Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Posted in Historical Fiction on Jun 10, 2021

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✍️ 154 stories

“Flat 1, right?” by Stefania Liv

Submitted to Contest #85

Katherine stood there, all sweaty and covered with mud, proud of herself. The garden looked better than ever and you couldn’t even know that once the ground was covered by weeds. She sighed happily as she stepped inside to take of her dirty clothes. “Hey, honey! Sorry, I didn’t hear you coming in, I was hanging the clothes”. Stella greeted her boyfriend with a sweet kiss on the lips. “It will be hard, but I think I’ll get over it”, George said sarcastically. It was nice, finally having a place of their own. No parents, no younger siblings an...

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“The history of The Bernard” by Keishina Owoh

Submitted to Contest #85

(this is my first story, plz don’t be mean to me) July 2000 I never left to live in the city before, I’ve always lived in the country. I also never believed that love was the strongest force on eart. Today was the day I was going to live in an apartment named The Bernard, which means brave and hardy. When I took my first step in my new home, a strong scent of my grandma’s cologne hit me. I knew she was here. I followed the scent to the kitchen, and saw her facing the corner, was she in time out? Suddenly I heard some ...

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“The Library” by Steve Cripwell

Submitted to Contest #85

‘This building was designed, built and loved by my father,’ Hector tried to keep the adoration from his voice but didn’t quite make it. ‘Lionel Brent built half of this city but this is the building he was most proud of.’ He paused for effect, something he had learned from his late father. ‘Don’t rush what you have to say, son, make them hang on your words.‘ He could hear his father’s voice as he stared at the gathering in the foyer of the old building. Amongst the crowd facing Hector, were faces he recognised, people he had grown up with so...

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“The Walls Have Memories” by Nicholls Nicholls

Submitted to Contest #85

Initially, I was wary about researching the history of the flats I moved into, knowing it had once been an old hospital. The outside of the building has a dreary no-longer loved exterior, so I didn’t need much encouragement to imagine that it had a long, interesting backstory. Also, after spending a lot of my youth watching horror movies, true crime and haunting stories, I didn’t want to imagine any shadows in the corners of the room or things that go bump, bump, bump in the night as more than just the heating system. In reality, it is a c...

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“The Artists of Paris” by Lily Star

Submitted to Contest #85

August 23rd, 1793Dear Diary, today Amélia and I had to close up the shop early because of the executions going on outside. When the Bastille fell everything seemed like it was going in the right direction, but now I fear we'll have to leave our home in Paris and flee to another country. Anyone accused of supporting the monarchy is put on trial and if they prove it, will be executed. Amélia and I looked at a map today to try and figure out where we could go. It looks like Belgium would be the closest place. It would be about a five day trip o...

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“Sam's Saloon” by Xavier Clayton

Submitted to Contest #85

May 18, 1895. Georgetown, SeattleThrough my bedroom window, I look up and into the distant sky. Thunderclouds are forming and I suddenly see a flash of lightning. Moments later, a thunderous crash booms above me. I close the shades made of white lace and walk to my mirror. My pink ruffled dress fits nicely as I admire it on my 17-year old curves and start adding feathers to my hair. I want to look like a senorita tonight.Something exotic always earns me extra drink commissions beyond my 8 dollars a week. My small room isn’t much. Just a bed,...

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“The Audacity” by Marina Savva

Submitted to Contest #85

The Audacity Auschwitz, 1942 The walls. Black walls, dripping with a crimson liquid, were closing in on me. Then a face appeared. Who was he? I had seen him before. Dark bushy eyebrows and purely wicked, beady eyes that had dense layers of malice behind them. They spoke of death. Raw and alive death. Alive death? Then I saw it. There in, the angel of death’s hand, was a syringe with a deep green liquid swishing from side to side. “No!”, I screamed as realisation washed over me like acid. Josef Mengele. I tried to run. My feet…they wer...

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“Generations” by Artemas Lazaro

Submitted to Contest #85

1974 Where did I put my tea bags I have checked all the cabinets it must be here somewhere last time when i went to market i did bought it i remember correctly and after that i put it in what, that i don't remember. "Hey cathy have you seen my tea bags" "For god's sake Jimmy how many times i have told you to drink any tea there are so many tea bags right in front of you" "Darling, you know i only drink my special Indian tea" "What's so special in that tea, leave it i don't want to know go to market and buy another packet...

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“A Rose among Thistles” by Hazel Turner

Submitted to Contest #85

Hannah September 2020 I turn left off Gorgy road and pull into Springwell House. It’s been an exhausting day. The familiar smell of brewing hops hits me as I open the car door and walk towards the glittering sandstone building. I love the smells of Edinburgh; each area different. The movers are just coming out as I reach the entry way, poised to enter my key code. “Alright Miss Allen, that’s everything unloaded. All in the right rooms for you. Everything sanitised. Do you want a hand to shift anything before we go? I kno...

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“The Painted Lady” by LuAnn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #85

The Painted LadyBy LuAnn WilliamsonDear Diary:“Oh Papa, I’m sure it’s going to be the finest house in all of the Omaha area!” I exclaimed as I had to keep myself from fidgeting on the set of my Father’s buggy. Although a kind man and generous to our family, he could be quite cross if distracted while he was driving his buggy. I did not want to be left behind when it was my turn again to inspect the new property.At first, Papa would go every Saturday afternoon by himself to check out the process of building our new house. He to...

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“The 50th wedding anniversary” by Pari Manchanda

Submitted to Contest #85

The school bus arrives. Jack and Jessie step out of the bus. And, as always, hearing the bus honk, grandpa keeps his book on his lap and says, " Hello kids! How was your day? " in the most cheerful manner. 'Grandpa, I got an A grade today." Jack cheered. ' That's great and what about you Jessie?' ' I had a great day grandpa and I didn't get any homework. ' With this, their mother, Anna arrives holding a tray of juice glasses in her hands. "Okay, kids now time to drink this healthy juice," Anna says. 'Yes mom, but after this, we are going to...

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“Yokogawa Youth” by Taylor F

Submitted to Contest #85

Miriam steps down the steep, narrow steps of the concrete apartment building her Airbnb is in. Her huffs, echoing through the stairwell, remind her to take up exercising again. She had made the trip up the stairs two nights ago with her small suitcase but can’t remember if the same thoughts had crossed her mind. Perhaps her old memories of the area were distracting enough to ignore the strain put on her body, but she thinks that she should be used to being in her 50s by now. Body and muscle aches are just par for the course. Pulling the fro...

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“Legacies” by Elizabeth D

Submitted to Contest #85

Martha rushed into the study with her heart beating an irregular rhythm, and tried to catch her breath. They had found her, after eight years of hiding. Skirts rustling around her legs, she crossed to the study window, her feet silent on the plush red and beige oriental carpet. She stood to the side and pulled back the heavy velvet drapes, confirming what she had spotted from the sitting room. Two men stood on the opposite side of the street, staring at her home. She recognized them as her father’s men. She had eluded them years ago, and now...

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“A Parlor for the Ages” by Timothy Boyle

Submitted to Contest #85

Everyone attended the baptism of Baby Johnson. That is, everyone residing at 24th and High Street did. And why wouldn’t they? Baby Johnson was the new light to all of their busy lives. Each tenet at 24th and High Street knew the importance of celebrating and supporting the proud parents after the loss of their beloved three-year old. Through death and new life, they surrounded each other in grief and happiness. During the service everyone gazed in wonder and smiles...

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“Echoes From The Past” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #85

Sara looked around the ivy-draped walls, between the fallen floor joists and up at the clouds which scudded across the sky where the roof had been. A small sapling protruded from the chimney, waving gently in the breeze. Clumps of ferns and other weeds poked out of crevices in the walls where the plaster was gone. Small fireplaces in the upper levels of the walls looked like cavities in a tooth. She picked her way cautiously towards the ornate marble fireplace, the only recognizable object left in this large roo...

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Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 154 stories

“Flat 1, right?” by Stefania Liv

“The history of The Bernard” by Keishina Owoh

“The Library” by Steve Cripwell

“The Walls Have Memories” by Nicholls Nicholls

“The Artists of Paris” by Lily Star

“Sam's Saloon” by Xavier Clayton

“The Audacity” by Marina Savva

“Generations” by Artemas Lazaro

“A Rose among Thistles” by Hazel Turner

“The Painted Lady” by LuAnn Williamson

“The 50th wedding anniversary” by Pari Manchanda

“Yokogawa Youth” by Taylor F

“Legacies” by Elizabeth D

“A Parlor for the Ages” by Timothy Boyle

“Echoes From The Past” by Bettina Karpathian

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: