Write a story about two people who don’t know each other but bump into one other on New Year’s Eve (either once or every year).

Posted in Holiday on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 39 stories

“Auld Lang Syne” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #126

As New Year’s Eve approached Wilson felt he had little to look forward to–another boring party with inane gossip, too-loud music and endless repetition of resolutions that everyone knew they wouldn’t keep but that they still invented year after year supposedly “to carry on the tradition,” but, more likely to cut through the annual boredom fest. A bright spot, however, had emerged three years ago and repeated itself two times since–the appearance of the stunningly beautiful and...

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“The Missing Piece” by Abigail Jean Jacques

Submitted to Contest #126

Ahh, New Year’s Eve. The one time of year that Moonlight (myself) gets to escape all the other family-holiday shenanigans and can just get some quiet time to herself. The bartender knew my face by now, I had been to this same Rustic Lounge for three years straight. "Alas, the twenty-two to my forty-four.” Scratch the quiet along with the time to myself. "Excuse me?" I replied. "I see you here every year. You always wear your hair up, like a pineapple. You also have a tattoo of the number 22 on the right side of your neck." A ...

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“Fireworks” by Noah Needle

Submitted to Contest #126

Fireworks illuminated the night sky. Bursts of blue, explosions of elegant design, red lights raining down after their display; Michael looked out the window of the apartment he was supposed to be partying in, longing to be anywhere else. “Mike!” A clearly drunk voice called to him, “Get over here you sad sh-” A well-timed burp interrupted the caller’s curse. Michael turned around and smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile though; it was a smile that let the man calling him over know he wasn’t going to be joining him anytime soon, in the politest w...

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“In the Alley” by Aurelia Rooney

Submitted to Contest #126

The cold streets sent a strange echo between the red brick buildings. Josie shivered, the moaning breeze just enough of a chill to seep into the thin arms of her jacket. Her heels clicked like an off-putting rhythm against the cement, and the squalor of party-goers was left behind for the silence of deserted streets. Josie checked her phone. Three minutes until midnight. She hurried her pace, anxious to arrive. As she hurried through the blackened streets, a suspicious feeling followed her from behind. Were hidden eyes watching her j...

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“Blackout” by Allison Lau

Submitted to Contest #126

I strolled through the city. My mom used to take me every New Year’s Eve before we went to my aunt’s apartment. I looked up at the skyline and took a breath of cold air. New Year’s Eve had been the same every year since. Go to my aunt’s party, remember my mom, get black out drunk to forget, wake up at home, and promise to never drink again… until next year. To be fair, I never broke that promise; New Year’s Eve was the only time I let myself drink. All the businesses were closed, and the side streets were dark. The sound of distant pop musi...

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“Good Business” by Snow Fontaine

Submitted to Contest #126

She changed her hair. The past two years, she had honey blonde locks that curled just beneath her shoulders. This year, it was black. It barely covered her jawline. Her rosy cheeks had been muted by the dark strands of hair that framed her face. It was sad. I know she saw me enter the room early. Embarrassingly early. I had started drinking at five, much earlier than I arrived at the club, which is doubly embarrassing. She smiled when she saw me, but she continued to dance with her friends, knowingly in the eyeline of every man that stood ...

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“Conspicuous Love” by Akriti Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #126

The bond between us was peculiar but impeccable and such appealingness was inconspicuously rare. The light fluttered from the bell tower with its Victorian designed hands joining to converge at the point everyone had been waiting for impatiently. Midnight. It was only a matter of seconds and I knew that I had to confirm and showcase my love. To my despair, obstacles filled my path. The amorphous music. The striking of the clock. Yet, I didn’t wait for the path to clear, every first step in a relationship had blockages, yet one ...

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“The Promise” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #126

“Ouch.” “Sorry.” “Why can’t you mind where you’re going.” “I thought I was.” Jason lifted the book out of the puddle with his thumb and forefinger, wiped it with his scarf and handed it back to the girl who was brushing spots of water from her jeans and coat. Susie grabbed the book. “Thanks, but no thanks.” “Pagan Rituals?” “And?” “Well, it’s an unusual book and you’re -” “I’m what?” “Well, you don’t look like the sort of girl who would read a book like that?” “Oh, so first you send me and my book flying into a filthy puddle and now you’re i...

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“THE ELUSIVE HINGES” by Mike Williams

Submitted to Contest #126

The SoCo Brewery and Taphouse could be found in the small downtown on South Concho Avenue. During its five-year run, Mike stopped there to wet his whistle with a few pints twice each week. In the course of doing so, he met and thus acquired, many good friends. Mike learned of the small craft beer tavern by happenstance. It was previously an artistic women’s boutique. One day while driving by he spotted an old, decorated door on display just outside the front door of the boutique. Mike pulled his car over to inspect th...

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Write a story about two people who don’t know each other but bump into one other on New Year’s Eve (either once or every year).

Submissions are closed

✍️ 39 stories

“Auld Lang Syne” by Bob Faszczewski

“The Missing Piece” by Abigail Jean Jacques

“Fireworks” by Noah Needle

“In the Alley” by Aurelia Rooney

“Blackout” by Allison Lau

“Good Business” by Snow Fontaine

“Conspicuous Love” by Akriti Srivastava

“The Promise” by Barbara Burgess

“THE ELUSIVE HINGES” by Mike Williams

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or end your story with one or more characters shouting “Happy new year!”

Write about a character reflecting on the previous year.

Write a story about someone seeking a fresh start after a difficult year.

Write about a character setting an unusual New Year’s resolution.

Contest #126

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

100

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: