Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Posted in Dramatic on Jul 31, 2021

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✍️ 193 stories

“The Imago” by Joseph Shaw

Submitted to Contest #79

Mother was in her dreams. “A butterfly,” she said, looking at Mother. “What does a butterfly have to do with it?” They were in a meadow. Tufts of grass plumed up around them like little green fires. The sky overhead was a deep blue, vast and wide, bluer and fuller than the sky had ever been in the waking world. There were no trees, only plain, undulating meadow for miles and miles, touching the blue horizon like the confluence of two rivers. “A butterfly,” Mother said, and as she spoke a richly-colored monarch butterfly flu...

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“At the Sound of Daybreak” by Heather Ann Martinez

Submitted to Contest #79

At the Sound of Daybreak By Heather Ann Martinez Fortune favors those born with all their finger and toes. Fortunate are those who have beauty and charisma. They seek attention while others shy away from it. Still others could sit in the corner pretending to read a magazine or watch a football match. Then there were those somewhat in between. There were those who had at least one known living parent who would return some day. There were those who were labeled orphan but had what other would never had. They had hope for being reunited w...

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“The Bread” by Sara Johnson

Submitted to Contest #79

Summer is going to be over in just a few days, and I am glad. Most kids on the block are upset about school returning, but I'm not school is like my Paradise to me. I get to learn, I get to be around people and most of all I'm not home. I rush home after playing outside all day my friends. Street light came on and the sun began to go down, I knew then I better hit the road running. Sally, my friend Ashley hollered where you going so fast? Not even turning around I hollered I got to go can't be late, and off I want. Not even realizing it but ...

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“My Mother, My Aunt” by Marie Galacgac Phipps

Submitted to Contest #79

The first rays of sunlight lit up my room. I tossed and Turned in my bed as the light hit my face, even with my eyes closed the world around me was still awake. when I finally got up from bed I could see tiny specks of dust dancing in the sunlight that was coming from my bedroom window. “I need curtains.” I mumbled to myself annoyed. Coffee was what I needed. I made my way out of my room and downstairs towards the kitchen where my mother would be. she was sitting at the table with some toast and cut up fruit on her plate. She was eating ha...

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“Restoration” by Harold Bowlby

Submitted to Contest #79

Restoration Walking your dog through the park is usually just that. A walk in the park. You meet a few others doing the same thing and often stop for a quick chat; then on your way again only to repeat the process tomorrow. Nothing exciting. You both get a little exercise; socialize a bit then come back home for a short snooze. I work second shift so it frees my morning to participate in this activity with my best friend “Barney.” I’m not sure just what his make up is. Several breeds of hound I would say.&n...

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“Going Home ” by Daisy Clark

Submitted to Contest #79

There it was. That voice, that sweet, blissful song in her head, calling her too the ocean where all her happiness, calmness seemed to live. The air was fresh there. The sand was soft. It was untouched by the worries and pressures of society, free as anything, especially when the tide rolled out. The ocean; the only place on earth which she felt at home. It had been a little over three months since everything had happened. On top of her boyfriend breaking her heart, her dog, the only one in her life who seemed to understand and protect he...

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“Dark Brown Eyes” by Jane Dove

Submitted to Contest #79

The dark brown eyes in the mirror of my dresser stared back at me, searching for familiarity. There was a photograph stuck to the mirror. The same, younger set of eyes in that photograph ignored what I was going through, simply staring at my dad’s laughing face and his happy grey eyes as he held me in his arms when I was a five year old. I always wished I had dad’s eyes. Thinking of Dad hurt sometimes. I didn’t want to leave him. I wished, in that moment, that I could be his little baby forever. I was terrified to leave this place. Being old...

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“Dad Who?” by Louise Moss

Submitted to Contest #79

I looked around the café noticing different families sat enjoying a warm beverage on this rainy day. The music reminded me of lift music, lyric-less and slightly irritating. Children were screaming and crying due to boredom and not being able to run free like they would at the park. I noticed a lot of fathers sat with their children talking to them about who knows what. I looked across the table at the slightly overweight man who was obsessively stirring his drink. I could smell the coffee beans from here, that was one thing we had in common...

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“Hand-knitted” by Tate Mirai

Submitted to Contest #79

It is John’s birthday, his thirtieth, to be precise. He does not want to make a big fuss out of it, so when we meet him, he is walking his elderly neighbour’s dog like he always does on Wednesday afternoons. The dog is small, stubby, and shaggy and has bright brown eyes that look curiously into the world. So basically, he looks a lot like John, even if he is not the owner. John always wanted to have a dog, but his parents never let him when he was a child and since he has been an adult, his landlords would not let him. So, Spencer is what he...

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“The Sperm Donor.” by Addie Summers

Submitted to Contest #79

October 8th 2011. I skip down the stairs, two at a time, tapping my fingers on the railing. "Carson, come into the Living room..." my mom says her face has a note of anxiety to it "Ok Mommy I'll be down in a sec," Mom hasn't had enough time for me lately and I was just happy she wanted to spend time with me. I run down the stairs and jump onto the couch giddy with excitement "What do you wanna talk to me about?" I say using my best cute voice, the look in my parent's eyes was not happy though, they were sad, somber eyes. "Honey... I... uh......

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“Adopted ” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #79

Mariah was just 2 years old;helpless through her eyes when a woman and a man stepped into 'Imani ' childrens' home.Her bright blue eyes as she stared at the woman and the man. 'This might be my new parents - Mariah couldn't stop staring at them;part of her dress all soaked up with saliva dripping from her mouth.She held the womans' hand; getting full attention from the woman. "Are you my new momma? In that soft sound with innocent look; the woman gave her that big warm smile, bending towards Mariah. 'Yes! Baby ,we're your parents - Tears of...

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“Storming” by K. Amina

Submitted to Contest #79

“Adiós, Sharpe!” I rolled my eyes at my coworker, Brittany, who doesn’t seem to realize first names exist. “Bye, Britt,” There was a loud boom right after I said that. Brittany shrieked, jumping back from the door. “It is raining cats and dogs out there!” Her native southern accent slipped through in her alarmed state. I came out from behind the counter and got a closer look through the windows. “More like bears and lions,” I spoke, peering at the old coffee shop sign swaying in the wind. “Do you want to stay here, wait it out?” She see...

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“Music and Melody” by Sam Fanelli

Submitted to Contest #79

Melody’s sweater was covered in vomit, the milky-white residue from this morning’s breastfeeding had crusted over and it was now quite likely she had permanently stained her once-favorite camel colored cashmere. Why do I even bother putting on real clothes anymore? she wondered to herself as the doorbell rang for what felt like the millionth time. “I’m coming, give me a second!” she screamed as she lifted baby Lexi out of her crib and headed down the stairs. Her shoulder-length brown curls were thrown up in a messy bun on the top of h...

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“On Father's Day” by Book Worm

Submitted to Contest #79

Sonny had not met his father since his last visit to his father’s place five years ago. “Could I spend my next summer vacation with you?” Sam remembered pleading with Bob as they left for the airport. “No, you cannot,” Bob had answered in a tone that brooked no argument. Bob had not been in touch since he dropped Sonny at the airport,. News about Bob would trickle in from unexpected sources. But Bob didn’t email or call. Grandfather passed on. Sonny did not know how to inform Bob. Years later, he came to know that Bob was in the same to...

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“Mothercall” by Christie Marie

Submitted to Contest #79

The signal pulses under my skin in exit-sign red. I rub at the subdermal display, then scratch fiercely, as if I can dig it out. On the inside of my left arm, the word MOTHER flashes in disconnected digit letters. I press the inside of my wrist, trying to get my InDisplay device to return to the navigation menu. Nothing happens. Rushing to the bathroom, I squeeze concealer onto my arm and try to cover the pulsing light. The makeup does nothing more than add an orangish tint to the red letters. I remember the day when Udy, my frie...

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Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 193 stories

“The Imago” by Joseph Shaw

“At the Sound of Daybreak” by Heather Ann Martinez

“The Bread” by Sara Johnson

“My Mother, My Aunt” by Marie Galacgac Phipps

“Restoration” by Harold Bowlby

“Going Home ” by Daisy Clark

“Dark Brown Eyes” by Jane Dove

“Dad Who?” by Louise Moss

“Hand-knitted” by Tate Mirai

“The Sperm Donor.” by Addie Summers

“Adopted ” by Joan Opoyi

“Storming” by K. Amina

“Music and Melody” by Sam Fanelli

“On Father's Day” by Book Worm

“Mothercall” by Christie Marie

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

Write about two characters who’ve gone through something so intense they now feel like family.

Write about a “found family” who are finally able to get together again after a long time apart.

Contest #79

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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