Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

Posted in Middle School on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 98 stories

“Kyrie Kicks Back” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #168

“Did you bring my medication? It’s time for my pills.” “Yes, mother,” Marshall Destry answers wearily. “…As if you even know what you’re taking…” “What? Speak up. You mumble all the time these days.” Lifting her head from her cushioned seat, Rosamond Destry looks out of the window. The scenery blends into a blur as the train speeds along, its whistle blaring loudly. “Where are we?” “We’re on a train, mother. We’re going to your new home.” “Where’s Inka?” “Inka’s not your nurse anymore. You’re going to have a new one.” Rosamond’s tir...

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“Secrets Untold” by Acorn Gaffer

Submitted to Contest #168

The glass was misted over, the cold night air causing small water droplets to form on the freezing window. It served as a mirror, the darkness outside too thick to form any visage, only showing the ghost of a reflection. Green eyes flickered down from the train window to the book in his hands. As one within a Swoon Goes safely-- where an open eye Would drop him-- Bone by Bone Poetry; Always did it have a place in his heart, despite not having the mind for it. ‘Til now, that is. Now, the black ink seemed to drip from the yellowed page, ...

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“The Slowing Sunset Sweetly Marking Anew ” by JOSLYNN SARE

Submitted to Contest #168

Vivid colors in the slowing sky perform a dance of ancient tradition for my sullen eyes. The sunset's bright oranges blend with its reds and yellows, like a bouquet of flowers tossed about the clouds. Tracks beneath me pace a steady click, clack, thunk, paving the way for inconsistent, hazy thoughts. I lazily rest my chin atop curled fingers, as my mind begins to slow with the rhythm of the wind.Interrupting my tranquil thoughts, clashing with the peaceful scenery are the many passengers within the jolting cart. Passengers who irk me in ways...

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“The Au Pair” by Carrie Sheldrake

Submitted to Contest #168

Carla sat with her head resting against the window of the train, her right hand under her chin – supporting her head – and her left, holding a worn copy of Call Me By Your Name. Her mind, wandering in and out of reality, may have forgotten her destination and considered that she was travelling to or from university (as she had done so often the last three years), had it have not been for her large, red suitcase that was pressed up against her knees. She was travelling from her home on London’s outskirts, into the centre of the city – to the ...

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“A Distant Evidence of Company” by Chichi Anz

Submitted to Contest #168

Every window is a plasma screen, through each a display of my time with you shows. But your goodbye stabs, in the most emotional way. Only a distraction can heal this leftover feeling of heartbreak. Maybe I'm overthinking this. Maybe I should if I want to find some kind of peace tomorrow morning. Same as her knowledge of me. We both know I hate, despise, detest to wake up with anger. Put a muzzle against my temple, and I'll still give the same annoying answer. I'd rather be empty or feel that way.But you’re also that dist...

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“East at Dusk” by Jonathan Passmore

Submitted to Contest #168

Disclaimer: this story contains topics of sexual and physical violence as well as death and gore. Reader's discretion is advised. That night there were hundreds of them. Some weeping. Some wailing. Some fighting and throwing themselves in resistance amidst gunfire and guards beating them to a lifeless pulp with their rods. But they were mourning in whatever way they deemed best. At least that’s what it looked like from the train window. That’s the vision it gave me every night. This train was a curse for many cities and their people. What ...

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“The Green Heron” by Mitchell Awisus

Submitted to Contest #168

Even the gentle breeze from the train’s window caused her cheek to pulse. The air from outside tiptoed across her bruised face and dried her cracked lip, but makeup and lipstick could hide almost anything. Glorious pinks and blues splattered the morning sky while the sun pulled itself from behind the mountains in the far distance. The sunrise was beautiful, but that is not what caught her attention. Geese flew over the purple lavender fields in an echelon shape. “I wonder why they fly like that.” A young man sitting across ...

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“224: the extraction ” by Rya Johnson

Submitted to Contest #168

There’s something serene about staring out the window as the train passes the skyscrapers and the people busy with life. It’s so serene it could almost lull you into the belief that life was that simple. It could almost make Annabelle Harris forget what she was going to have to do. What her mission is and how she couldn’t fail or her sister, Oakley, would die. And her sister is her everything. Oakley is only thirteen months younger than Anna but she mothered her baby sister like she was her daughter. She raised Oakley since their ...

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“The Train Ride Home” by Janelle Baker

Submitted to Contest #168

THE TRAIN RIDE HOME By Irene Lee As I looked out the window at the snow-covered ground, I prayed, God, please let Judy be at the train station when I get to Jacksonville, Florida. I couldn't help crying and wondering how all the other people on the train could be laughing and sharing good times with their seatmate. I wanted to jump up and scream at them to just shut up. My world would never be the same again. I watched as the train pulled...

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“To Hell on a Handcart” by James Hees

Submitted to Contest #168

Edvard Munch could have been inspired by Sully’s silent scream as he surveyed the looming bloodbath on the other side of his windshield. His shrieks were muted by the deafening hum of his diesel locomotive.Plaid clad grunts from an extra gang were on a handcar on the main rail line, headed toward his freight train. They had just finished a day of cutting down trees growing beside the tracks. It was done to prevent sparks train wheels produce from starting a forest fire. After a day of preventing one kind of tragedy, they were on the verge of...

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“Suffocating” by Tiffany Marshall

Submitted to Contest #168

Tayah looked out the train window, not really seeing the beautiful Pennsylvania landscape roll by. It was 4:00 in the afternoon and the 9:00 in the morning phone call that she received that morning did not feel like only seven hours ago. It felt like an eternity ago in another dimension. Everything changed in that moment. Her and her husband, Danny, were still laying in bed, awake but not ready to get up. They had stayed up late the night before watching movies. At...

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“The Boy and the Pocahontas” by Tate Carlson

Submitted to Contest #168

Timmy woke up from a restless sleep. He was taking the Capitol Limited to stay with his mother in Washington D.C. for the summer, and this was a journey he had never experienced, but there was something more to it than he ever thought. Timmy couldn't get a wink of sleep, so he rubbed his eyes, and made his way to a car called the Sightseer's Lounge. It was early in the morning, and the sun poured its light into the lounge car windows. Timmy stared out the window in awe of the vibrant sunrise and there sitting in the opposite seat was an old...

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“The Train to Hope ” by Amanda Huggins

Submitted to Contest #168

Dasha stares out the train window and reflects on the last two years, wondering if life will ever be the same again. She packed everything she owned in the small suitcase stored above her seat and spent her last dollar on the train ticket to Poland. She leaves behind death, destruction, poverty, and war in exchange for uncertainty, hope, and a potential future. When the Russians invaded Ukraine, they demolished buildings, killed civilians, and wreaked havoc on every aspect of everyday life. For a long time, she felt like she would be able to...

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“Last chance to Live” by Darcie Zephier

Submitted to Contest #168

I stare out the train window, watching the silhouettes of trees and distant mountains passing by. The moon illuminates the snow so that it sparkles and glistens on the mountain tops. I haven’t seen scenery like this in years and it helps bring a calmness to me. I know I should be sleeping because it is the middle of the night, but I keep having moments of anxiety. I can’t help but worry that he will find a way to find me. I look at my watch. A Walmart watch that I bought last week, while I was supposed to be strictly grocery shopping. C...

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“Reverie on the 17:11” by Alasdair Perry

Submitted to Contest #168

Coming along the mountain path I noticed something endearing About violets - Bashо̄ | 1644–1694 At peace I fly, as the country reels by. A pastoral vignette of England plays through the window as the train courses elegantly through sun-sotted wheat fields, rolling low hills and chunky stone tunnels. Needle and thread. I am carried towards a new beginning. The miles accumulate between me and the old terraced house, the friends, the quaint, gentle streets. Promise certainly aw...

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Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 98 stories

“Kyrie Kicks Back” by Michael Jefferson

“Secrets Untold” by Acorn Gaffer

“The Slowing Sunset Sweetly Marking Anew ” by JOSLYNN SARE

“The Au Pair” by Carrie Sheldrake

“A Distant Evidence of Company” by Chichi Anz

“East at Dusk” by Jonathan Passmore

“The Green Heron” by Mitchell Awisus

“224: the extraction ” by Rya Johnson

“The Train Ride Home” by Janelle Baker

“To Hell on a Handcart” by James Hees

“Suffocating” by Tiffany Marshall

“The Boy and the Pocahontas” by Tate Carlson

“The Train to Hope ” by Amanda Huggins

“Last chance to Live” by Darcie Zephier

“Reverie on the 17:11” by Alasdair Perry

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character who is moving on, literally or figuratively.

Make a train station an important part of your story.

Write a story about a character who misses a train, for better or worse.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Bon voyage.”

Contest #168

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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