A mysterious letter is delivered to your character's home. It's not addressed to them, but they can't resist peeking...

Posted in Mystery on Aug 18, 2023

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✍️ 65 stories

“No longer at this address” by Kevin Logue

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #212

John knew it was illegal, but that didn't hinder the temptation. For weeks it sat there, its unread secrets wanting to escape its crinkled manila prison. No one in the local shop or cafe ever heard of Ellie-Mae MacIntyre, never mind living at this address. That only intensified the handwritten letter's draw. Its cursive script, beautiful, elegantly old school, as if it came from the past. Who even sends letters anymore? So alluring, so tempting, so…He couldn't take it any more, that damned letter lurked on his console table for long eno...

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“The Waiting Game” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #212

Tom Archer exited Rathbone’s Jewellers with a gift-wrapped engagement ring and a splitting headache following his hourlong ordeal with Isabel, the loquacious proprietor. She’d bombarded Tom with countless gemstones and relentless sales patter until he capitulated and picked a brilliant-cut solitaire in a white gold band. Even as Tom fumbled for his wallet, Isabel was assuring him the ring was a timeless classic that conveyed the traditional meaning of hope and agreement. It’s perfect for your prospective fiancée, she said.I’m sure you’r...

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“Rumour and Ruination ” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #212

It is an unacknowledged truth universally ignored, that a domestic servant in possession of a reputable employer must harbor a fervent inquisitiveness when an epistle of unknown origins arrives by post. Unsupervised, they are left to weave tales of intrigue from the strands of speculation, denied the privilege of glimpsing the secrets sealed within the mysterious missive.Her own curiosity ignited, young Nora Green had taken it upon herself to polish the immaculate entrance hall once again, with the intent purpose of gathering information as ...

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“Winners Club International” by Katharine Widdows

Submitted to Contest #212

The letter box clangs, and I abandon the most important meal of the day to investigate the post. Lifting four envelopes from the hallway carpet, I shuffle them square with each other and return to the breakfast bar.Bank statement. Check. Mailshot from Greenpeace. Check. Pre-election propaganda from the local independent candidate. Check. Good News From Winners Club International. What? Who is R. Thompson? Rachel? Richard? Did they live here before me? What have they won?The toaster pops as I pour fresh orange juice into my favourite glass. T...

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“Clippings” by Rebecca Miles

Submitted to Contest #212

It was an envelope, small and pastel blue; sealed and then folded up as if it wanted to disappear or the sender had meant it to. Without name, address, or stamp it was like a summer’s sky on a cloudless day; it should have heralded opportunities, yet Simon felt only trepidation, turning the square over and over in his hands. His stomach had lurched when he’d opened the box this morning, sent as promised by the care home, and the letter had all but jumped out at him; flashes of the frightening Jack-in-a-box toy he’d tried to break when just a...

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“Just” by Beth Jackson

Submitted to Contest #212

Kat hovers on the threshold, one boot raised, and the meagre scraps of fabric she considers fashion, flapping against her thighs.“And stay out of my room. Don’t rifle through my shit or anything,” she says.I blink. Vulgar accusations from my flatmate aren’t uncommon, but still, it smarts when she throws such slander with gay abandon.“I shall do nothing of the sort,” I say.“Whatever.”She strides down the front steps, past the patch of flourishing daisies, and towards the dishevelled deathtrap of rusting parts she affectionately calls her car....

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“Teddy Bear” by Amanda Lieser

Submitted to Contest #212

TW: deathIt’s all your fault, you know. Picture it now, I was standing at that sparkling marble counter top, sorting through the mail, when I saw it. A thin envelope addressed to Joanne Roberts.It sat on my counter for hours while I cleaned up the kitchen, completed an online yoga workout, and took a hot shower. “Young’s Storage Company” in red letters as the header to the return address gave me plenty of info to begin searching online. “Final Notice” stamped in red across the front let me know what it was about. Still, I wanted to know the ...

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“Does She Know You're Leaving?” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #212

I had always thought that the Muscatellos had a perfect marriage. Lindy Muscatello would often leave the windows open whenever they made love. During one of their sessions, Oscar Muscatello would sing opera at the top of his lungs. I’d be lying in bed next to Robert and he would beg me to shut the window. The whole thing made him uncomfortable. When we made love, there was no sound at all. Just a quiet gasp when Robert decided to land the plane, so to speak. My plane never landed. It just circled endlessly until it ran out of fuel and plum...

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“Love Beyond the Envelope: Strangers on the Spooky Trolley” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #212

“It’s funny how we become the way others perceive us.It starts with families, goes into school, social media, everywhere.No wonder everyone’s on antianxiety meds and desperate to be happy.We don’t know who we are anymore.”--Jennifer Probst, Love on Beach Avenue***You can be grooving along in the same old groove, like a broken stylus on a turntable that repeats the same song in a loop, when suddenly something shakes things up—and without warning the music stops. Daniel Marimu had been in his groove. Grooving. New job as a buddi...

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“Casting Shadows” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #212

"Can you give us any comment on your latest triumph?" Camilla silently substituted the word 'triumph' for 'murder'. Outdated though the term was, she still liked to use it privately. "The Brixham one?" Camilla nodded. Her older brother had covered the story; Ordinary murder made headline news by the popularity of the killer. And to think that she was interviewing him herself! "There's nothing much to say." The restaurant was busy and the man had to shout although they were only a table apart. "My employer paid less than my average rate, but ...

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“Alice's enchanted oddyssey” by Avinash Johnson

Submitted to Contest #212

This story starts on a typical Thursday, in a quaint village nestled amidst rolling hills, there lived a young woman named Alice. She was known for her never-ending curiosity, her house was filled from roof to floor with books, maps, and artifacts from every corner of the world, collected from her encounters within the pages of books. Alice was sitting outside her small balcony, nestled into a soft, comfortable rocking chair watching the last rays of the setting sun. As Alice was enjoying this beautiful view she heard unexpected sounds....

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“Tap Dancing” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #212

warning: languageOf course in hindsight, she should not have told her boss to go to hell, but damn it felt good. Alicia kicked the door of her apartment open, slamming it into the wall before it rebounded against the cardboard box of detritus from her office desk. The box collapsed onto her, spilling the office supplies, pictures and files on to the floor of her tiny one room apartment. She kicked the logo’d coffee mug from her ex-company toward the kitchen, and left the rest, doing several quick Samba steps to avoid slipping on th...

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“To Whom It May Not Concern” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #212

As soon as I saw the envelope I knew the letter was not intended for me. No one I know would send me a letter in such a fancy dancy envelope. The paper of that letter clothing was expensive and I don’t do expensive. Never have and never will. If I came into money, I’d invest it in a pension and then I’d die before I ever got to spend a penny of it. The stress of all that money would put me in an early grave. Some things we are not meant for. I know that only too well. Me and that slim and classy delivery had a moment together. The letter l...

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“Enigmatic” by Sarah Elias

Submitted to Contest #212

Brian Hawthorne was an ordinary man with an extraordinary fascination for mysteries. He had always been drawn to enigmatic tales, from deciphering ancient codes to exploring abandoned places with histories shrouded in uncertainty. His cozy home was a testament to his love for the arcane, shelves filled with worn volumes and curious artifacts. One brisk autumn afternoon, Brian returned from his daily stroll through the nearby woods to find his quaint mailbox slightly ajar. Tucked between the usual assortment of bills and advertisements lay ...

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“Parallel Problems” by Fryashti Mishra

Submitted to Contest #212

“Alright, move the sofa to the left of the coffee stand,” Adam commanded the movers. His voice had a hint of authority, one he was surprised by himself, that filled up the spacious but empty living room. He had moved in just a day ago, but he wasn’t the kind of person to procrastinate through things that need to be done. Spending most of his time bouncing in the foster system didn’t let him relax. He had to be at the office for his first job the very next morning, so getting everything where it belonged wa...

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A mysterious letter is delivered to your character's home. It's not addressed to them, but they can't resist peeking...

Submissions are closed

✍️ 65 stories

“No longer at this address” by Kevin Logue

“The Waiting Game” by Howard Halsall

“Rumour and Ruination ” by Michelle Oliver

“Winners Club International” by Katharine Widdows

“Clippings” by Rebecca Miles

“Just” by Beth Jackson

“Teddy Bear” by Amanda Lieser

“Does She Know You're Leaving?” by Story Time

“Love Beyond the Envelope: Strangers on the Spooky Trolley” by Jonathan Page

“Casting Shadows” by Khadija S. Mohammad

“Alice's enchanted oddyssey” by Avinash Johnson

“Tap Dancing” by Marty B

“To Whom It May Not Concern” by Jed Cope

“Enigmatic” by Sarah Elias

“Parallel Problems” by Fryashti Mishra

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of a letter, or multiple letters back and forth.

Write an epistolary story set during a major historical event. The event may be the subject of the letters directly, or be referenced in the background.

Write a story about a pair of pen pals.

Set your story in a post office.

Contest #212

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

304

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: