You thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of you on the street, smiling at you.

Posted in Mystery on Jul 15, 2021

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✍️ 412 stories

“Road From Baghdad” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #52

Another busy morning. So many people to see in this bustling city, so much business to complete. I was thankful at least that I hadn’t been assigned a battlefield. Those days were really tiring. Baghdad was too hot for my taste, but I was destined to do my business in this part of the world on this day. The sky was cloudless, and soon it would be an intense heavenly blue, the heat unforgiving. In the pre-dawn chill, there was some respite, but this wouldn’t last. Sand from the desert seemed to permeate everythi...

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“There are weirder ways to learn about death” by Millie Spence

Submitted to Contest #52

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paula Coehlo - Its been years since someone in Finnley’s life had died. He thought it had calmed down. He almost completely forgot about the recurring nightmares that he got every night. He’s lost so many people; Xander, Twyla, Oliver, even his brother, Felix. He was walking down the street. He was going on a date for the first time since Xander had died. That was six years ago. Sometimes, Finnley feels like he still sees Xander, in the corner of his eye, in ...

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“It'll be Okay” by Jaydah Griffith

Submitted to Contest #52

I remember the day he died so perfectly. I can smell the blood gushing out of his stomach. I can hear him screaming in anguish for the pain to stop. I can picture his lifeless body on the stretcher. The memory is now permanently etched into my mind, detail by detail. A Monday afternoon, almost 2 summers ago, my boyfriend of 2 years died in a hospital in California. The police officer told me he got in a car accident, that the impact crushed his lungs so badly that it killed him. None of it made sense to me...

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“Praying!” by Sheryl Reddy

Submitted to Contest #52

Pip put on her saftey gear and headed out in to the empty streets of Vancouver. She was alone, there was barely anyone left in the city she was born and raised in. The 2020 pandemic took everyone she had ever known. There were people around, but mainly people she had to protect herself from. Everyone was an enemy and she knew, she had to keep herself safe, until it was her time to leave this earth. She got on her bike and rode to the local grocery store to see what was available. The people left around her part of town, were pretty good, the...

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“You Saw Him” by Destinee Christopher

Submitted to Contest #52

You’re sitting in a café, alone in the corner. The sweet aroma of coffee and pastries fills the air. You love the smell and for some odd reason it helps you concentrate on your work better. The café was small and there weren’t many customers that came here this early in the morning which made it the perfect work environment for you. It was supposed to be your day off yet you couldn’t stop work from following you like a lonely ghost in need of attention. Your fingers hurt from typing emails and reports and your eyes were bloodshot from the...

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“He Died Numerous Times by Debbie Ealer” by Debbie Ealer

Submitted to Contest #52

“You thought he was dead, but he is right in front of you, on the street, smiling at you.” We buried you! It came out more of a question than a statement. What are you doing here? I bought the coffin; I bought the plot. We lowered you into it and we had a service where everyone cried, and I bawled out my eyeballs for days. How are you alive? How are you standing there looking at me? What the hell Matt? No response? Nothing to say. Okay well get ready to die for real this time. Matt took a deep breath and said, “Lunch?” I did not ...

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“Another Life” by Hannah B

Submitted to Contest #52

Trastevere, Rome, bustled with life as another day gave way to another night. The lights on the Ponte Sisto Bridge reflected in the Tiber River below, bringing to mind romance and vitality. For Cassidy, it had all been intoxicating upon arrival, but now it was all as bland and familiar as home. She was spending a year teaching English as a second language, and had happily settled in Rome. As she was weaving her way home from dinner one evening, she saw him: Paul, her brother, who had gone missing fifteen years ago. She brushed it off, noting...

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“Is That Who I Think It Is?” by Suzanne Urowitz

Submitted to Contest #52

It's been a long winter. I haven't been outside much. Especially with covid scare. There's still not many people out. Just a couple people here and there. Mostly running and exercising. A couple people walking dogs. Even a few parents with strollers. Its a long day working from home. I don't get out much anymore. I'm going to out the balcony for some air before I start. I looked to the right then to the left. It was so nice out. The sky was as blue it could be. In a good way. The sun was shining. I don't have much of a social life workin...

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“Love Before and After Death” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #52

1. Jessie Williams is sixty-nine years old when she spots her dead husband across the street. Of course, she does the classic double-take, closes and opens her eyes several times, and pinches her arm until her eyes water. He is still there each time, giving his patented closed-mouth smile. (She has always wondered how he could smile that wide and still not show his teeth. But, when he did show that open-mouthed smile-pow!-right through her heart every time.) Like many in her age bracket, Jessie’s worried about dementia, being calle...

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“The odd bench” by Chloe Clayden

Submitted to Contest #52

It’s Thursday. At least I think it’s Thursday. Edna’s bingo night in the main hall isn’t until tomorrow. It must be Thursday. We’re out late. It’s nearly 5pm, and Roxana is still sitting next to me on this musty odd bench, crocheting away. Lord knows where all these scarves and ear warmers go. She’s showing no sign of getting up and walking me back to my room. I’d like to go back to my room now, but the words won’t come. This isn’t our usual bench. We always sit on the third bench. You enter the park from the main gate, walk about fifty...

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“Her Worse Nightmare” by Anna Rogers

Submitted to Contest #52

“Ellen?” just that, her name (the one from her old life) spoken in a familiar lackadaisical tone made her heart miss a beat. Two even if she were brutally honest as she glanced in the direction it came from. ‘It can‘t be’ she told herself. He’s supposed to have died and I’ve been so careful;’ Except who was she kidding? Nowadays everyone knew her as Abby, except for him. Because it was him, even though the police had informed her of his death in prison five years ago. ”There was a riot, inmates including your husband overpowered guards a...

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“Farewell” by Lexie Gillies

Submitted to Contest #52

Harsh light exposes the bluish tone his lips have taken, his locks matted and bristly. The vibrant spring has left his eyes as they now look past me, glassing over. The warmth of his skin is grimly muted. My eyes rest upon his hand, waiting for another light squeeze, but none come. His eyelids flutter shut and a darkness descends on his vision. A gut-wrenching sob tears through my chest. Sunlight paints his soft lips a dark apricot, his windswept locks a deep brown. His eyes as bright as a blooming forest. His skin resembling warm honey. M...

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“The Sanity of Insanity” by Gabriella Fernandez

Submitted to Contest #52

Gwen crosses the street.If she were stupid, she’d have walked towards him (or whatever it was).It is early in the morning and the wide, urban streets are bursting with a clutter of rumbling cars and bustling people, most certainly on their way to work. The autumn wind bites at her fingers as she pulls her hoodie tighter while peering anxiously for any sign of Jewels. She can still see Donni as she looks over her shoulder. Donni who is smiling at her. Donni who is a murderer. Donni who is dead. He is following her, weaving through the crowd e...

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“The Outcast” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #52

I look at my dad unbelievingly as he crosses the road to come by my side. “Dad?” He smiles back, the same smile of his that tilts more to his left cheek. “But?...” “I know!” “But?” I just have no words to say. “They didn’t allow me to attend your funeral,” I speak a full sentence finally. “Because there was no need,” he answers coolly. “Yeah, I can tell that now!” I reply. Why would my siblings and even my mother play such a cruel joke on me, I wonder. First they announce the news of my dad's death to me y...

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“Back” by Emilie Conroy

Submitted to Contest #52

Portia kept running, though her knees ached and her back throbbed. She didn't look back to count how many were chasing her; by the sound of their footfalls, she reckoned about a dozen pursuants. She still had a good lead, yet the gap was closing, and she could hear their threats spitting from between their teeth. Up ahead, she could see the ominous stone form of the Canossa. The thought of dodging in there seemed almost less appealing than what these thugs had in mind for her. Then she chastised herself; the C...

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You thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of you on the street, smiling at you.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 412 stories

“Road From Baghdad” by Barbara Eustace

“There are weirder ways to learn about death” by Millie Spence

“It'll be Okay” by Jaydah Griffith

“Praying!” by Sheryl Reddy

“You Saw Him” by Destinee Christopher

“He Died Numerous Times by Debbie Ealer” by Debbie Ealer

“Another Life” by Hannah B

“Is That Who I Think It Is?” by Suzanne Urowitz

“Love Before and After Death” by Steve Uppendahl

“The odd bench” by Chloe Clayden

“Her Worse Nightmare” by Anna Rogers

“Farewell” by Lexie Gillies

“The Sanity of Insanity” by Gabriella Fernandez

“The Outcast” by A. Arima

“Back” by Emilie Conroy

🌟 Similar prompts

Twenty minutes before you are about to get married, you find your mother and your fiancé kissing passionately.

Every year, one person is sent to the moon. This year, though you hid in terror, it is your turn to enter the rocket.

"Come with us,” two burly men in gray suits say, grabbing you by the arm and handcuffing you. “You know what you did.” But you have no idea.

You are the only one in the supermarket during a blizzard. Feeling creeped out, you decide to leave, when suddenly you find a baby abandoned on the floor.

Contest #52

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

958

Contest entries

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Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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