A crumpled piece of paper holding an unexpected message is carried by the wind. Where did it come from, and where is it going?

Posted in Mystery on Mar 1, 2024

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✍️ 63 stories

“Whispers in the Breeze” by Naziya Memon

Submitted to Contest #240

In the quaint town of Willow Creek, a gentle breeze carried a crumpled piece of paper through the bustling streets. The townsfolk paused in curiosity as the paper danced in the wind, its mysterious message hidden from view. The paper had originated from the desk of a reclusive writer named Amelia Blackwood. Amelia, known for her enigmatic novels, had penned a secret message intended for a lost love, never to be sent. In a moment of reflection, the paper slipped from her grasp and was whisked away by the wind before she could retrieve it. As ...

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“Echoes of Discovery” by Cynthia Hansford

Submitted to Contest #240

Alice tucked a windswept strand of hair behind her ear as she strolled down the bustling streets of New Haven. Crisp autumn air nipped at her cheeks, carrying the lofty scent of roasted chestnuts. She clutched her vintage satchel, eyes darting between cobblestone streets and historic buildings, drinking in the city’s nostalgic charm. She arrived at her favorite antique shop, Memories Unveiled, by turning down a quiet side street. Alice paused, noticing a crumpled piece of paper wedged under the door. She retrieved it with delicate fing...

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“The Tupelo Land Grab” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #240

Tupelo, Wyoming1878“This goes beyond the pale,” Eddie Ponderosa says, lighting a cigar.His stocky companion, Leake Bevil, offers a bewildered look. “What’s that mean? You been readin’ again, Eddie?”“I’m thirty- six, Leake. I’m lucky to have come out of the War in one piece. I don’t plan to shoot people for a living much longer.”“But we ain’t shootin’ people now. We’re gunnin’ for coyotes.”“Wolves,” Eddie corrects. Puffing heartily on his cigar, he climbs down from his horse.Reaching into his saddle bag, Eddie extracts a small telescope, focu...

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“What the Heart Carries” by Susmita Ramani

Submitted to Contest #240

The summer before we left our hometown of Santa Cruz, California for different colleges on the East coast, my best friend Mila and I went on frequent morning beach walks to enjoy each other’s company and the sight of the sea glistening to the horizon.“I’ll miss this view,” I said to Mila. “I’ve told you this before. Sometimes I want to cry when I look at the sea. I’m trying to stop it from happening now.”“Then cry!” she exclaimed. “Silly girl. Trust me. I’m going to major in psychology, remember? Let yourself feel.” She paused. “Ivy, I’m gon...

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“A Crumpled Piece of Paper” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #240

From the partially open, third floor window of a hospital a crumpled piece of paper fluttered and fell, landing on the ground and then rolling and bouncing away, driven by the wind across the parking lot to a busy city street. At that point it was primarily propelled by the passing of car after car down the road, without any of the drivers or passengers taking any notice of its presence. It reached the end of its journey getting stuck in a bush in front of a building almost as big as the hospital, and in some ways serving the same ...

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“ECHOES OF EXISTENCE: A PAPER'S ODYSSEY” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #240

I do not know who will hear me or if anyone can, but I must speak out loud. I'm sure most of you didn't realize that a paper like me could talk or even have feelings. But it is true. That is what I believe. Sometimes, that is all that matters.As I drifted through the vast expanse of the cityscape, carried by the wind's whims, I reflected on the journey that had led me to this surreal moment. Memories of my past drifted through my consciousness like fleeting whispers echoing through the corridors of time. The time that I thought I had enough ...

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“Running Home ” by Mike Werner

Submitted to Contest #240

It’s not easy to go on the run, but Karen never did what was easy. No, nothing ever came easy to her. She’s been doing the hard things in life since she was a kid and has never stopped. Karen did the difficult tasks that most kids don’t dream of doing until well into their adulthood. Adulting is what people in their twenties called it. To Karen, adulting has been part of her daily activities for over ten years. That’s a hell of a lot of being an adult for someone who’s only twenty-two years old. There was an earsplitting ...

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“Fragments” by Lily Moeller

Submitted to Contest #240

I found the first fragment tangled in some debris as I was walking beside the river. It had flooded recently, so the willows that lined the path were still draped with broken branches, reeds and other detritus left behind when the water receded. I gazed at the wreckage, contemplating how surreal it was to think that where I was walking had been completely underwater just a few days ago, and trying to forget my aching heart. That's when I saw it; a tiny piece of paper snagged on a twig. Don't be afraid, you The letters were typed in a classic...

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“Tarot Fairy Godmother” by Julia Rajagopal

Submitted to Contest #240

Blown by the warm summer wind, a small, wrinkled card tumbled onto their blanket. The card had a white horse and skeleton, and the word DEATH was printed across the bottom.“Well, that’s ominous,” Helen Knox said as she picked up the tarot card. “Does this mean someone’s going to die?” A cloud passed, casting a shadow over their picnic. The wind blew through the busy park, ruffling the napkins tucked under the corner of the picnic basket and nearly overturning their plastic wine glasses.“It doesn’t always mean death,” Erica, Helen’s girlfrien...

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“The Note” by Alyce King

Submitted to Contest #240

She was standing on the street corner, waiting to cross the main road. She hated living here. The cars whizzed past, a harsh breeze against her skin, that smell of fuel through her nostrils. It settled around her feet, and it wasn't until the man next to her nudged her and said, ''think you dropped something,'' that she noticed it. She bent down to pick it up, knowing full well she hadn't 'dropped something' as she hadn't been carrying anything, as her fingertips grazed the surface, it took off, blowing in the direction she was going, yet do...

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“Crumpled for Life” by Alycia Morales

Submitted to Contest #240

On a particularly blustery day in New York City, a young man of no more than twenty years strutted down the sidewalk on his way to class at the university. The cold wind whipped at his cheeks, turning them a rosy red while his conversation with his father the previous evening replayed in his head. Your younger brother received word of a promotion in his construction career today. When are you going to start earning a decent paycheck? Art isn’t going to pay the bills. It’s a hobby, not a job. He never had approved of him attending college. Le...

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“Forty-Eight Hours ” by Lynette J.

Submitted to Contest #240

Jane is a bright and witty woman, who’s enjoying her mid twenties. She had no immediate plans to date or get married. She figured she had the rest of her life to embark on that journey. For now, she enjoyed her quiet time alone. As she strolled down the beach, watching the sunrise, she felt calm. The beach was her happy place. She loved the sounds of the ocean splashing against the sand. With her eyes closed, she stretched her arms out wide to embrace the warm sunlight beaming on her body. She lived for moments like this. That is until ...

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“Only Human” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #240

Coffee splashed against the wall from the Styrofoam cup. A former baseball pitcher, Rex had aimed well. Fresh coffee ran down the wall over old coffee stains. A few people in the crowded break room flinched, but most ignored his outburst. They were used to it. Anita ran to mop up the spill with a cloth. She stood and shook the crumpled cup at Rex.“Get out of here, idiot. Don’t come back in here until you can act like a human being.”He laughed and sat at a table.Wyatt moved to Rex and murmured. “Let’s go. Take a walk. Cool off.”After a moment...

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“The Green Paper” by Arlene Placer

Submitted to Contest #240

She was too busy rushing to catch the bus to pay any mind to the wind that seemed to carry leaves, bits of candy wrappers, and an assortment of potpourri. Her heels clicked on the well-walked sidewalk, and she held onto her purse with a vengeance. “Ach,” she cried out to the sudden shift of wind, which blew a chunk of newspaper onto her coat. She pushed it off, but behind it, a stray light green piece still clung to her. It got shoved into her pocket to be forgotten as she boarded the bus and found a seat near the front. Later that eve...

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“Ferris College Library” by PJ Peterson

Submitted to Contest #240

FERRIS COLLEGE LIBRARYLisa walked along the beach, eyes darting here and there, looking for sea glass. Finding small pieces of glass, especially in shades of blue or aqua, was only part of the thrill. As a talented artisan of handmade jewelry, she Imagined how she might use each found piece in her small design studio.She also found herself wondering what the shard might have been in its original form. Had it been a water glass that came from one of the many shipwrecks along the Pacific coast? Perhaps it had been a champagne glass t...

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A crumpled piece of paper holding an unexpected message is carried by the wind. Where did it come from, and where is it going?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 63 stories

“Whispers in the Breeze” by Naziya Memon

“Echoes of Discovery” by Cynthia Hansford

“The Tupelo Land Grab” by Michael Jefferson

“What the Heart Carries” by Susmita Ramani

“A Crumpled Piece of Paper” by John Steckley

“ECHOES OF EXISTENCE: A PAPER'S ODYSSEY” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Running Home ” by Mike Werner

“Fragments” by Lily Moeller

“Tarot Fairy Godmother” by Julia Rajagopal

“The Note” by Alyce King

“Crumpled for Life” by Alycia Morales

“Forty-Eight Hours ” by Lynette J.

“Only Human” by John K Adams

“The Green Paper” by Arlene Placer

“Ferris College Library” by PJ Peterson

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin your story with the sensation of a breeze brushing against a character's skin.

Set your story on a sailboat, large or small, and entirely at the mercy of the winds.

Craft a story where a character finds themselves swept away by the wind, either physically or metaphorically.

Set your story in a lighthouse surrounded by powerful gale-force winds.

Contest #240

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

331

Contest entries

134

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: