Set your story in a post-pandemic world, where the effects are still felt even as your character attempts to move on.

Posted in Narrative on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 115 stories

“God please hear and answer my plea” by Anna Komuhangi

Submitted to Contest #84

Life was already hard for her,she tried so much to make it in life and nearly every thing she did to make ends meet ,just failed while her friends around pushed even less than her and they made it, she had her business of her and selling fish and she passionately wanted both to succeed to make her mother proud for what she had done for her in life. She spent all her savings and even borrowed money from her mother,then lock down came in, every thing was put on hold,transportation of honey to come in for her to sell was cut off,her mother's sa...

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“Childish Matters.” by Maria Kachrimanidi

Submitted to Contest #84

TW: bullying, slurs Two years had passed since the extinction of the virus. Yet here I was. In the principal’s office. Captive so as to narrate the events of the previous Sunday night. “You Chinese f-ck,”. All windows were sealed shut, yet a wind of bewilderment managed to blow me straight in the face. All the remarks I had heard till now; all the “go back to China”s’ in the bathroom stalls and all the hostile leers I would constantly receive in cafes and supermarkets; they had never succeeded at bringing about my inc...

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“2027” by Ellie Kidd

Submitted to Contest #84

Tap tap, tap. The rain hitting the window outside did nothing to help James with his focus. As happy as it made him feel that it was a sign of spring. The grey clouds made him feel uneasy. He tore his eyes away to his desk. And at the top of his World War Two quiz he wrote march 23 2027 and his name James Deldon. He then squinted his eyes at the first question. The battle known as D-day is the nickname for what invasion? Tap, tap tap. Trying not to pay attention to the storm. James pulled at his mask, and quickly wrote, invasion ...

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“For Sure” by Waniyah Zarrar

Submitted to Contest #84

Today on top news, COVID-19 Vaccines have been given out to everybody. The world is coming out of lockdown. Let's hear in a report from- "Yo! Alyan! We can breath again! You have no idea how excited I am. We're going out at night to the bar, you want to hop along?" "I'll see, but you can carry on with your plans." "Ugh, stop being a pain in the arse and tag on." "Don't push it Daniel-" "Fine. But consider my offer." He winks at Alyan and leaves the living room. Alyan is 20 years of age and lives with his roommate Daniel, while both...

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“THE MASKED BANSHEE” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #84

Intro: There was a general hubbub of excitement as the community group, “The Ladybugs” congregated together as best they could, considering the social distancing rules. It was hard not to hug someone you had only seen via Zoom for months on end. Harder still to maintain the mandatory mask-wearing, as though it was the height of fashion; though I suspect most of us wear masks every day of our lives. If that were not the case hatred would not be rampant, the offence would not be taken so easily, and forgiveness would be worn as a garment ...

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“Penelope's Grief ” by Josephine Ogarah

Submitted to Contest #84

Starring at the bathroom window, Penelope thought of all the events that happened the previous year as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Missing out from the service year once again after graduating from the University 2years ago, to being a struggling entrepreneur trying to build a business online and failing, to losing a parent during the pandemic, hot tears begin to rush down her cheeks. If things could have been different, none of this would have happened. She thought. The death of her dad w...

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“The Depression Pandemic” by Robert Rogers

Submitted to Contest #84

Post-Pandemic Puzzle Alright already with all the epidemic chatter, time to zero on our post-pandemic woes. I was a child of the 1950s, still am. As such, I have firsthand experience with what followed our last great nationwide malady. In a word, it has to do with depression. Yup, depression. It’s the elephant on my back, the monkey in my room. It stalks me night and day. Other times, too. I got it from my dad. He was a maniac depressant. Or depressive. And yes, maniac. Unlike lepers, lispers, lunatics, and other misfits who hide what ails ...

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“The Wasteland” by Hosea Guy

Submitted to Contest #84

“There’s tough times ahead, Rich, but don’t bow your head yet―don’t bow it ever. No matter how hard things get, keep your chin up.” Richard Banks stared through the window at the white streets and the grey clouds with snow raining down from them. The words his father had said to him over two years ago still echoed in his mind. “I bet you didn’t know times were going to be this hard,” Richard said. He was standi...

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“Standard” by Paige Leppanen

Submitted to Contest #84

Emily shuddered when her leg bumped an upright headstone. The dark granite color reminded her of the counters in Michael’s apartment: cold, impersonal, and dreary. “I’m sorry,” she said to damp grass in front of the headstone. She wasn’t a paranoid person but didn’t want to take any chances. Not after everything that had happened the past five years. A man at a nearby grave looked at her quizzically for a moment. He held a bunch of yellow flowers tied with green ribbon. A little boy next to him clutched a single daisy. His red hair was tou...

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“A Queen's Choice” by MATTHEW ANDERSON

Submitted to Contest #84

She stared out at the city. Now engulfed in flames. The orange lights shining brightly against the dark buildings erected throughout the many districts of the city. Though the fog that descended upon the city's moonlit streets gave the fires a fairly beautiful look, the Queen knew why these fires had been started in the first place. In direct protest of her handling of the plague. Behind closed doors, the Queen invested everything she could into discovering a cure for this plague that had managed to sweep through her city in record time. Ho...

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“Teeth” by Sierra Tkacik

Submitted to Contest #84

“This won’t last forever,” they would say, like one day we would just wake up and find that our masks are no longer needed, that we can finally visit our grandparents and hug them goodbye, “this is temporary.” So many things are temporary. The Roman Empire; Pangea; the dinosaurs. That doesn’t make them any less significant or any shorter. Generations lived and died in tragedies just like this one, but, of course, no one ever believes it will happen to their generation; to them. And when they’re proven wrong, they never think it will l...

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“Collecting Dust” by Lars Barajas

Submitted to Contest #84

He smiles at me from across the room. The light breaking through the blinds in the living room highlight the wrinkles on his face. I wonder what he’s thinking? What’s passing through his mind? Is he thinking about when the last time he went outside was, or when he’ll see his grandkids again? I stop staring and move to throw out the trash. His cheerful gaze never breaks even as the sliding door opens and the street behind us fills the room with morning traffic emulating the sounds of ocean waves during a storm. Outside, t...

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“It will never change...” by Sophia T

Submitted to Contest #84

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Tick. "Ugh!" I groaned as I eventually got up and out of my once warm and comfy bed. It's the year 2030 and life is finally on the right track for once. No diseases, no racism, no feeling of strife or struggle whatsoever. I was a happy guy, but this wasn't a normal morning. As usual I brushed up, changed into some sweats and a hoodie and went to drink my morning coffee. "Something's not right..." I thought to myself for a minute as I laid back uneasily on my couch. Turned on Channel 2 to see a local restaurant that has just...

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“Changing Times” by SHIVANI SUKUMAR

Submitted to Contest #84

It's the end of summer vacation, but this year was far from it. The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything about our lives, and I couldn't wait to go back to how it used to be. I hate change. Change messes things up. I was perfectly fine with the way things were before, but now everything is different. Not to mention their strict, overprotective parenting-leaving me with nothing to do except stay in my room. What did they expect? A fun time while we all stayed inside in "quarantine". The word quarantine just makes it sound so much more ...

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“Never the Same” by Sonali S

Submitted to Contest #84

Eve cannot fathom how much the world has changed. Two years ago, everything felt normal, two years later, after a deadly virus breakout and severe lockdown on several occasions, everything seems strange. People look different, rules and regulations are strict, store policies and basic activities are unfamiliar. The pandemic is over, but its residue still remains. It’s as if we are still experiencing the lockdown. Somehow, she feels that these side effects will last a very long time, reminding everyone of this deadly, unforgiving virus.Eve co...

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Set your story in a post-pandemic world, where the effects are still felt even as your character attempts to move on.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 115 stories

“God please hear and answer my plea” by Anna Komuhangi

“Childish Matters.” by Maria Kachrimanidi

“2027” by Ellie Kidd

“For Sure” by Waniyah Zarrar

“THE MASKED BANSHEE” by Claire Tennant

“Penelope's Grief ” by Josephine Ogarah

“The Depression Pandemic” by Robert Rogers

“The Wasteland” by Hosea Guy

“Standard” by Paige Leppanen

“A Queen's Choice” by MATTHEW ANDERSON

“Teeth” by Sierra Tkacik

“Collecting Dust” by Lars Barajas

“It will never change...” by Sophia T

“Changing Times” by SHIVANI SUKUMAR

“Never the Same” by Sonali S

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that spans exactly a year and takes place in a single room.

Write about someone who grew up in a bunker, and lockdown life is all they’ve ever known.

Write about someone who’s trying to accomplish a task that used to be easy but is now made complicated by a pandemic.

Start your story with a character struggling to remember the date, because every day is like the last one.

Contest #84

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

664

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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