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

“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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“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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“Yagga ” by NaNa Castillo

Submitted to Contest #79

My heart flutters as I finish sliding my size 7 foot into my new black, platform Givenchy heel. Nobody back home has anything like this. I bet they'd be jealous. I decided to pair it with the Baum und Pferdgarten, floral print dress I'd just received as gift from my father. It's black, silk cloth brushed against my skin coolly and sweetly. The airy garment stopped mid-thigh and it's tiny white and baby pink accents complimented my sunkissed, mocha colored skin nicely.He has good taste. I blushed at the thought.I eyed my wild, shoulder length...

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“The Ones I Come From” by Camille Crutcher

Submitted to Contest #79

When I was little, my mama convinced me I came only from her.“It’s why we look so much alike." She would say, with a pinch of my freckled cheeks and a tug on one of my unruly curls. I would look into her light brown eyes that mirrored my own and believe her.My nana, who shared the same curly hair and freckly face, would shake her head and scold my mama behind closed doors of our yellow house, but neither of them would correct what I knew to be true: I was my mother’s daughter, and hers alone.It was not until Sunday school in the third grade ...

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“I am somebody ” by Jazz Carper

Submitted to Contest #79

I never questioned what my mother had told me. She didn't know who my father was. I only knew that somehow I would become something great, and he would know I was his son. My mother had come to America from Argentina when I was young. I was without my mother for a few years, living in my village with my aunt. The town was small but enough for a boy of five years old. I have fond, although very few memories of my family and I outside, all the time, considering we didn't have glass windows, just holes in the walls. One night, a snake was in my...

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“A Message Brewing” by Mallory Nelson

Submitted to Contest #79

There is no word yet created to describe the kind of unexpected and sudden bewilderment that comes from a random notification from someone you have not spoken to in years. What do they want? Do you respond? Do you torture them or exercise grace? Thoughts flooded my head faster than my heart was surely beating. My head swam dizzy with uncertainty as I stared at this alien alert on my screen. How much time had passed I was unsure. Feeling that it was impossible to respond in this condition I put on some coffee. Good ol’ coffee. There for me co...

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“Jarred Loose” by J.B. Dixon

Submitted to Contest #79

“Hurry up, Travis! Mum wants us home for dinner on time for once!” “Five seconds, Carrie!” “You said ‘five seconds’ five minutes ago! Now, move it!” “I’m moving, I’m moving!” “Can’t believe you’re never on time for anything. It’s a wonder you still have a job.” “That’s something I’m always on time for. Even showed up early a few times.” “Bloody hell! This past Christmas really did a number on you.” “What’s that supposed to mean, sis?” “Ever since you met our stepsister, you’ve been changing.” “Changing, how?” Carrie sighe...

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“THE WAY IT HAPPENED” by Sahil Sharma

Submitted to Contest #79

THE WAY IT HAPPENEDIt was quarter past six in the morning and Blaize was on his way back to his apartment He works in a chemical plant and was feeling exhausted like anything after completing his nine hours shift, his eyes were bloddy red and had started watering. The only good thing happening that morning in Blaize's opinion was the c...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 193 stories

“Unhindered” by Scrupulous Pencil

“Hand-knitted” by Tate Mirai

“Yagga ” by NaNa Castillo

“The Ones I Come From” by Camille Crutcher

“I am somebody ” by Jazz Carper

“A Message Brewing” by Mallory Nelson

“Jarred Loose” by J.B. Dixon

“THE WAY IT HAPPENED” by Sahil Sharma

“At the Sound of Daybreak” by Heather Ann Martinez

“The last interview” by S B Chryslotte

“The Bread” by Sara Johnson

“Dark Brown Eyes” by Jane Dove

“My Mother, My Aunt” by Marie Galacgac Phipps

“Music and Melody” by Sam Fanelli

“Adopted ” by Joan Opoyi

🌟 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: