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

“Home” by Jade Ren

Submitted to Contest #52

The television light flickered as the couple in it enveloped each other in a long and passionate kiss. Their lips molded into each other like a fitted glove before they breathlessly broke apart and exchanged heated “I love yous.” Their eyes were dreamy but fiery as they gazed deeply at each other — as if nothing else mattered at that moment standing beneath the moonlight alongside the shimmering sheen of the river’s inky surface. Tch. She scoffed. Love like that didn’t exist in the real world, so pure, untainted, and true. In the real worl...

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“I saw a Ghost today” by Melisa Troupe

Submitted to Contest #52

Today started out just like any other warm spring day in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you had told me Id be sitting in a coffee shop with a busted heel on my left shoe and bloody knee with a man I long since thought dead. I’d have told you, you were crazy. Yet here I am. You see some ten very long years ago when I was just sixteen years old living in Seattle Washington, I had met the man I wanted to marry. I had known him my whole life. Though before I got the nerve to inform him all of this, he went on a fishing trip with his father and grandf...

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“Ingress” by Joyce D

Submitted to Contest #52

The chatter in the cafeteria was deafening as usual. For the people already accustomed to the noise, they seemed to be completely unaffected by the intense piercing of their eardrums, or are plain ignoring it in favour of winning the unspoken contest of letting their voice be heard. For the newcomers or occasional visitors, their first response upon entering the double doors would be to wince, and then sigh in defeat before looking for a vacant seat, realising that there was little they can do about the din. An amused grin is drowned among t...

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“Under Construction by Paul Elliott” by Paul Elliott

Submitted to Contest #52

The year is 2120, Ai’s live amongst humans. “Cradle Technology has allowed for the dead to be reborn through machine”. Jason reads on his holographic news report card. “What a load of crap” Jason exclaims. “Could you imagine the earth run by robots eh Tony? Asks Jason. Tony funnily replies, “Those nerds need to give it a break already”. “In all the years we’ve known each other, has anyone or anything been able to replace what God gave us?” asks Jason. “Nope can’t say it has” said Tony. “Exactly! And if I die, I die. Why would I want to be in...

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“The Shed” by Nanaa Ellet

Submitted to Contest #52

I was just a young girl who graduated high school. When asked what I would do with my life I never was sure what to say. Senior year was when my mother died from a terrible car accident dad and her where in. My dad blamed himself and fell into a drinking binge. He never hurt me, but I also never bothered him during those times. I felt so alone after graduation. My best friend Analise was getting packed up to move to the city for college and I was so proud of her and though she begged me to go with her, I knew I couldn’t leave my dad even if ...

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“Annihilation: Our Intertwined Fate” by Maryum Usman

Submitted to Contest #52

What was I thinking when I decided I wanted to live a new life. A new life? Does that even exist? &nbs...

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“Still Linger” by Tina Gayanes

Submitted to Contest #52

"You want to come with me to the street party?" My eyes widened upon hearing it from Greg. I got excited and wanted to come and dance like crazy with him and the rest of our friends. Teenagers go crazy partying in the 90s, and I'm one of them. But dad won't allow me. He's a little strict and old-fashioned so he wouldn't want his teenage daughter to hang out with young boys at night. At that time, I didn't understand why he wouldn't let me go to such places. Of course, I was curious. I wanted to be free and e...

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“Thursday” by David The Writer

Submitted to Contest #52

"It worked" you thought. You always were a sick one Elise. I couldn't help smiling back. "So may I asked why you did it?" "Oh you don't know why L? I mean honestly out of all the bodies yours turns out to be the perfect one. All it says on this paper is that I need an eye from the necklace you have on and have to arrive to these gates on the street it mentioned. " "No, I DON'T know why. Also why the street of all places?" "So They can see. Anyways follow me. I'll fill you in as you help me run some .. errands." I followed her. Thi...

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“Charlie ” by Nyra Azavedo

Submitted to Contest #52

Ivan collapses to his knees and wipes the sweat off his forehead. The shovel drops onto the dirt, landing beside his blistered fingers. His shirt is coated in blood that wasn't his. Rumor had it, Charlie had no family. And if he did, no one loved him, which is probably why his family deserted him and never came for him since Ivan moved into the neighbourhood seven years ago. Charlie wasn't all right up there. People maintained their distance. So if anything were to happen to Charlie, would anyone even notice he was gone? Ivan met the...

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“Breathing” by Tiffany Lau

Submitted to Contest #52

“Well... My apartment’s over there. Talk to you later?” “Yep,” I replied, waving, and then looked to the side. My eyes locked onto another’s pair. Two holes, dark and soulless, and a face, strained to plaster a smile on, looked back. I averted my eyes down, watched the toy train choo choo around the snowy village on display, sipped my coffee, and then continued on my way. Two holes, a mouth to pump steam out, and a strained smile... I thought he was dead, but there he was, smiling at me. ------ “Ah good morning Be...

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“Present” by Patty Wojtach

Submitted to Contest #52

Why won’t Ivette just shut up? Lauren thought to herself. Lauren never sucked up to Ivette and was never truly considered a member of the team. This zoom meeting will never end! If it wasn’t a pandemic, she would be in the office and could just sit at her desk avoiding the meeting altogether. She was sure Ivette preferred it that way. Lauren would roll her eyes at the way Ivette preached about her devotion to her religion, which, in Lauren’s perspective, had no business in their meetings. Ivette was ramb...

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“Dopamine” by Lauren Veit

Submitted to Contest #52

The thing about death is that it takes a very long time. There’s planning to be done. There’s the wake and the funeral and the food and the gifts. There’s phone calls and texts to be answered. First there are sleepless nights. Then you have the days spent staring at the ceiling. Then afternoons clearing out the house. All of this turning into weeks in your planner that you never bothered to fill out. You knew there was someone in charge of watching you. There was always someone to usher you to the church or the house or the grief counselor. ...

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“Good Friday Resurrection ” by Gilbert Were

Submitted to Contest #52

The Good Friday was my first major denominational celebration since my infamous decision to join the Opus Dei. I perceived this day as conceivably one of those day’s that binned believers somewhere between grief and joy; not sure whether to mourn or celebrate the glorious but painful death of Christ. Of course, Christ had died to free us from the burden of sin as per the lessons, and who would mourn being relieved of their burdens, no matter what the cost had been. But again, how would you celebrate someone much superior losing his life for ...

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“Culpable” by Cheyenne Niel

Submitted to Contest #52

“I’m coming!” Sheri sprints through the house while narrowly avoiding tripping over the unkempt floor with garments and beer bottles on the way to the door. She swings it open to see that a man who looked about 6 feet tall, dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes that looked more green, was standing there. “Can I help you?” “My name is Jared Smith. I’m a detective for the case of your missing son.” He holds out his hand for me to shake it. “Oh! I was told you wouldn’t be able to come till later to discuss the case.” I shake his hand and open the...

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“Redemption Waits in Turkey Creek Canyon” by Marda Deane

Submitted to Contest #52

The man had been on my list for quite some time. The perfect candidate, a story of sadness, pain, and regret. Since birth, he had been marked by tragedy and it hung on his back. Its arms wrapped tightly around him, weighing him down. Did I pull some strings? Of course. In the beginning, I always do. It is much easier to guide somebody to inevitability if they have no hope. They no longer care about their choices afforded to them by free will. And if they were open to the choice, I was certainly going to take the opportunity to guide them to ...

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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

“Home” by Jade Ren

“I saw a Ghost today” by Melisa Troupe

“Ingress” by Joyce D

“Under Construction by Paul Elliott” by Paul Elliott

“The Shed” by Nanaa Ellet

“Annihilation: Our Intertwined Fate” by Maryum Usman

“Still Linger” by Tina Gayanes

“Thursday” by David The Writer

“Charlie ” by Nyra Azavedo

“Breathing” by Tiffany Lau

“Present” by Patty Wojtach

“Dopamine” by Lauren Veit

“Good Friday Resurrection ” by Gilbert Were

“Culpable” by Cheyenne Niel

“Redemption Waits in Turkey Creek Canyon” by Marda Deane

🌟 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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