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

“Unexpected Forgiveness” by Jackie Palm

Submitted to Contest #79

She looked out the window, through her vines of plants, at the black specks against the freshly fallen snow. Her husband had taken their boys sledding on the hill down the street. She smiled, thinking about how she was glad that it was them outside and not her. She was always cold and getting soaked through in the snow did not sound like a good time to her. She imagined their rosy cheeks and snow-covered hats and mittens and her husband, getting breathless, dragging the sleds behind him as the energetic little boys ran ahead, shouting for hi...

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“Carl” by Zavier Watt

Submitted to Contest #79

I pulled into Carl’s driveway, which was really just a soaked patch of grass, at about eight o’clock that night in my grey SUV. He didn’t have a garage and it was raining pretty heavily; I was gonna have to dash out of the car to stay dry. Raindrops hit the windshield and left clear streaks in their wake as they slivered down the front of my car, it made me miss the dry weather in Colorado. I wanted to go back. Right then. Put my car in reverse, pull out of that swamp and drive thirty-six hours from whence I’d came. Then I looked in...

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“Love, your original dad ” by Kerensa Rybak

Submitted to Contest #79

They always say based on a true story, and I so often want to ask just how true? Did they change the names or did they change the plot or the ending or did they write it the way we all look in a mirror- like it’s all true but only as much as we can see the truth?I was only eighteen months old when he left, and I would be hard pressed to tell you where he went. When I was much younger than I am these days, my fantasies would include a dashing, misunderstood man whose main goal in life would be to find his long lost daughter. Realistically, I ...

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“The Mango Thieves” by Aisha Khan

Submitted to Contest #79

“Mangoes are to us what Chocolate is to the Belgians!” Hashir announced to whoever would listen. And everyone present in the room did listen, save for the children who were engaged in playtime in the other half of the room. “I’m sure the Belgians aren’t the only ones who enjoy chocolate!” his cousin retorted in response. “It’s not a fair argument” his uncle spoke, “They can enjoy chocolate any time they want and we have to wait a whole year.” Everybody laughed in a synchronized agreement. The children continued to play and shout, their soun...

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“Ever So Changing Sky” by Beatrice Wingenbach

Submitted to Contest #79

Time slips away faster than most people expect. Why only a couple minutes ago you were young and in your twenties exploring life to the limit. The breeze, light and airy, stroking the sides of your skin. Birds whistling tunes on key while flying high above, mirroring how you feel. The store clerks have smiles on their faces, ready to serve you on a whim. But, most importantly, the way the world was filled with the most radiant and perpetual color. The reds were strong and bright, while the blues were deep and understanding.But time will slow...

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“THE OTHER SIDE OF AVA” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #79

In the early hours of the morning, the telephone bell was shrill. Thinking it was my husband I rushed out the bathroom, towel drying my hair as I went. So confident was I of the likely caller, I answered: “Hi, Sweetheart.” but did not get the response I was used to. The silence was deafening then the voice I heard was slow and shaky. “Ann?!” I caught my breath “it’s your Mummy. Can we talk?” “No.” it sounded cruel but it was my answer. What is more, an answer that John and I agreed I would use should this scenario occur. ...

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“Monsoon Season” by Yitazba Largo-Anderson

Submitted to Contest #79

Laurie Lonewolf rubs her thumb over a text message she received from a stranger only hours before. It reads, “Hi Laurie. You probably don’t remember me, but this is your dad. Can we meet?” This is your dad. Laurie’s fingers grew numb at the words. What? Dad? Why now? Why not say father? Wouldn’t that be more appropriate considering ‘dads’ stick around? But something in Laurie’s chest broke free, and she couldn’t help but touch a color she hadn’t felt since childhood. It was hope. “Don’t expect anything,” Laurie’s best fr...

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“A Reconciliation” by Madison Garcia

Submitted to Contest #79

“Are you listening, Alison?” Even though I knew Ms. Habi was talking to me, I didn’t bother to acknowledge her call. The view from Ms. Habi’s office was something that I was quite fond of; it had an abundance of things surrounding it. The birds were probably what I adored most out of all of the trees and plants flourishing outside because they could fly. Flying was something that I would assume everyone wanted to do at one point; the feeling of wind rushing through your hair, the crispness of evening air, it was boundless. The only thing st...

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“How to Ruin Someone's Event” by Dozzy Nika

Submitted to Contest #79

It was only the roof of Princess Alexandria Auditorium (PAA) that was seen from a distance at sunset. Students had fully occupied the seats in the canopies outside the auditorium, some argued over their standing-spaces, those that were sitting now complained that they wouldn’t get any view of what would be projected later; consequently, they stood when the programme commenced. Some jostled in the crowd, in front of the auditorium to get a view of the programme of events through the windows, stood firm at their spots for hours till the progra...

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“A Death In The Family” by Elle Weaver

Submitted to Contest #79

I was halfway through junior year when I made the decision to drop out of high school. I was just at the cusp of my 17th birthday, so I kept my mouth closed, waited to get my plan together. I knew that if I came home and told them I was dropping out, I’d need to have another plan, even if that included leaving their lives forever. In fact, it would be easier to just leave town and not look back than it would be to tell them that I had given up on schooling. I planned to get my GED, but I knew that wouldn’t be enough. I surr...

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“"The Interview"” by Eunice Daniel

Submitted to Contest #79

"This is Jane Marker, reporting from PEN news live. We have with us, the current Olympics long jumper superstar, Jack Owel, " she exclaimed. "Thank you so much for this opportunity, " I smiled at her. "Your fans have been insisting on knowing some details in your life, so could you tell us a little about yourself?" "Uhmm, as you all know, my name is Jack Owel. I am the only child of Dr. Owel, the well known psychologist. Well, I was a foster kid before my dad took me in. My biological dad died when I was three years old, leaving ...

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“Maudlin” by Agnes Sharan

Submitted to Contest #79

content warning: abuse, suicide I looked at the light from the lamp shine clearly on the counter top, and sighed in relief. I should’ve known better than to start a bar, but despite knowing all the messy nights I’ve dealt with in them, I did it anyway. I’ve always waved it off, hoping not to let that past hold me back. Last night’s brawl though was something even my bouncers and I couldn’t have anticipated. I looked around at the dim lit space, sunlight trickling through the transparent door. When dawn creeps on th...

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“I saw deer” by Adelina Stoyanova

Submitted to Contest #79

Ten minutes to five. The ultimate dead hour; the only people who would enter the bar now would be garden-variety deadbeats, old ladies of the pearl-and-silk persuasion meeting for a coffee or some of the locals, who were drinking here for free. I was hoping for neither. Right now I was pinned down by the heavy hands of the wall clock, paralysed by the distilled silence spilling out of the crystal glasses arranged in neat pyramids; but in merely two hours I would be free.I would go outside. I would look at the dying sky. I would light a cigar...

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“Unhindered” by Scrupulous Pencil

Submitted to Contest #79

I’m not sure what to feel. What is normal to feel. As I watch him approach me by the gas station on 204th Street, I notice that I feel clammy. Yeah, that’s it: I feel nervous. My heartbeat tingles in my fingers, light, fast; my eyes dart to the cars on the street as I stand there, waiting. Awkwardly. I shove my sweaty hands into the pockets of my jeans. He’s too close for me to ignore him now. He’s aged. No surprise, but it’s a strange provocation to the image of him that I’ve crystallized throughout the years. Maybe it’s the...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 193 stories

“Unexpected Forgiveness” by Jackie Palm

“Carl” by Zavier Watt

“Love, your original dad ” by Kerensa Rybak

“The Mango Thieves” by Aisha Khan

“Ever So Changing Sky” by Beatrice Wingenbach

“THE OTHER SIDE OF AVA” by Claire Tennant

“Monsoon Season” by Yitazba Largo-Anderson

“A Reconciliation” by Madison Garcia

“How to Ruin Someone's Event” by Dozzy Nika

“A Death In The Family” by Elle Weaver

“"The Interview"” by Eunice Daniel

“Maudlin” by Agnes Sharan

“I saw deer” by Adelina Stoyanova

“Unhindered” by Scrupulous Pencil

“The last interview” by S B Chryslotte

🌟 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 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: