Write a story about a character who is experiencing glitches in their reality.

Posted in Mystery on Feb 3, 2023

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✍️ 81 stories

“THE REALITY OF THE OTHER ME” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #184

Who am if I'm not really me? Am I an imposter? Am I living the life I'm supposed to be living or is it all a lie? I see me on a daily base, not in a mirror but every time I leave my home, only briefly. I know it's me. She looks like me, then in a flash she disappears into thin air. I'm an only child. I have no sister. so, how can I be seeing myself? I'm not going crazy. I saw myself yesterday at the park then like clock-work I disappeared. No one was with me. I looked the same, the only difference is I was smiling more than usual. I lo...

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“Glitches in Reality” by Bryan Westby

Submitted to Contest #184

The click-clack click-clack of the light rail slowed while the power went out in the city, one grid after another. Inside the train car a woman screamed. "Is there a priest in here?" a man next to the woman called out. At the other side of the crowded light rail car Deacon Larry Frank looked over and started to stand. "This lady needs a priest!" Larry, dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a grocery bag, made his way over. "I'm a deacon," he said. "Does she need a doctor?" The light rail was still moving, coasting along in the darkne...

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“Rebooting a Human Mind” by Sally Bennett Boyington

Submitted to Contest #184

Lacey choked and sputtered as she struggled to keep her nose above the cold water. An arm like a bar of iron around her upper chest tightened. She fought against it, against the current that slid along her back and down her legs. “Stop, dammit,” a stranger’s voice rumbled from behind. “I’m trying to save you.” The words sank in. He claimed to be her savior, not a killer. She forced herself to accept that as the truth, for air flowed into her lungs as she relaxed and let him pull her through the water. But why was she here, drowning? And wher...

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“Synchronicity” by Angela Pirozzi

Submitted to Contest #184

This story contains references to blood, drug use, and child neglect. Sienna Blake’s fingers tensed on the steering wheel as she felt aluminum, fiberglass, and metals tear into her flesh as her bones begin to splinter. Glass fragments began to shred the left side of her face as her Mazda began its ascent into the air, cartwheeling across the intersection. She could see the sunset doing a crazy dance as red-orange droplets of light rained down on her. When the car finally stopped its rotation, she heard a woman screaming in a high-pitched s...

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“Mr Whitford & The Miraculous Bench” by L Key

Submitted to Contest #184

Content warning: themes of grief and bereavementMr Whitford & The Miraculous Bench“You’ve got this, old boy,” Mr Whitford mumbled, as he hobbled down the street, avoiding any craters in the cobblestones with his walking stick. The midday sun beat down on his face and the distinctive whiff of the old village, an unusual cocktail of freshly cut grass and even fresher cooked pastries, wafted around him. The old man inhaled deeply. He forgot how much he enjoyed that scent.He passed the florist, the greengrocers and the bakers, tipping his tw...

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“Human Error” by Anna Bourkaggio

Submitted to Contest #184

It started with small things, things you would hardly notice or pay mind to. The kind of things we all experience through our lives, like Deja vu. Those times you could have sworn that you told someone something, belongings impossibly going missing, things we put down to human error. But then it was memories of whole conversations that were never had, appointments that were never made. At first I thought it was my memory, that maybe I was working too much, too stressed, too tired. I took time off, did yoga, learned to meditate but it continu...

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“Two Rings” by Kymberlee JoAnn

Submitted to Contest #184

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!Today was finally the day! As I rolled over to turn off the alarm clock, I jumped out of bed. I was finally going to marry my best friend today; I could not be late. After showering as quickly as I could, I put on black leggings and a white tank top, leaving my hair in a messy bun. I only had 20 minutes to get to Lisa’s house if I wanted to start my hair and makeup on time.Luckily, I had put everything we would need for hair and makeup in the car last night. Before leaving, I carefully gathered my wedding gown and veil. It w...

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“Scarararcarsarjarcar” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #184

I don’t remember a time when I was truly sane. Perhaps when I was very small.I woke up on that Brunsday at eleven in the morning in one of Vulane’s many opium palaces, merely four blocks from Veilwinter Temple.My turban was full of wine so, of course - not wanting to be rude - I drank it. I then touched the huge paw of the creature beside me.“Spar,” I said. “Spar, you awake?”Spar, a huge black bear in armor, lolled his head to the side - a little trickle of spittle coming out of his maw. I looked around me at the other myriad creatures splay...

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“The bubble” by Oliver Rich-Jackson

Submitted to Contest #184

This was inspired by a Star Trek episode called “remember me” A short story by Oliver Rich-Jackson Dr. Plato Capti began his day the same as any other. As he got dressed in his usual white coat, slacks, and button-up, he took note of his form. Capti was a slender man, standing at around six feet. His shoulders were slumped, and he had sunken eyes, weary from the hours of research he conducted day after day. He began walking through the narrow hallways to the lab. The small station was orbiting Earth's moon and there were only ten o...

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“Déjà You” by J.J. Erwin

Submitted to Contest #184

I thought you were my greatest love story, but it turns out you were just a brain tumor. Now I’m lying here on the operating table waiting for them to take you away from me. Of course it was the first day back to the office after three years away. What could be more triggering? I had déjà vu twice before falling on my face in the middle of the office.This wasn’t so foreign to me. Several times when I was young it happened that whatever I was doing, no matter what it was—walking into a room, doing my homework, playing my favorite video g...

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“My Tether to Reality” by Augustine Maddox

Submitted to Contest #184

(Story contains allusions to mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide, though none are explicit) Now that I’ve realized I don’t exist, I see the signs everywhere. The barista at the Dancing Goat cafe forgets my order two seconds after taking it. I waited for like ten minutes today before speaking up, because surely this time he would remember. No, it took three reminders before I got my coffee. I keep running into dog walkers, because the dog and the walker pass on either side of me, and I get caught up in the leash. My compu...

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“The Temptations” by Gustavo Ortiz

Submitted to Contest #184

The girl with purple hair winks at me as another Ben. E. King song trickles out of the speakers. She’s been playing him for the past hour, my favorite artist. I don’t know how, but a part of me feels like she knows this. It only makes me love her more. Wind blows in through the doorway, and the candles set at each of the tables flicker in response to the cool breeze that whispers at it, the yellow flame clinging desperately to the wick. I pass my finger slowly through the flame. It’s cold. I hold my finger over it, and then even...

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“Porky Pie” by Lucien D

Submitted to Contest #184

TW: This story contains content that might be disturbing to some readers, including scenes of blood, violence, suicide ideation and homicide. Please be mindful of these triggers as you read. Avocados; I wonder what they taste like to another tongue. And if their shade of green doesn't seem like to another pair of eyes, as it seems to mine?And what if reality is all but a movie, a reverie created by our brain? You know what scientists say, about color, that they don't exist as we see them but is made to look so when the gears of our mind move...

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“Muscle Memory. ” by Henri Porritt

Submitted to Contest #184

Feet slamming against the crooked wooden planks, I race down the stairs, pulling myself around the bannister at the end. I’m here, I’m ready. Shit, glasses. Back up I go. Knuckles tight against the wheel, feet juddering. Same roads, same home. Left or right? I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on, he laughs. I laugh. How could I forget? Yet the road feels uncertain, bends and curves whirling in my eyes, coiling in my stomach. You’re thinking too hard, muscle memory. Breathe in, hold in, be solid. Linoleum fl...

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“Glitch In My Reality: Déjà Vu” by Kailash Darji

Submitted to Contest #184

Is it raining again? The weather has been very unpredictable lately. This was supposed to be summer, warm and humid. I don't why I am thinking about it. It's not like I prefer one or the other. They are both the same to me. I still feel bored and devoid of any excitement. I feel exhausted today. Work has been getting hectic lately. It seems as if we are always low on staff. And also low on motivation. Ah well, there's no point lamenting about that. I should be glad I get to go home I suppose. Just to sleep and come back again tomorrow. They ...

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Write a story about a character who is experiencing glitches in their reality.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 81 stories

“THE REALITY OF THE OTHER ME” by Melinda Madrigal

“Glitches in Reality” by Bryan Westby

“Rebooting a Human Mind” by Sally Bennett Boyington

“Synchronicity” by Angela Pirozzi

“Mr Whitford & The Miraculous Bench” by L Key

“Human Error” by Anna Bourkaggio

“Two Rings” by Kymberlee JoAnn

“Scarararcarsarjarcar” by Cajek Veilwinter

“The bubble” by Oliver Rich-Jackson

“Déjà You” by J.J. Erwin

“My Tether to Reality” by Augustine Maddox

“The Temptations” by Gustavo Ortiz

“Porky Pie” by Lucien D

“Muscle Memory. ” by Henri Porritt

“Glitch In My Reality: Déjà Vu” by Kailash Darji

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone saying “Houston, we have a problem.”

Set your story during a complete city or nation-wide blackout.

Write about someone who has chosen to disconnect and live an analog life.

Write a story where a character has to decide whether to press the button or not.

Contest #184

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: