Write about a character who visits their hometown for the holidays and reconnects with a former love interest.

Posted in Holiday on Dec 15, 2023

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✍️ 65 stories

“Whispers of Love in Harbor Cove” by Dita Dow

Submitted to Contest #229

In the heart of bustling New York City, amid skyscrapers that touched the clouds and fashionistas who ruled the urban streets, Tabitha O’Malley, a renowned fashion designer, craved an escape from her relentless cosmopolitan life as the holiday season approached.Amidst the glimmering city lights, her mind wandered to her hometown, Harbor Cove, and nostalgia swept over her. It had been twelve long years since she last visited, her parents long gone.Despite lacking family connections, Harbor Cove still had a sense of home for her and she opted ...

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“All I Want for Christmas is...Not You.” by Lora Sells

Submitted to Contest #229

I change the dial on the radio for the fifth time because for some reason every station has decided that since it’s December the only thing people want to hear is Mariah Carey Christmas music; I’m the exception to those people as I huff angrily passed yet another “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” I’m beginning to think she’s less like a pop queen and more like Krampus, coming to life once a year to haunt me until January finally rolls around. Cameron shifts next to me as I finally give up and push the dial, turning off the stereo altog...

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“Emily's Point” by Simeon Bingham

Submitted to Contest #229

Whenever there’s a discussion regarding the nature of heteronormativity and its prevalence in society, both in a historical and modern context, the tone surrounding the topic can be quite removed; perhaps reductive is the better word. Oftentimes, we take social structures like this and subvert them to the specific individual actions that keep the power dynamics between groups of people imbalanced, rather than tailor our analysis to focus on the systems put in place to keep the structures intact. Ergo, a critique of white supremacy is re...

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“New Kid ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #229

Cole entered the middle school for the first time. He was back. Excited kids ran about. You could tell the seventh graders from upper classmen. They weren’t seasoned. They didn’t belong. Cole knew about not belonging. His family always on the move, he was the perennial new kid. He’d been the new kid four out of his first six years in school. He would have called it migration, but birds returned to where they’d been. Until today. Now Cole was back, starting again where he’d once lived. He only needed to connect with old friends to feel like h...

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“Returning Home” by Tamy Lewter

Submitted to Contest #229

Terra lay slumped over her desk with the phone in her hand buzzing from the alarm. She jumped up startled by the noise thinking she was late for work. Then she realized it was 8pm, not 8am. Terra walked over to her bed only to fall forward landing on her arms and letting her face sink into the comforter when the alarm went off again. Looking at her phone, she realized she was still late, but for her date. Terra was tired, truly exhausted. She had been working extra hours to finish up a project before she left f...

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“A Second Chance at Love” by Christie Mack

Submitted to Contest #229

Chapter 1 Home for the Holidays The small town of Willowbrook came into view as Emma's car rolled down the familiar winding road. It had been five long years since she'd left for the big city, chasing her dreams and leaving behind the memories of her hometown. But as the holiday season approached, the pull of home had become too strong to resist. As Emma turned onto Elm Street, the streetlights cast a warm amber glow on the quaint houses lining the road. Willowbrook epitomises a picturesque small town; every corner seemed to hold a memory...

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“Geese, Grease & Fire” by Denese Wright

Submitted to Contest #229

When Christmas approaches it greets you with a warm December kiss. Outside, fall is whispered away in the wind. Nights stretch out. Golden fires burn brighter, hotter and longer, and waltz inside the many fireplaces. Old fire wood remembers this passionate heat and burns longer, so why would anyone want to douse such a flame? Good question. The family is doing something different this year. Everyone is expected home for Christmas. G.G Wallace’s birthday is twelve days before but this year there will be two parties for the price of one...

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“And Even the Stars Listened” by Sydney S.

Submitted to Contest #229

For the record, my brother dragged me into this. I never really hung out with his college friends, despite their filling the house with shouts and laughter for the entire first semester, but this time he wouldn’t let me lock myself in my room with my guitar. This time they were going all out — a week-long vacation at some lakeside cottage in Maine near our hometown. In his words, a “glamping trip.” “Come on, Ethan. It’ll be fun!” Max said with a wide grin. “There’ll be campfires, outside ice skating, s’mores, and who knows, you might actuall...

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“She Calls Me From the Cold” by J.D. Jacobs

Submitted to Contest #229

“The winter here’s cold, and bitter. Its chilled us to the bone. We haven’t seen the sun for weeks. To long to far from home…” Someone suddenly shook Matt’s shoulder. “Sir, we have begun preparation for landing. I’ll need you to turn off your electronic devices and put your seat in the full upright position.” Matt nodded compliantly and took out his earbuds before pushing the button to straighten his seat. He looked out the window and could see the overcast sky encasing the outskirts of T.F. Greene Airport. The weather personified the Sarah ...

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“He with the Green Eyes” by Devi Ran

Submitted to Contest #229

The train trugs loudly along the snowy track of the vast countryside, as the winter snow rushes across the outside of the windows of each car. Resting an idle finger on the cold surface of the window, sat a woman in a red winter coat. She peered outside at the fallen snow as the thought of heading back home fill her thoughts with joy. She was finally able to come home to see her family for the holidays. Especially since the pandemic had finally allow her to see them. The lady sat in her train car, while drawing a tree on the frost of the wi...

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“Love at Second Sight” by Molly Layne

Submitted to Contest #229

Cartersville, West Virginia The door to her office squeaked and she swiveled the chair around. Her friend and co-worker, Sayla, popped her head in. “Hey, Lorena,” she began, the dimpled corners of her mouth quirking up, “Whatcha doing for the holidays?” The holidays. Christmas. New Year’s Day. Everyone was always asking the same question around this time of year. Truthfully, she wished she could forget the holidays or at least spend them catching up...

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“Meet Me at Donovan's” by Kate Kenneth

Submitted to Contest #229

Main Street in Branchton, New Jersey has remained relatively unchanged over the years. It is untouched by the version of capitalism, that is chain restaurants and department stores. Instead, the cute store fronts are still occupied by family-owned businesses, passed down from generation to generation. I walk the street now, sent by my mother to pick up a take out order from Donovan’s Pub. Rosie’s Attic, an antique store, still has a lavender facade. My grandmother likes to tell the story of Rosie painting the building herself decades ...

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“My Long Lost Love” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #229

My Long Lost Love I am so excited. After thinking about it and talking about it for years with my friends and family, I am finally going back to visit my old home town, the place where I grew up, but never have returned to. What makes such a trip exciting is the thought that perhaps I will get to see and meet with the one that I have long called my first love. I was only twelve when I first met Ellie. She was an inspiration to me, and she was always happy to see me, as I was to see her. As a teenager, I did not get...

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“It Always Leads To You” by Brooke Ferguson

Submitted to Contest #229

Inspired by the album evermore.Dorothea Windsor had finally made it to the top. She was on billboards, advertising for the next Hollywood hit and her face was in magazines selling pricey makeup. She had a Beverly Hills manor where she hosted parties for the famous and wealthy. On the surface, Dorothea had it all. But the one thing she truly wanted was unattainable.She had grown up in picturesque Tupelo, Mississippi, a small town that was best known for being the birthplace of icon Elvis Presley, who had often been an early inspiration for he...

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“Dance of the Fairies” by Edward Roberts

Submitted to Contest #229

Oliver threw his scarf around his neck, stepped off the train and walked along the platform at Boston’s South Station. He was surrounded by other holiday travelers pulling large suitcases, sporting heavy, overstuffed backpacks and pushing strollers with travel-weary children. He entered the grand concourse of the train station and scanned the expansive space. Even without the festive decorations in place, he admired this building for its artistic and majestic character deriving, in part at least, from its high ceilings, ornate chandeliers an...

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Write about a character who visits their hometown for the holidays and reconnects with a former love interest.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 65 stories

“Whispers of Love in Harbor Cove” by Dita Dow

“All I Want for Christmas is...Not You.” by Lora Sells

“Emily's Point” by Simeon Bingham

“New Kid ” by John K Adams

“Returning Home” by Tamy Lewter

“A Second Chance at Love” by Christie Mack

“Geese, Grease & Fire” by Denese Wright

“And Even the Stars Listened” by Sydney S.

“She Calls Me From the Cold” by J.D. Jacobs

“He with the Green Eyes” by Devi Ran

“Love at Second Sight” by Molly Layne

“Meet Me at Donovan's” by Kate Kenneth

“My Long Lost Love” by John Steckley

“It Always Leads To You” by Brooke Ferguson

“Dance of the Fairies” by Edward Roberts

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a festive party gone wrong that’s saved by some holiday magic.

Write a story in which a cynical character gets amnesia on Christmas Eve.

Start or end your story with a character finding out the love of their life is actually royalty.

Write a story in which a character is stuck reliving their worst Christmas ever, over and over again.

Contest #229

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

171

Contest entries

64

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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