Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

Posted in Narrative on May 31, 2024

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✍️ 94 stories

“Bearing the Unbearable” by Violet Frost

Submitted to Contest #253

TW: Death, War This could have been anywhere in America, but today it was a suburb outside of Lexington. It was our last job of a grueling week of house calls and much to my relief, Magoffin volunteered to drive today. He insisted that the reason for his offering was that he didn’t live far from the neighborhood and wanted to invite me for a bite to eat afterward, but I understood that he saw how work had been taking a toll on me lately. Magoffin had a keen sense for these things, and he knew damn well that he could twist my arm with Ellie’s...

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“Lorena” by Lauren Marcellino

Submitted to Contest #253

My heart was pounding as I walked through the doors of the police station. The moment I sat down in a stiff, creaking chair, an officer called my name from across the small room. I froze, my eyes glued to the stranger's face. He was unshaven with a mole beside his nose that seemed to take the spotlight from the rest of his harsh features. I stood, my feet like cement bricks on the floor. Forcing myself forward, I kept a close look at my escort. His face was unflinching, everything about him harsh including the smell of black coffee and...

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“The Subway Ride” by Lauren Hill

Submitted to Contest #253

“doors are closing” Jeanie hears as she’s racing down long flight of subway steps into to the platform; rushing past the riders who had stepped off as she basically threw herself into the train car before the doors closed. She steadies herself and grasps the railing, looking around without making it too obvious to see if anybody noticed her dramatic launch into the train. But of course, nobody cared. Not that anybody would regardless (wilder things happen on a subway than a girl rushing to catch it) but on that particular day, It was too hot...

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“Sunday Morning” by John Van Winkle

Submitted to Contest #253

“Sunday Morning” My eyes are pried open by the sun peeking past leaves outside my north-facing window, its curtain softly swaying to the tune of a warm June breeze, whose sweet scents seem to float on the perky chirps and some other muffled sounds of morning. It feels good to sleep-in past dawn, as I let out a gigantic yawn, stretching my arms up and out over my head and straightening my legs all the way to the end of an oh-so-cozy bed… that is shamelessly inviting me to cuddle under the sheet for just a little while longer. “Mm, ...

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“A Crow's Caw” by M B

Submitted to Contest #253

“May the ravens caw your name at twilight,” a man in regal clothes and crown said to the rather tall personage in a dear skull - mask? Face? As the regal man said this, the butterfly wings on his back fluttered. Yvette blinked. She had the feeling that she was having a wonderful time at the party. It was a nice spring day and everyone there - except deer skull - was dressed in finery, all of their wings gently fluttering in the breeze. Yvette laughed, trying to blend in as she was approached by deer skull. “Are you having a good time, young ...

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“Percolating Thoughts” by Heather Eldridge

Submitted to Contest #253

Liam checked his watch for what must have been the fifteenth time in the past five minutes. He was astounded to see the second hand still ticking along, reliably as ever. Had it still only been another minute? It felt like he was stuck in time; the waiting was interminable. Liam sighed and drummed his fingers on the table. If he wasn’t here in another five minutes, Liam was going to leave. He’d had enough of waiting, and he was wishing he just hadn’t come at all. Liam looked around the café in an attempt to distract himself.The door had just...

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“Two Minutes To Go” by Mack Crotwell

Submitted to Contest #253

I’m going to pass out. I’m going to pass out and hit my head on this disgusting, stained tile and catch a deadly infection and die. If I weren’t freaking out when I flew through the bathroom door, I would’ve taken my time to look around before squatting over the dirty, cracked toilet and struggling to balance against the stall while holding the test between my legs. It was clear this bathroom needed some TLC and I was not about to be the one to be wheeled out of it on a gurney. I rested my forehead against my palms and tried to take a deep b...

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“Close Encounters of the Blurred Kind” by Matt Austin

Submitted to Contest #253

Ivan was parked up in his Mercedes E-Class on Ropemaker’s Fields. Just opposite The Grapes public house, owned by Sir Ian McKellen. From his seat he admired the pub’s classic, frosted glass front door and windows. Ivan wished he were inside as he often was. Enjoying a pint of Guinness in front of the roaring fire. At one o’clock in the morning, it was actually far too late for any customers to be drinking in the pub. And he was pretty sure it wasn’t the sort of pub that did lock-ins. He took a greedy bite of his large chicken shawarma sandwi...

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“Awake” by Ally N

Submitted to Contest #253

Sensitive theme - medical trauma I stirred from a deep sleep to the steady beat of a pulse. First, I felt it faintly throughout my body, then as I ventured closer to consciousness, I realized I was hearing the sound of a consistent beep. The beat filled the air every other second. My first thought was that my alarm clock went off, and it was time to get ready for school. Quickly, I remembered that I no longer went to school. I was an adult… I think. Everything felt quite fuzzy. That thought process was swiftly abandoned when I opened ...

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“Finding a Day One” by Stephen Laviera

Submitted to Contest #253

Addison rushed back into her room from the bathroom. Deciding to change her outfit a third time. The thrill of not knowing the destination of the date. Only knowing it was going to be outside. She wanted to be comfortable to walk, as well as sit for a picnic. Both which Rocco stated were going to happen. Addison settled on a daisy and sunflower print medium length dress with sand brown flats. Feeling this outfit was the right choice. She merely skipped, strolled through the doorway. Her roommate's room was strai...

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“The Happy Room” by Steven P

Submitted to Contest #253

Dear Reader,Please note that the following story contains imagery of self harm, suicide, and declination of mental health. If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts and/or affected by mental illnesses, please do your best to reach out for help. The Happy Room Hedwig Bauer sits at his desk pondering with his hands clasped together. He is a gentleman who knew nothing but the time he spent adventuring the world and history itself. His intricate office patiently lies still as does he. The enclosed room was spacious but decorated f...

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“Alive” by Jeff Macloud

Submitted to Contest #253

Bruce knew he was about to do something stupid. And he didn't care. He marveled at that. Why would he put himself at risk like this? He was normally a safe rider. He never took unnecessary risks. Yet he knew that was about to change, as if yesterday and tomorrow meant -- nothing. He focused on the rear bumper of the slow moving panel truck in front of him and decided it was time. There was no way to explain what he was about to do. He wasn't late for anything. He had no place to be. Nobody was waiting for him. He had nothing special to get ...

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“Old Spice and Watermelon” by Amelie Peterson

Submitted to Contest #253

Triggers: mention of suicide and overdose. Also erotic (but not sexually explicit). You got that button-down short-sleeve at Walmart, didn’t you? It looks like a Walmart shirt to me. You wear it well. Who are you? I want to cherry-pick your brain, keeping the things I like and leaving the others to whither - like an orchardist, cutting down the bad trees so the healthy ones can grow. As you open the door for me, I catch an unmistakable glint of heaviness in your gaze. If not for that, I’d have thought you were enjoying yourself...

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“Hippo” by Rhen H

Submitted to Contest #253

"Hello little one. How old are you?"My Uncle Nick stands over me with the sun just behind his face. It's so bright I can't really see him. I hold up four fingers and shout the number, just to make sure he knows."You're such a big girl! Are you going to jump in the pool today?" I giggle."Noooo it's too scary.""Scary?! But, you're a big kid now! Big kids are brave, right?" I beam up at him."Yes!""Good! I want to see you jump in today, Okay?""Okay!" He smiles at me, pats my head and then lopes away with those too-long legs that grown-ups have. ...

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“A Moment in Time ” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #253

The weather is sunny and moderately windy at Carol's Carnival Rides, a pop-up traveling carnival that has arrived in our area for the weekend. I'm surrounded by carnival games like The Milk Bottle game, Whack-a-Mole, Water Gun Race, Apple Basket Toss, basketball game, and more. To the right of me, I see a Balloons and Dart game, and a boy of about ten jumping up and down, hysterically happy after he manages to break a green balloon with one of his darts. "I can't believe I did it!" he proclaims eagerly to his pleased parents, ...

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Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 94 stories

“Bearing the Unbearable” by Violet Frost

“Lorena” by Lauren Marcellino

“The Subway Ride” by Lauren Hill

“Sunday Morning” by John Van Winkle

“A Crow's Caw” by M B

“Percolating Thoughts” by Heather Eldridge

“Two Minutes To Go” by Mack Crotwell

“Close Encounters of the Blurred Kind” by Matt Austin

“Awake” by Ally N

“Finding a Day One” by Stephen Laviera

“The Happy Room” by Steven P

“Alive” by Jeff Macloud

“Old Spice and Watermelon” by Amelie Peterson

“Hippo” by Rhen H

“A Moment in Time ” by ER Castaneda

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

Start your story with a character canceling their plans.

Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."

Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.

Contest #253

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

335

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: