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

“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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“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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“Fear” by Nakul Smaran Ranjith

Submitted to Contest #79

Fear. Fear has had a hold on me, like how somebody holds their most prized possession from falling into a cascading river, since my birth. I didn’t want to fall into the river. And no one wants their prized possession soaking up water. “Excuse me.” The voice of the guy interviewing me jarred me back to reality. My mind swirled through my own cascading river. This time, a river of lies. “Yes. Um, my greatest weakness, is being a perfectionist, to say the least.” I finally concluded. The interviewer’s facial expression didn’t change. “Go...

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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 last interview” by S B Chryslotte

Submitted to Contest #79

Mary left her current job, as a teacher because of some differences that she could no longer tolerate after she realized that she could do a lot better only if she gets a good opportunity and supportive environment. She quickly started to look for job requirements in newspapers and on the internet. Days went by but her motivation didn’t fell short for even one moment, and after many attempts and scouring over various paper and websites she finally short listed three schools where she direly wanted to apply. Only one of them was quite special...

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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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“Promised” by Tatiana Vaillant

Submitted to Contest #79

"Dem! Breakfast!" I heard Nana yelling from the kitchen. I stared at the mirror before me the circles under my eyes were noticeable. I quickly covered it up with makeup and finished getting ready. I'm on my last day of high school exactly twenty-four hours from now I'll be at my graduation ceremony and then next month I'm riding a plane to the United Kingdom to study at my dream university. "Good morning Nana!" I greeted in delight, spreading my arms at my side. "You're going to be late" she scolded, pinching my left cheek hard. I ...

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“The Things We Lost in the Fire” by Wayne Makali

Submitted to Contest #79

I see her the moment I walk through the door. She is on her phone, face down. She hasn’t changed. Not even a little bit. My recollection and the present collide and I am seated across from her. “I hate this place,” I tell her by way of greeting. “Really?” she asks, for a moment genuinely taken aback, “I used to bring you here all the time as a kid.” I say nothing in reply, neither does she. This is why I do not like people. They prefer filling every single moment with small talk and inanities to actually having a conversation. The me...

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“Lost and Found” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #79

When the bell rang, I expected the usual; a package, someone wanting to save my soul. But standing there was someone I believed I knew. I didn’t recognize them, for there was nothing familiar about the person standing on the stoop with a package in his hand. My mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that someone had delivered a package to the wrong address and the mistake was being corrected by being delivered to the correct address. The person however did not hold out the package as I expected, but clutched it closer to hi...

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“Menage” by Petra Cooper

Submitted to Contest #79

Reedsy Prompts Petra Y. Cooper Cooperwell@yahoo.com Menage I heard them talking I heard them discussing me as if I didn’t exist. Parents they really don’t see their mistakes and the choices they make. Their voices only grew more intense the deeper the discussion. My mother fussing, my father busting at the seams. What I want to know was what was so wrong with me that even my Own blood couldn’t stand me. I tried to turn and make it to my room, but I stumbled into the table by the door falling to the floor. They came rushing B...

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“Mama No More” by Gianna Girod

Submitted to Contest #79

I wish I could say I was excited to see her. It has been a while, five years and eight months to be exact. She left when I was seven, when I had just started to remember things and figure out who I wanted to be when I grew up and stopped in and out of my life. She always came when I was optimistic but, really, it could not have been a worse time because I was open to the world and its opportunities and how Fate played into it all; thinking maybe this was the time it would be different. After being put into foster care, I felt like life ju...

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“"Happy Family"” by Chiagozie Okoye

Submitted to Contest #79

I was awake long before I opened my eyes. I lay on my back, my head resting on a plush pillow and facing a window, the sunlight red against my eyelids. There was some warmth from the burning orb on my dark face. There should have been an overwhelming sensation of pain, but I felt nothing. My movements were restricted. I listened intently to my surroundings. The beeping of medical machinery was audible. There were hushed voices outside of my room. Finally, realizing there was nothing to fear, I opened my eyes. A mistake. Seated in fr...

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“Why Now?” by Toni-Jovanka Glenn

Submitted to Contest #79

The chime of my phone stirred me from sleep. I narrowed my eyes, trying to dilute daylight as I scanned the room. I recalled my night before…and the guy. He was gone. My sleep haze lifted, my heavy lids gained vigour. With a wide grin, I plucked my phone off the night table. “Hey,” the text read? Hey? It wasn’t a “hey” kind of night. It was an “I hope you slept well and I want to see you again,” kind of night. At least, it was for me. I think. I read the three letters over and over trying to decipher the meaning concealed by those three lett...

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“Re-Connecting the Pieces” by Pandora Anderson

Submitted to Contest #79

Ray pulled his glasses from his face and bent over to rub and brush out the wood shavings from the neat groove he made. He blew and brushed at it again. As he was sliding the glasses back into place, his door opened. He held back a sigh, turning to see who it was as he pulled his glasses off. “Raven!” It was his twin sister, Rosa, and she was waving something excitedly in the air. Paper. He was starting to wonder what was on it, then realized that that was why she was in there in the first place. “Raven!” She repeated, her wide grin was infe...

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“When She Came Back.” by Ella Rawdon

Submitted to Contest #79

December 22nd I woke up to the usual sounds of the home. Bethany was crying because she wanted her daddy. Michelle was staring out the window again because her mom had promised she would be back on December 20th. All of us, except Michelle, knew she wasn't coming back. I was used to the crying and the anger. My dad was never around, and I never understood why. When I was 5, my mom decided she wasn't mother material. She said she just needed a break and wanted me to stay at the hotel for the night. I soon realized the "hotel" was actuall...

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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

“Mothercall” by Christie Marie

“Restoration” by Harold Bowlby

“Fear” by Nakul Smaran Ranjith

“At the Sound of Daybreak” by Heather Ann Martinez

“The last interview” by S B Chryslotte

“Hand-knitted” by Tate Mirai

“Promised” by Tatiana Vaillant

“The Things We Lost in the Fire” by Wayne Makali

“Lost and Found” by Joe Swanson

“Menage” by Petra Cooper

“Mama No More” by Gianna Girod

“"Happy Family"” by Chiagozie Okoye

“Why Now?” by Toni-Jovanka Glenn

“Re-Connecting the Pieces” by Pandora Anderson

“When She Came Back.” by Ella Rawdon

🌟 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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