You arrive at a destination you promised an old friend you’d visit after they passed, only to find them there too.

Posted in Mystery on Oct 13, 2023

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✍️ 66 stories

“The Day We Died” by Tyler Porter

Submitted to Contest #220

Logan Downy died on a Tuesday. It was a typical Tuesday, not unlike any other he’d ever experienced up to that one. Car accident. A somewhat awkward way for someone to die. Why? Because car crashes are something that everyone has seen or heard about over and over again. Maybe we get desensitized to them. We see so much news coverage about them, hear about them from friends and family, or witness them firsthand driving down the highway. Sure, it strikes us as sad for a moment, ...

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“Buried Under the Crabapple Tree” by Marii Anya

Submitted to Contest #220

It was the highest tree in the park behind the rundown building of Asta’s old middle school. A crabapple tree that still supported the weight of the treehouse that was older than herself. Swallowing a bite of its crabapple was a rite of passage at their small town middle school, one that no one failed—except Asta’s best friend, Yvonne. Yvonne was a coward. Even though Asta did not know it back then on their first day o...

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“"Hey, Buddy"” by Gauge Carroll

Submitted to Contest #220

"Hey, Buddy" It was empty when Hoth entered. The nave of the church was speckled with color from the stained-glass windows. At the center of the transept was a coffin, surrounded by purple and white lily flowers, with a large painting framed above it. The painting grew more distinct as he approached; that didn't matter though, Hoth already knew who it was of. "Hey Buddy," Hoth said. He kept his head low, avoiding the picture's eyes while twiddling a lifeless poppy between his thumb and index finger. "Brought the wrong flower." He chuckle...

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“School Bus Art Festival Road Trip” by LoRanee Braun

Submitted to Contest #220

I laughed out loud when I saw it. A bright yellow rectangle had a red ironing board jutting out of a hole cut through the metal. It was supposed to be a tongue. Four white squares the size of bread slices hung across the top of the hole for teeth. Green bowls protruding from white saucers mounted above the mouth were bulging eyes. A silver metal tube, flattened on the end, gave the face flared nostrils. I quickly turned around and walked away from the booth. It looked like the author had his en...

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“TOGETHER” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #220

The mourners, dressed in unrelieved black, shuffled slowly towards the casket. A deep silence enshrouded the cemetery. Each griever picked up a handful of dirt and tossed it into the open grave, symbolizing a last goodbye, the last act of kindness they could ever offer the loved one. The dearly departed returns to nature and the cycle of life is complete; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. A sad adieu to the deceased, supposedly a sign of respect although I never could figure out why flinging a clod of dirt on top of someone...

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“TIES THAT BIND” by Julia Corliss

Submitted to Contest #220

Kathina realized it had been fifty years since that long ago visit to Washington State Park with her childhood friend Ilena. They had made a day of it together. Kathina had been visiting her grandparents in a nearby town in Southwest Arkansas where she and Ilena had formed their childhood friendship. That sweet friendship had lasted until Ilena died after being hit by a drunk driver when she was walking on a country road. Kathina missed her friend greatly and had traveled to this small town to honor their friendship and remember...

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You arrive at a destination you promised an old friend you’d visit after they passed, only to find them there too.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“The Day We Died” by Tyler Porter

“Buried Under the Crabapple Tree” by Marii Anya

“"Hey, Buddy"” by Gauge Carroll

“School Bus Art Festival Road Trip” by LoRanee Braun

“TOGETHER” by Glenna Agnew

“TIES THAT BIND” by Julia Corliss

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character walking through a desert landscape, when they stumble across something unexpected. “That shouldn’t be there,” they muse.

As a child you’re helping your grandparent bake. When you’re sent to the pantry to fetch an ingredient, you discover something odd.

Begin your story with a protagonist taking shelter under a bridge during a thunderstorm. An animal scurries past which shouldn’t exist. Against their better judgment, they decide to follow it out.

You’re awakened from your nap by someone asking, “Are you hungry?”. You fell asleep somewhere else entirely.

Contest #220

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

253

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: