Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Posted in Narrative on Jul 19, 2024

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✍️ 105 stories

“ “The Midnight Carousel”” by Sasha-Gaye Harrison

Submitted to Contest #260

Once upon a moonlit night, in the quaint village of Somnium Hollow, there stood an old, weathered carousel. Its paint had faded, and its wooden horses bore the weight of countless generations. Children would gather there during the day, their laughter echoing as they rode the merry-go-round, chasing dreams that spun 'round and 'round.But it was at night that the carousel truly came alive. When the moon hung low and the stars winked mischievously, the rusty gears would creak into motion. The horses leaped off their poles, their eyes glowing l...

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“The Bench” by Tom D

Submitted to Contest #260

It was late summer when you came to the bench. I was sat reading a book - I don’t know which - while listening to the lazy hum of the bees dipping in and out of the scented wildflowers, a gentle breeze playing on my skin. I didn’t hear you coming; I looked up, and there you were. “Hello, Alice,” I said. “Jacob.” You smiled back at me, settled down beside me. “I’ve missed you.”“I’ve missed you too,” I said, returning the smile. There was a pause. My smile gave way to a slight frown. “It’s been too long. I thought…I thought you may n...

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“Just A Few More Things” by Lindsay Flo

Submitted to Contest #260

My father has been talking to me a lot lately. Of course, he is a quintessential conversationalist—no mundane chats for him. He isn’t one to participate in the banal back-and-forth about the weather, or the economy, unless there’s something exciting to discuss. A tornado coming, perhaps. A stock market drop. Not that all his talking points are intense either, although lately they have been. Lately, his words come in written form, as if he can’t bear to wait until we are together to say what’s on his mind. His thoughts pour into emails and te...

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“THE EXPRESS TRAIN” by BRUCE MARTIN

Submitted to Contest #260

Jack stood on the subway platform awaiting his express train. It had been a long, arduous day at work, as usual, and he could think of nothing else but getting home to his loving family, having a warm supper and a good night’s sleep. His wife, Jill, despite being loud and shrill, was always there to greet him with a hug and kiss. And his three daughters, eleven, thirteen and fifteen, despite often sounding like a gaggle of honking geese, were always happy to see him. Leaning against a subway post, he allowed himself to drift into ...

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“Candlestick Kingdom ” by Liv Chocolate

Submitted to Contest #260

cw: greif, loss, deathI see my face in my mother’s. Her head, an oval-shaped mirror on a frail torso, shimmers in the moonlight and reflects my image back at me. I can see that I look just as despondent as I feel when I see my reflection in her. My eyes are swollen and my nose wet. I have been in denial for the last several years that my mother is reaching her end.When she first started showing signs of expiration, my father, the emperor of Candlestick Kingdom, took her to the appraiser, who examined her carefully under the light o...

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“The Lounge” by Taylor Petska

Submitted to Contest #260

It was all just a dream.Or so I thought.I had fallen asleep thinking about her. That woman from the library. The one wearing a sleek black dress, her blonde hair curled in thick waves falling just to her shoulders. She glanced my direction as she entered, as if her sole purpose of this visit was to find me. My eyes peered over the top of my heavy laptop where I sat, the cursor bobbing on the screen anticipating my next move. Taunting me in my peripheral as my focus was now set on this mysterious person across the room. She sauntere...

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“Another Day at the Office” by Hannah Amies

Submitted to Contest #260

As I exit the shower, steam trails behind me and hangs thick in the air like a miasma. I swipe my hand across the fogged up mirror to stare at the darkened hollows that now surround my eyes. Another night with not enough sleep. This punishing schedule feels like hell, but I remind myself that it will all be worth it to get that big promotion. I change quickly, pulling on my pinstriped suit of armour for the day and trudge into the kitchen in my socks. As I flip on the kettle and reach for an apple, an alert on my phone pulls me from my...

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“Population Two ” by Cheryl Bynum

Submitted to Contest #260

POPULATION TWO (A Short Story)It was a beautiful, sultry, and sunny day. Loveda had received a phone call from Rhoda, a high school colleague. Rhoda had moved several months ago and had been inviting Loveda and her sister Renee, to her new home. A wave of nostalgia swept over them as they continue to laugh and talk about the daunting experiences that they had encountered with Rhoda.Loveda was short about 5' 2 tall, petite, coy, and very attractive and long black hair. Renee was tall, s...

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“I'd Like To A-Freud That In The Future” by Jasmine Johnstone

Submitted to Contest #260

This story contains themes of abstract gore/violence, though nothing explicit.Jennifer was sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing his big, grey hoodie and smiling as he showed her his collection. Dragon eye dice, a personalised counter and three thick books of cards, sorted into carefully organised sections, she beamed at him like she could listen to it all day. Once he finished explaining different card combinations, he sat down on the bed next to her, slightly tilting her towards him as it sagged in the middle. Her long, silky hair was co...

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“Elvis At Work” by JMH Flood

Submitted to Contest #260

The bell on the door rang, as a customer entered. Betsy looked up and saw Young Elvis - alive and well and looking very handsome headed towards the science fiction section. Betsy had seen many strange things at her job, but nothing quite like this. A typical day would include someone with their cat in a stroller, dressed up in ballroom dancewear. Or, a dog that says, “I love you” plain as day when the owner said it to them. But, never had she seen Elvis in the store. “Ow!” Betsy whispered to herself after she pinched the inside of her elbow ...

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“States of Mind” by Jim Duffy

Submitted to Contest #260

It is the light in the mountains that Dan finds particularly inspiring. There is something about the way the clear sky turns deep blue against the fiercely-reflective snow that lifts his spirits - a world away from the winter gloom of deepest Surrey. Home has its own attractions but Dan is energised by the Austrian Alps and the prospect of fresh adventures along the ski trails of Zell am See and beyond. He’s been coming here since he was four with his parents, always to the same apartment. His dad was the architect for the development a...

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“Walking for Dummies” by Sammi Heilman

Submitted to Contest #260

Nina lay her head on her desk. It was finally the lunch break. Her head pounded with the remnants of a hangover mixed with a sleep debt several nights in the making. The cool wood of the desk felt nice against her forehead, and she breathed deeply, the cheap smell of plywood and the sticky sweetness of lemon candy filling her senses. She needed to stop letting the students sit at her desk, or she needed to clean more thoroughly. She knew the candy smell was probably from Sebastian. He liked to sit at her desk when he finished his work, and t...

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“Variants” by T Lee

Submitted to Contest #260

My heart pumps furiously in my chest as I run, dodging bullets with either instinct or luck; right now I do not care which. Beside me Lucas yells something, but another explosion shakes the ground and I can hear nothing except a dull ringing in my ears. Ahead of me is the ramp to a light blue flighter, and we are close, so close, but from the corner of my eye I see Lucas stumble and fall. Shit, shit, shit. I hault, changing course to run back to where Lucas is scrambling to get up, my hands alrea...

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“Just a dream?” by Cameron Navarre

Submitted to Contest #260

“What if you’re not dreaming?” Martin was watching the rain drops streaking down the window. The watery paths warped the view of the greenery outside. A fitting metaphor, he thought, but the reason escaped him. For a moment, he wondered where he was, before noticing the familiar smell of old books and stale coffee. “I’m…I’m sorry, what did you say?” Martin replied, slowly turning his head towards his faceless therapist. The man wore a yellow sweater, his torso standing out amidst the washed-out browns and black objects in the dimly lit offic...

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“Edgar's Escape” by Bob Vaddiparty

Submitted to Contest #260

Edgar’s Escape Bob Vaddipartybinarystars1993@yahoo.com24 July 2024 "Edgar, stop lollygagging and move your lazy ass. Everybody's finished and they're headed back to …" were the last words I heard out of my tormentor's mouth before the sound of a thousand bricks hitting the floor reverberated throughout the bathroom. I was cleaning the last of my assigned toilets during the 2022 Superbowl at CenturyLink Stadium in Seattle. Tom Brady, age forty-four, the same as mine, just won his eighth 'big game' in eleven attempts. I ima...

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Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 105 stories

“ “The Midnight Carousel”” by Sasha-Gaye Harrison

“The Bench” by Tom D

“Just A Few More Things” by Lindsay Flo

“THE EXPRESS TRAIN” by BRUCE MARTIN

“Candlestick Kingdom ” by Liv Chocolate

“The Lounge” by Taylor Petska

“Another Day at the Office” by Hannah Amies

“Population Two ” by Cheryl Bynum

“I'd Like To A-Freud That In The Future” by Jasmine Johnstone

“Elvis At Work” by JMH Flood

“States of Mind” by Jim Duffy

“Walking for Dummies” by Sammi Heilman

“Variants” by T Lee

“Just a dream?” by Cameron Navarre

“Edgar's Escape” by Bob Vaddiparty

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story with a big twist.

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Contest #260

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

429

Contest entries

131

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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