Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Posted in Mystery on Feb 16, 2024

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✍️ 49 stories

“Not on My Shift” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #238

People like me are more likely to die from suicide than in the line of duty. With Stella moving out things have gotten insufferable. The more friends and colleagues who “Exit Stage Left,” the more it seems like an option. It seems odd that those of us who answer the call to save lives at all costs, somehow can’t find a reason big enough to save our own.The emergency tones had beeped loudly from a dozen places in my apartment, startling me out of a whiskey-induced coma. Just after ten in the morning, on my day off, no less. “THIS IS A NATIONA...

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“The Most Obnoxious Kid ” by Angela M

Submitted to Contest #238

Paul was the most obnoxious little boy I knew. He was loud and disgusting and everyone hated him, but he was the only thing that made Sunday school entertaining. “Paul is putting the Bible down his pants!”“Paul is farting during choir practice!”“Paul is eating a page from the Old Testament!”Unfortunately for me, I had to sit next to him in class. On our first day, he threw his backpack on the table and looked at me in disgust.“I can’t believe I have to sit next to a girl,” he said. “How old are you anyways?”“Six,” I said.“I’m seven so I...

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“The Stoning of Emmiko Blaine” by Jenefer Igarashi

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #238

She had done everything in her power to protect them. She had endured the taunting, the scowls, and even the unbearable loneliness, yet they would not leave well enough alone. She imagined it would come to this. Emmiko was not sure why some were affected and others were left unharmed. The first time it happened she had been a toddler, playing in the front yard, as a stranger passed by her father’s small house on the outskirts of town. The man had stopped, resting his hands on the broken gate, and when she looked up at him, he turned to ...

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“Money, Blood, and Coffee” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #238

TW: Strong language and violence throughout.Hey girl. I'll take one large ginger spiced latte and a chocolate chip muffin, please... …and sorry if I look a state. I just walked over from Bark and Solihull, the solicitors one block up, and you wouldn't believe what went down. I'm guessing this red shit all over my face and shirt is a giveaway, but damn… a guy just got his head blown half off. And don't get all nervous around me. Do you think I would be standing here hands-free if I had anything to do with this shit? Nah… I haven't so muc...

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“A Letter Kept” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #238

TW: SexIn a lowly lit study where the heavy drapes are pulled tight, a fire burns bright in a fireplace that is large enough for five grown men to stand in side-by-side. The drapes, the rugs, and the upholstery are all a dark red, like bricks, but soft to the touch like any fabric would be. Everything else is mahogany except for the parquet flooring and two leather chairs. The furniture is arranged to face the fireplace where a painting of George Edward Carter I hangs proudly above the mantle. There is a sofa in front of the fireplace with t...

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“Maddux's World - Volume #04” by M.R. Simon

Submitted to Contest #238

It starts like a normal Saturday, until we get the call. We are the closest unit, so we take it. My name is Maddux Marlow. Being a cops for the last fifteen years has not been easy. Besides the work my daughter died five years ago and my wife suicided one year later. I have had the same routine for the past five years. I get a coffee at Miller brewing co. Then get my partner John. but not today, I woke up late, went directly to John’s house to pick him up. Then, the call came in. The call is neighborhood disturbance with gun shots.On site, a...

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“The Pinch” by James Moore

Submitted to Contest #238

ELCv 28 (Earth's Last Chance vessel 28) Was slowing down after 5 months at ‘Elevated Distance Speed’. The 3 person crew were starting to feel the ‘pinch’. The ‘pinch’, as it had become known, was the phenomenon whereby the greater the distance from Earth the more the human heart and brain would become... panicked. Fatigued, strained and 'lost', as though there was an invisible bungee attaching everyone’s core to the planet. There wasn’t yet an acceptable scientific explanation for this effect. But the crew of the ELC 28 were really feeling i...

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“Bug-Batty—A Phobic's Guide to Hosting” by Rose Winters

Submitted to Contest #238

Shauna had never hosted a writer’s group before, and she was a little nervous. She had a thousand phobias. Dirt phobias, noise phobias, and especially insect phobias. The smallest gnat would put her in a catatonic state until it was caught and removed.But she had all her ducks in a row. She had written an email invitation with very careful instructions. Once more, she reviewed those written instructions in her mind, and the reasoning behind them:1. Park in the front of the house, not the side. (A reasonable request—the...

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“Trespassers of Dreams” by Eleftherios Konstantinidis

Submitted to Contest #238

Sharah stood in the yard of her house, staring behind the white wooden fence facing the east side of the building. Spread across the pointy edges of the barrier was a massive green valley. Its green grass, as tall as one’s knees, drenched by the golden light of the bright sun standing proud in the middle of the noon sky. To the young woman, it felt as if time had stopped. Or better, time hadn’t existed at all. It was merely a scene, like a long-lost memory, lost in the vastness of time and space, wondering around galaxies distant and unknown...

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“Starshine” by Lady Senie

Submitted to Contest #238

“Again, this is not a drill. The Emergency Broadcast System has been activated for this crisis! We’re not quite sure what is going on, but we know that it is affecting cities worldwide. London first reported it and it only happens at night! Oh, Jesus, the sun is about to set,” the panicked voice of my favorite newscaster almost broke on that last word. He firmed up his voice, seeming to stiffen his upper lip to deliver his final message. “Please remain calm and whatever you do, get…” Static overwhelmed the...

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“One Final Good-Bye” by Sam Newsome

Submitted to Contest #238

One Final Good-Bye The morning was crisp and cool. It was a perfect day for a flight. Alan awoke early and after a light breakfast (he had learned long ago not to have a heavy meal before a flight) he drove the short distance to her apartment to collect her for the flight. The her was Polly, Alan’s long term love interest. They had been friends, close friends, for years. They had comforted each other through both of their family’s tragedies and mutual broken relationships, but ...

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“The Hard Goodbye” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #238

We sat around in a circle like we always did on Wednesday in the conference room of the Y.M.C.A. A few of us joked around about some of the more ridiculous events of our past week and how staying sober seemed like a full time occupation. Jimmy talked about his boss just as he always did before the meeting was called order. Brenda was this week’s chairperson. She was busy discussing some of the issues brought up at our last meeting. Bette was flirting with Stan and I was in the smoking area outside with Curt who ...

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“The Last Word” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #238

This story contains themes that may be upsetting to some readers, please be advised. The ‘water cooler’ moment is long dead, with the rise of social media and on demand news, yet Piers Kavanagh’s last words on his live show ‘Exposed’ were on everyone’s lips, everywhere, the following day. “I can see…” During the staged seance with Molly Burke, the latest spiritualist medium he planned to debunk on his popular show, he’d begun to look odd. ...

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“The Broadcast” by Breanna Dawn

Submitted to Contest #238

I stared out the window as we turned onto the main road of our small, boring town. Above, the clouds stretched across the sky as a dark gray blanket. It casted a gloomy haze over the decrepit buildings passing by in a blur outside the window. Before getting into the car I noted the that the air smelled heavy of un-shed rain. I heard my mom mutter under her breath, “I’ve never seen town this empty before.” Her eyebrows pulling together in confused concern. “Maybe it’s because of the storm?” I asked unsure looking f...

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“THIS IS NOT A TEST” by Michael Nohe

Submitted to Contest #238

THIS IS NOT A TEST"If you're turning on that television, I won't be happy," Simone shouted. She knew that was precisely what Bart was doing. She was in the kitchen of their open-concept main floor, preparing drinks for dinner. "C'mon, hon. It's a playoff game, and the guys want to see what's happening. I told you this might be a problem when you scheduled this dinner for eight o'clock on Sunday." Bart had warned her that the Falcons and Bucs would be playing an important game on Sunday evening, as the winner would represe...

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Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 49 stories

“Not on My Shift” by Jonathan Page

“The Most Obnoxious Kid ” by Angela M

“The Stoning of Emmiko Blaine” by Jenefer Igarashi

“Money, Blood, and Coffee” by Tom Skye

“A Letter Kept” by Ty Warmbrodt

“Maddux's World - Volume #04” by M.R. Simon

“The Pinch” by James Moore

“Bug-Batty—A Phobic's Guide to Hosting” by Rose Winters

“Trespassers of Dreams” by Eleftherios Konstantinidis

“Starshine” by Lady Senie

“One Final Good-Bye” by Sam Newsome

“The Hard Goodbye” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“The Last Word” by Paul Littler

“The Broadcast” by Breanna Dawn

“THIS IS NOT A TEST” by Michael Nohe

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: