Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Posted in Romance on Sep 22, 2023

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✍️ 91 stories

“The crossroads” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #217

Layla looked at the dark sky as she pulled into Bristol Temple Meads station and couldn’t help but feel a bit queasy. Was it the drawn-out journey from Oxford that had tipped her over the edge after a long week at work? The clocks were about to ‘fall back’ next week and maybe it was the thought of the shorter days. What was it Shakespeare said about entering the night? ‘The night is long that never finds the day’. She was a grown woman for goodness’ sake! She wasn’t walking into a Lion’s Den! Far from it, she was re-uniting with friends, her...

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“Heteronormative” by Frank DiLuzio

Submitted to Contest #217

First dates are always awkward. I put extra attention into things I usually don’t care about: Are my shoelaces tucked in? Are there any hairs out of place on top of my head? Will she hold it against me if I collect Pokémon cards? The last woman I went on a date with was not impressed by my first edition Charizard—her loss. I stare tentatively as I look into the bathroom mirror with a smudge towards the top left corner. “I’m not getting any younger,” I think. The lines on my forehead become more profound, and the circles under my eyes...

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“Eternal Love” by Le Conteur

Submitted to Contest #217

The pungent smell of flesh drifted from Dragu’s plate. “I want to ask you something.” Dragu said, sitting at the restaurant table. His hand clutched a red gemstone pendant hanging from his neck. “Oh, really?” Said Ailia, who sat across from him at the table. “You look very serious about this question. May I use the restroom before you ask?” She raised an eyebrow. Dragu reached out and touched the back of her hand, which was warm. “Of course you may.” “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Said Ailia, lowering her head. Dragu laughed, “Oh, stop it.” Aili...

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“Something in the Way” by Cade Holter

Submitted to Contest #217

This story contains graphic violence and references to sexual assault. Reader discretion advised. She was cornered now. It was her third week on campus and that oversized slob Chase had gotten her alone; backed her right up against a wall in one of the hallways with his arms braced on either side of her head. She was staring right at him in all his pale, shiny faced glory, with yellow teeth coloured in so deeply she could smell all of the residual grease that had been left behind. “Why’re you so cold to me?” He questioned, his to...

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“Too Many J's ” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #217

Too many J's JJ's opened three months before I graduated from high school in 1985. I worked my way through culinary school as a waitress, busboy, dishwasher, and eventually bookkeeper for the previous owner of the building. When he had health problems and needed to be hospitalized, I agreed to run it until he recovered from surgery. Mr. Jonas was the sweetest boss I had ever worked for. He and his wife were the original JJs, John and Jordan, and their children hated the restaurant business. The name was theirs first. I realized how much they...

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“Goodnight Hazy...” by Joan Of Arc

Submitted to Contest #217

Trigger Warning: This story contains sensitive content like mental health and suicide. Hailey jerked out of her sleep. She looked around to get a grip on reality, but as soon as her eyes met the morning sun beneath the window story, she turned away in an uncomfortable squint. Gosh… A few seconds into sitting on the bed, rubbing her eyes like a baby just waking up, her brows shifted into a confused frown and her gaze automatically turned to the floor. Something was off. Images of her dream last night flashed before her eyes, all jumbl...

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“Tainted Love” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #217

They say that there is someone for everybody, and this may be right, but sometimes the planets don’t quite align and those eyes do not meet and so two people who were meant for each other spiral away on the paths of their existence, never to meet and never to explore the special life that they could have had together. Sometimes Destiny slips up and what was meant does not come to pass. There is no denying that and there is certainly no going back to put it right. You can never go backward, only ever forward. That is the nature of o...

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“The Love Eclipse ” by Charlie M

Submitted to Contest #217

Quick Disclaimer: Honsu is The God of The Moon, and Arka is The God of The Sun. Just wanted to clarify so no one was too confused.I held Honsu’s hand and laid against him as the trial was waiting to start. He laid his head on mine and breathed deeply, his way of trying to stay collected in front of others.I looked up at the ceiling, my breath calm and still as I closed my eyes, and the room began to get hotter and brighter as the light that was coming from my body went across the room in rays. I could feel Honsu’s body relax, as, even though...

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“Missed Connection: NYC Ferry, Astoria Route” by Jake Varrone

Submitted to Contest #217

I was the guy on the upper deck with the charcuterie board. You were the woman who slid over and asked why I brought so much meat and cheese on the ferry. I said, “I have a big meeting later, but my interns are sick, so I picked up the appetizers.” You said I was full of it. Then I said, “Try this prosciutto with gouda and grapes, and tell me I’m full of it.” You leaned in, and stopped, and asked if you would get me in trouble, to which I replied, “I live for trouble.” Then you laughed. You took a bite. You made a face like you had an orgasm...

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“r/relationship_connect Searching for Inna” by Kat Z

Submitted to Contest #217

r/relationship_connect Jiaxu_0325 I am looking to reconnect with someone. Her name is Inna... She should be around 22 at the time of me posting this. I received the following letters. She sent one more on July 20th 2023. Please Inna if you are seeing this reply with the last letter. I know I am late but I only got the letters now. It's not an excuse but I promise I will explain everything. If you recognize the handwriting or the letters please tell Inna. June 30th, 2022 Dear Jiaxu, I truly don't know what you did to me but you are consta...

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“The Castaway Bride” by Christine Richardson

Submitted to Contest #217

THE CASTAWAY BRIDE “Land ho!” A desperate bellow, brightened by hope. Perhaps salvation was within our grasp and we would survive after all. I tightened my hold on the whatever-it-was that I was clinging to, and held my breath as yet another salty shower washed over me.. The night was alive with curses, screams and prayers. A bolt of lightning turned our darkness into day, and I caught a glimpse of two men wrestling with the great wheel of the Windrider, striving to keep her nose headed into the towering waves. I po...

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“Those Eyes” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #217

“Rebecca, would you like to join the others in a card game?” Her gaze shifted from the blue sky through the window to the lady standing over her waiting for an answer. Card game? What was she talking about? “Rebecca? Hmmm, what do you think? Want to play some rummy?” “No.” She returned her gaze to the bluest of skies letting the voice float away. It was the perfect color, reminding her of that day so long ago. Where was she? Leaning back, legs outstretched holding onto those chains she saw ...

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“Lover's Clash” by Ro Davis

Submitted to Contest #217

I remember watching him be pulled away by the officers. The dust floating up in the air from his shoes dragging across the sandy orange ground. Everyone in town gathered around and watched the love of my life be taken away from me, all for being wrongly accused of stealing an apple. Today I sit in my hammock that I have set up on the roof of my strong clay house. I look at the town, it’s beautiful as always. The sun rising over the horizon. The sky is lit up in orange, yellows, pinks, and a beginning of the beautiful blue which covers...

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“Sunday Morning Drive” by Thandi Parris

Submitted to Contest #217

The suburbs constantly sing with the tinny buzz of lawnmowers. In the summer, suburbia sweats the smell of freshly cut grass- manicured lawns. The fall is for breathing out leaves needing to be raked.It was chilly for September, thought Miriam. She wiped the moisture from her brow and threw the rake down in disgust. She was angry at the leaves for still being soaked from the rain two nights ago. As the wind stirred again, she kicked the leaves and decided that her neighbor James could take over tomorrow. He already mowed her lawn in the summ...

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“Fairy Tales Are Not Real” by Deliliah Smith

Submitted to Contest #217

It had been seven years. Seven years since he had broke her heart. She thought when her first boyfriend had broken up with her she had experienced the torture that is universal to all humans; heartbreak, but this time had been unbearable, she felt ruined. Over her desk at work she cried for days, clearing her face of tears every time a colleague walked by. Some were kind squeezing her shoulder, others would roll their eyes and shake their heads. Once the initial shock had worn off she would have moments where she thought she was over him, he...

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Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 91 stories

“The crossroads” by Rebecca Detti

“Heteronormative” by Frank DiLuzio

“Eternal Love” by Le Conteur

“Something in the Way” by Cade Holter

“Too Many J's ” by Kimberly Walker

“Goodnight Hazy...” by Joan Of Arc

“Tainted Love” by Jed Cope

“The Love Eclipse ” by Charlie M

“Missed Connection: NYC Ferry, Astoria Route” by Jake Varrone

“r/relationship_connect Searching for Inna” by Kat Z

“The Castaway Bride” by Christine Richardson

“Those Eyes” by Hannah Lynn

“Lover's Clash” by Ro Davis

“Sunday Morning Drive” by Thandi Parris

“Fairy Tales Are Not Real” by Deliliah Smith

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Write about a sleuth who’s a little too keen, but not because they have a traumatic past they won’t talk about.

Write a story about a warrior who doesn’t want to kill the dragon.

Contest #217

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

284

Contest entries

130

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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