Write a story inspired by this quote from Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy: “In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”

Posted in Fiction on Mar 10, 2023

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✍️ 66 stories

“Out of the Woods” by Keila Aartila

Submitted to Contest #189

In all my eighteen years going up here, I had never been this deep into the forest at the edge of my backyard, especially in the dark. With only my backpack to carry a change of clothes a couple sandwiches, some chips and a flashlight, I set out on foot, following this described shortcut to get to the town next over. No one knew I was leaving, but it was time. I snuck away in the dark to avoid the bitter tears and arguments intended to convince me to stay. It was time to make a life of my own, and I knew the way. It was only a seven mi...

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“Stars” by E. H. Fairley

Submitted to Contest #189

I killed the man who loved me. He found me when I was hope and ash, and with careful fingers he scooped me up and took me home. Day by day he pushed me back together, forcing each splintering piece of dust into the mould I am today with the heat of his palms until I glistened. A diamond. He bought me one when I was twenty-four, young enough to sparkle and old enough to be cut just right. Fine lines and edges that catch the sunlight. White teeth shine just as tears do, smiles and sadness shimmering under the stars night after night, year afte...

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“In the Heart of the Shadowed Woods” by Austin Jorgensen

Submitted to Contest #189

At the heart of my days' journey, I found myself beneath the blackened vault of a wooded reach where the true path was lost to sight. The land lay waste, split open by a sun that bore down relentless, like the headsman's axe held aloft, ever poised to fall. The trail stretched forth, swallowed by the dark, the horizon twisted by the infernal heat into grotesque shapes. My being had been naught but a long voyage across the measureless waste, a bitter strife against the unforgiving earth. The sun had turned my skin to a lattice of parched le...

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“Digital Sandwich” by Michael Nguyen

Submitted to Contest #189

Maybe it was the constant dripping sounds from the leaky faucet, or maybe it was my chronic insomnia but I haven’t been able to sleep for a few weeks. I may drift off for a few hours here and there but only after I knocked out during a bar room brawl or something like that.I spoke to a psychologist recently to discover the underlying issue. I asked him if it was related to a past trauma.“Mostly it has to do with decisions you are currently making. Do you have anything in your life you wish you could change”, he asked.“My job, my relationship...

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“"It's all going to be okay. As long as we have each-other"” by H V

Submitted to Contest #189

“It’s been five years since you left… The hardest day of my life. The day that changed me… The day that I thought it was over. I vividly remember that cold day. How the wind slapped me in the face as I ran down those steps. I remember the hospital smell. I remember the sound of the sirens coming to save me. I remember your sterile breath that had the stench of liquor all over it. I remember the way your dimples covered your face every time you smiled. I loved watching you blink and read and write and look and be. I loved you. And you hurt me...

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“Three Small Sow: An Extinction Event” by Jennifer Ringler

Submitted to Contest #189

Three Small Sow: An Extinction Event If the flood had never happened, this story might have a very different ending. # The three brothers live in two houses on the top of a green hill, overlooking the valley below. Pork Chop lives in the straw house, and next to that sits Bacon’s house made of sticks. Ham is living in Bacon’s house; he sleeps on the couch and leaves his half-filled coffee mug on the breakfast bar every morning, no matter how many times his exasperated brother asks him to please wash it out. Ham always meant to build...

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“Beyond Where the Deer Trail Ends” by Sally Lawrence

Submitted to Contest #189

There is an idea, which likely stems from the cynicism you acquire when you deal for any length of time with kids. It's the opinion that the pre-teen cannot feel. Ah yes, you say, they feel, but only as they’re told. Their “feels” are learned responses to an ad, or a pop song, crooned by some euphonious bright tenor; some well-trained, perfectly-coifed snotty young kid who happens to look good on a poster. When I was 12, I hated those posters. I hated perfect boys and their absolute assurance which took no prisoners in the hallways of our...

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“Antidote” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #189

D.H. Laurence once used chickens to describe women. According to him, there were two kinds of women. A real woman: up-to-date or the modern type. The other: the old-fashioned modest woman, who, according to his principle: is as confident as a chicken. That is, without being aware of it. I must admit I am a bit lost with this statement, but he also used other animals and birds in his references. Usually to describe human urges, especially male desires. He appeared to thrive in the animal mind. The more the forests of his youth gave way to ind...

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“Roads Not Taken ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #189

“In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight path was lost.” Dante “You okay?” Driving, Anton glanced at his wife, Renee. “Sure. Thinking. Why?” “We’re not there yet. But you were slowing. You know, checking in.” “It’s nothing… Well, it’s, you know.” She nodded. “Damn road is so dark. And, to be honest, I’m dreading this ‘reunion,’ tonight.” “Why? These are your friends. High school, right?” He nodded. “You’ve known them long...

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“Ducks in a Row” by Corinne White

Submitted to Contest #189

CW: cancer, death, grief Endings are always abrupt, whether you see them coming or not. Ethan’s end came slowly, spottable a mile away. The cancer enveloped my husband’s body, then his mind. Though I spent months sitting across the room from the illness puppeteering his body, as he screamed until he was purple anytime I came close to his thin frame, his passing still smacked me across the face cold and hard. Severance is a map set ablaze–all you can do is hope to catch sight of the trail before the flame dies out. I was not so fortunate, a...

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“God's Basement” by Kristina Harris

Submitted to Contest #189

I leaned my head lower and lower into the bowl, slowly slurping the soup into my mouth. I don’t know why I held any decorum about it. I was starving, everyone knew I was starving. Why else would I be here if I wasn’t? But I continued to measuredly time the spoonful I raised to my mouth, keeping my eyes low. Purposefully avoiding the other bleary, lifeless eyes around me. It didn’t bring me much pride to admit that I recognized some of the downtrodden faces around me. I knew Sally came here every Wednesday because that was when the st...

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“Constance” by Venus Zhu

Submitted to Contest #189

Dr. Salerno is sweating hard up there onstage. He never dressed wrong for the occasion, but in his defense, sometimes I did feel like some of us would never graduate. The hot summer sun is as stern as his stare is solemn, and it eyes his blazer gleefully as it stiffly soaks in sweat. I lean forward, and I can feel my fingers almost fluttering in anticipation when the delicate gold embroidery catches the light. Each diploma is gracefully unfolded, clean, and matte, with each edge lined ever-so-gorgeously with a mystifying shimmer. I just co...

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“The Diagnosis” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #189

The Dr. Trenton’s diagnosis echoed through my mind. “I’m afraid you have a malignant tumor located near your brainstem Mr. Johnson. We reviewed the reports of the biopsy and found it to be Glioblastoma. Unfortunately, due to the location and how aggressive this type of cancer is, it’s inoperable.” As I sat there frozen in disbelief, I heard my voice saying, “How long do I have?”“Possibly six months. If you come in for chemo, hopefully a year. I’m sorry I don’t have any better news for you, Mr. Johnson. On your way out, check with the front d...

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“Trees” by Viator Temere

Submitted to Contest #189

CW: Mental health, suicide. It was late September as Finn was nearing his fortieth year that he moved to live on the street where all the trees would kill themselves. His apartment was under an Irish couple who seemed to spend half their time having sex and the other half trying to murder each other. These activities were so frequent, and so loud, that even casual visitors to his home would hear them. Wednesday night and it starts again. Finn and his girlfriend are drinking with another couple in his front room. “Seriously?” one of...

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“Silver Wedding” by Valerie Church

Submitted to Contest #189

SILVER WEDDING ‘Nearly seven o’clock, Brad. People will start arriving any minute’. I looked at my wife. ‘You’re looking good.’ ‘Only ‘good’? Tonight’s a special occasion. You might pull out all the stops and say ‘beautiful!’ ‘You know me. Moderation in all things. Including compliments.’ She heaved a small sigh. ‘Indeed. Only moderately passionate these days. But I have to accept that we’re both getting older.’ She tucked her arm into mine. ‘But I still love you. And the silver earrings are beautiful.’ She touched them appreciat...

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Write a story inspired by this quote from Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy: “In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“Out of the Woods” by Keila Aartila

“Stars” by E. H. Fairley

“In the Heart of the Shadowed Woods” by Austin Jorgensen

“Digital Sandwich” by Michael Nguyen

“"It's all going to be okay. As long as we have each-other"” by H V

“Three Small Sow: An Extinction Event” by Jennifer Ringler

“Beyond Where the Deer Trail Ends” by Sally Lawrence

“Antidote” by F.O. Morier

“Roads Not Taken ” by John K Adams

“Ducks in a Row” by Corinne White

“God's Basement” by Kristina Harris

“Constance” by Venus Zhu

“The Diagnosis” by Howard Seeley

“Trees” by Viator Temere

“Silver Wedding” by Valerie Church

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story where a character must continue to tell their tale to a listener to avoid unsavory consequences.

Write a story about a fox spirit (a gumiho, jiǔwěihú, kitsune, or hồ ly tinh), inspired by, e.g. Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese folklore.

Write a modern version of "The Tiger, the Brahmin, and the Jackal," in which someone suffers from their own good deeds and must turn to an unlikely source for help.

Start your story with “It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.” (Hans Christian Andersen, “The Little Match Girl”)

Contest #189

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

281

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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