Write about someone stuck in an endless cycle who finally manages to break free.

Posted in Fiction on Mar 31, 2023

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✍️ 67 stories

“Scapegoat Court” by Roxane Llanque

Submitted to Contest #192

Artemy made himself very small when he entered the corner pub on Pretoria Road. It was no easy feat; he hunched his broad shoulders and bowed his head through the narrow English door - he'd spent that entire morning choosing a shirt that would be considered inconspicuous. When he lifted himself onto one of the bar stools as quietly as he could, he stared down the old oak wood, certain that the older two gentlemen a few seats down were staring at him. He knew he looked Russian. He never knew exactly what that meant, but people had told him al...

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“Bones” by R. Hann

Submitted to Contest #192

TW: Implications of Suicide, Dark Imagery, Gore/Violence/Blood, Horror Themes, Mental Health --- When bones clatter, spirits sing. Bones rot into the earth, decomposing, worms wriggling in holes torn through marrow, ghosts dance and rejoice, their songs howling and wild. In Sanctum, the trees and bushes harmonize with the singing of ghosts and specters; I know they do, I hear them. I hear them in the morn echoing the cries of mourning doves, and in the afternoon when the sun blazes, burning, boiling bright in the pale blue of what I’ve ...

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“Ree in the Future” by Rachel Snider

Submitted to Contest #192

The humidity in the air drew out the smell of pee and death from the carpet in the hallway, and Ree had had enough. She’d been syphoning off small bills from the purses of her daughter, granddaughter, and even her great-granddaughter’s best friend when they turned their backs during their bi-weekly visits and, to date, there was $98 stashed away in the breast pocket of her blue suit dress. She chose it because, if she happened to die before she got the chance to spend it, it’d go to the grave with her. (She’d earned it, after all, hadn’t she...

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“The 8th day” by Kevin Banks

Submitted to Contest #192

Contains graphic details of substance abuse and suicide 'Round and round and round, why oh why must I keep doing the same things? Making the same mistakes, will I ever learn?' Josh thought to himself as he stood waiting for his dealer.Every day now for what had seemed an eternity, Josh had the exact same routine, he would wake out of bed around mid-day in absolute agony, every bone in his body screaming in pain, and he couldn't help but feel like a man twice his age, then he'll take a hit of what was left from yesterday's stuff to get himsel...

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“Baby Cake” by Erin Dawkins

Submitted to Contest #192

The woman at the counter nervously fidgets with the silver clasp that seals the envelope. It’s June, and a slow time at the bakery. Kyra walks toward the woman, shaking her hands to remove the dough pasted between her fingers. The excess falls to the ground, implanting in the tiny crevices of the rubber mat below. “How can I help you?” “Good morning,” says the woman. Her neck bones jut slightly, making the dainty gold chain around her neck pop. She is well-maintained, well-manicured. “Smells so good in here,” says the woman, inhaling...

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“Bakari...?” by Latoya Edwards

Submitted to Contest #192

**TRIGGER WARNING, this story contains some profanity and sexual content.*“BAKARI…?” Bakari awoke and rolled over to see the woman he met at the gym last week lying next to him still asleep. “Another night of pleasure.,” he said to himself. Smiling and shaking his head at the same time, he nudged the woman whose name he couldn’t remember to get up and leave. After all he had an early brunch date with Zianne, the love of his life, in an hour. The woman rolled o...

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“The Marches” by Eilon Solan

Submitted to Contest #192

Jared put the avocado-and-cheese sandwich and the bottle of water in his Saturday backpack, made sure the windows were closed and the switches turned off, and locked the front door. He climbed his bike and started pedaling towards Crescentville. A biker came from down the road.“Morning, Jared,” she called.Irene moved to the neighborhood ten or eleven years ago with three kids and no husband. She was tall and thin, dark skinned, with high cheek bones and long chin, and you could hear her laughter from the other side of the street.“Morning, Ir...

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“Living Dead” by Alexandra Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #192

“I died a long time ago. It means nothing that I breathe, that I wake up every morn awaiting a day of housework, chores, and entertaining company. My life is endless toil, and I’d hardly call that living. It was easier when I was young. When I was bright and full of hope for my future that would surely never end in eternal grief. Before my spark went out, when I still had light behind my bright blue eyes and volume in my auburn hair. People could have easily confused me for someone happy, but not anymore. Now my skin is pale, my red locks th...

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“Simon Says, "Stop!"” by J. D. Lair

Submitted to Contest #192

Simon Bricher woke up with his face stuck to a couch cushion. It was not a gentle waking either, but one he had grown used to with his heart racing and body slick with sweat. Usually, he awoke in one of the twin beds in his bedroom. Tonight he must have only managed to make it across the living room from the recliner to the couch. Fortunately, he kept a spare blanket and pillow out here, though both had ended up on the ground. After pulling his face free from the leather, he reached for the blanket and pulled it over himself. It was mid-Octo...

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“Tea with a Pinch of Death” by Leslie Ann

Submitted to Contest #192

Her pale doughy arm trails forward toward the center of the table. "Well, you see, dear, he's dead," she states without changing the cadence of her voice. "Now, one lump or two?" she asked, holding the dainty sugar spoon frozen in the air. My eyes dart away from her arms—soft flesh bags of muscle and sinew soft despite years of strict diet and discipline. What does she mean he's dead? I sputter on my own saliva, coughing until my face turns an “unbecoming violet”. I look into my grandmother's eyes, searching for a mischievous glint o...

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“Clickbait” by 3i Writer

Submitted to Contest #192

After playing his favorite mobile game for the sixth hour, Jimmy Lee was able to unlock a secret achievement and an ultra-rare character. He loved playing video games as he felt that he found some sense of purpose from them, unlike his school life which was boring as hell. He could not understand why the school kept cramming him with all sorts of information that could easily be found on the internet, not that he bothered to learn anything from the internet. Like any other kid in Hong Kong, Jimmy was impelled to do lots of assignments, homew...

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“Monday” by Connor Glaze

Submitted to Contest #192

Monday Part one Ella Noel took a long sip of coffee and savoured the taste as she changed the slide on her laptop screen and began skimming through the bullet points she’d written. She frowned as she repeated one of the sentences in her head, then changed a word to a shorter, but more jagged-sounding synonym. After reading through the rest of the presentation, she glanced at the clock on her laptop screen and got up with a slight start, downing the rest of her coffee, then pacing out ...

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“Breaking Free” by Sarah Murphy

Submitted to Contest #192

Day 1. Martin fiddled with the sticky note in his hand. It resembled a wad of mush at this point since it had been floating around in his pocket for so long. Oceanpoint Church, 198 Fairview Way, it read. He didn’t need the note anymore, the address was committed to memory. It was sunny out but cold, the kind of cold that makes you re-evaluate why you live in a place where the air hurts your face. Martin felt like he deserved to be uncomfortable. The rock hard bench added insult to injury. He’d lost track of how long he’d been there...

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“Even When The Fire Went Out” by Rissa Bee

Submitted to Contest #192

Triggers: Swearing and Drug Abuse Nothing Compares 2 U was playing on the radio. I should’ve taken it as a bad sign, but I let Sinead foretell my life. I was parked next to a MacDonald’s, smoking a cigarette waiting for him to show up. To say I was surprised Christopher answered his phone on the third ring- the first time I called, was an understatement. His M.O. was usually not picking up or it letting it go straight to voicemail. Then I would have to go down the list of cringe-worthy contacts- work, family, sponsor, hospit...

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“Free Bird” by Amanda S

Submitted to Contest #192

Another Monday. Casey passed 34th street on her way to work and stopped for three seconds in front of the Rara Avis Thrift window. Her lips curved as she gazed at the chic yellow blazer and lavender trousers. Around her the crowd of morning commuters threatened to sweep her away, marching relentlessly toward their offices. Three seconds was all it took her to cycle through her thoughts: What a remarkable ensemble, she'd think, admiring the unique color pairing and the way the structured blazer complimented the draped slacks. She saw...

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Write about someone stuck in an endless cycle who finally manages to break free.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 67 stories

“Scapegoat Court” by Roxane Llanque

“Bones” by R. Hann

“Ree in the Future” by Rachel Snider

“The 8th day” by Kevin Banks

“Baby Cake” by Erin Dawkins

“Bakari...?” by Latoya Edwards

“The Marches” by Eilon Solan

“Living Dead” by Alexandra Rodriguez

“Simon Says, "Stop!"” by J. D. Lair

“Tea with a Pinch of Death” by Leslie Ann

“Clickbait” by 3i Writer

“Monday” by Connor Glaze

“Breaking Free” by Sarah Murphy

“Even When The Fire Went Out” by Rissa Bee

“Free Bird” by Amanda S

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone finding a treasure in an unexpected place.

Set your story at an antique roadshow.

Write a story about someone trying to reinvent themselves after spending a long time in a rut.

Write about someone rediscovering something old they thought they’d lost.

Contest #192

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

248

Contest entries

144

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: