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

“Dear Elizabeth” by Annabella Bones

Submitted to Contest #212

“Don’t touch things that don’t belong to you.” That’s what Grandma would say just before popping her wooden spoon across the tops of my hands. Despite the redness and occasional bruise, it didn’t hurt much. But this— two decades later— hurt like hell. I’ve always been lazy when it comes to checking the mail, especially in summertime. Something about that half-acre walk down the driveway was more of a turn-off than Pimply Paul Thompson sticking his tongue in my ear in 9th-grade gym class. It felt like algae, I’ll never forget, and smelled l...

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“Day 24” by Mary Stanley

Submitted to Contest #212

Day 24. Today will not be the day, Delinda thought as she filled the grey pot with water. Not today, and not tonight. Nope. Even though it was one of those exquisite May evenings, the setting sun’s rays streaming through the window in a way that only a drink could make one fully appreciate. Even though she’d opened that sickening envelope that came in the mail this afternoon. No ma’am. No cocktail, no chianti. Twenty-four days. “Let’s not think about 25,” she said under her breath as she opened the preheated oven and slid in a lo...

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“Lost in the Mail: Just in Time” by Shawn Vantoro

Submitted to Contest #212

The doorbell’s sudden ring jolted John from an article he’d been reading on electrodynamics. Nestled comfortably in his study, it was Saturday morning, and the Berkeley professor was alone and undisturbed until that moment. A sigh of annoyance escaped him as he glanced at his watch; it read eleven fifteen. His daughter, Amanda, was at work, and his wife was out with friends for brunch. John set his magazine aside, then heaved himself up and lumbered out of his study. Ahead, down the hallway, he could see their mailman, Terrance, through th...

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“Your Ruin” by Aimée Thomas

Submitted to Contest #212

“Gina, can you get the door?” Bill called from the kitchen. It was the postman with their mail. He tipped his hat to her after handing her a stack of letters and a package. “Bill, your hooks have come,” she called into the back of the flat. Over the sound of clattering plates, he shouted, “Great! And just in time. I can show Peter up when we go fishing later.” Gina rolled her eyes at her husband's boasting tone. “Why do you two insists on trying to one up another? Can’t you just have fun fishing?” Not that I understand how that is possi...

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“Don't open it” by Shridhar Shivam

Submitted to Contest #212

It’s 3:00 PM I hear Amy saying something, “Hello, you there?” Amy: “What happened, you zoned out?” I swear the conversation between my girlfriend and Professor Samuel is always so dull. Professor Samuel is a Chemistry professor, of the college we studied in, who has an interest in Alchemy. I always have to bear it as Amy also has an interest in it. Amy: “Let us go, we are done here” As we moved towards the bus, Amy started talking about how interesting the whole discussion with Professor Samuel was and started reiterating the who...

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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

“Dear Elizabeth” by Annabella Bones

“Day 24” by Mary Stanley

“Lost in the Mail: Just in Time” by Shawn Vantoro

“Your Ruin” by Aimée Thomas

“Don't open it” by Shridhar Shivam

🌟 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: