B

“Telescope” by Ada Nickell

“The Haunting Melody” by Alisa Marković

“Almost Everything ” by Nefeli Angastinioti

“One Day in July” by Fern Bryant

“A Kid Can Dream” by D. Grimes

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that includes the phrase “Maybe in another life.”

You’re walking down the street, when you spot a familiar figure. It’s another you. And they’ve come from an alternate reality to warn you about something.

Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.

Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.

Contest #196

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

279

Contest entries

149

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: