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

“Christmas Temptation” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #217

Christmas music rang out as Tracy glanced across the room. She caught Oliver’s eye and then glanced away, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, and continued her conversation with Jill, the company’s head of human resources. Jill was wearing a Rudolph sweater with a large glowing nose that Tracy could not stop staring at when she was not looking around the room for Oliver. What Tracy really wanted to do is walk across the room, grab Oliver by the back of the head, and give him the same big kiss he gave her below the m...

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“Maroon's Mob” by Patricia Atkins

Submitted to Contest #217

I love her. I love her and she’s going to be mine. Those were the thoughts that tore through my mind when I first saw her. I was at Sarah’s, eating with my mom. We always went to Sarah’s on Thursday nights. It was our little tradition. Perhaps, in reality, it was the only time I suffered the company of my own mother. On the other side of the restaurant sat a loud and obnoxious table full of people I’d never seen before. Most of the customers that went to Sarah’s were regulars, so it was highly unusual to see an entire...

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“Fateful Crossroads” by Captain Henson

Submitted to Contest #217

The bar was unusually empty for a Saturday night. Rupert kept his eyes on the entrance, hoping an attractive woman would enter. The ones already in there just weren't up to his standards. Of all the nights he chose to drink, it had to be this one. He was riding high, no pun intended, after stealing a train. But not just any train, an experimental diesel construction engine with a claw attached to its top. Fetched him a pretty penny on the black market, so he wanted to celebrate this momentous accomplishment with women and beer. And so far, h...

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“Love Lost” by Denise Clarke-Argo

Submitted to Contest #217

Anya and Ethan met in high school. They were both in the same English class, and they quickly bonded over their shared love of books and writing. Anya was shy and introverted, while Ethan was outgoing and confident. But despite their differences, they were drawn to each other like magnets. They started dating their junior year, and they were inseparable. They would spend hours talking about their dreams and aspirations, and they supported each other through thick and thin. Anya helped Ethan with his math homework, and ...

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“The Fight” by Melody Watson

Submitted to Contest #217

Jane gazed into the bright orange setting sun, dreaming. It was evenings like these that get one’s dreams flowing. The warm breeze tousling her sagging curls, and caressing her cooling skin. The caress much like his. The memories flooding her with warmth, the warmth caused by his sweet gentle touch upon her cheek, as he knelt on one knee. “Will you marry me, my sweet Jane? I promise to love always. Please Jane, make me a happy man.” “I am already married to you in my heart,” Jane whispered into the breeze, like she had done so long a...

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“Good” by Bhavishya Kala Chilukuri

Submitted to Contest #217

I feel sick. I used to tell everyone I love how smarter she is than me but how can she be so intellectually deprived as to think she disgusts me? I could see her with a bloody knife in her hand, with her eyes as red as the devil, and I would still wonder when fate irrevocably twisted so much, and let me have the ever-lovely pleasure of waking up every morning and seeing the face of an angel, in the place of some painfully irrelevant paper that would tell the stories of the day. I feel like I could throw up anytime I think of crawli...

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“Flat Soda” by Chalice Davis

Submitted to Contest #217

Soda pop, pop, pop. Nose hairs dance. It's hot! Sweat falls down the sides of her curly auburn hair, kissed by the summer sun. Wide, white grin–blue tongues from melted popsicles. She sparkled in the sun like refracted glass. Rainbows dance on the ground. She had that look about her, a fascinating spectacle of chance. The spokes, the wheels, grey–they had lost their luster from heavy use, she spun the pedal slowly on her sky-blue bicycle. "I'm glad we did this!" Sasha said, cooly. "Me too." “How long has it been since you've ri...

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“Sparkles and Twirls” by Anastasia E French

Submitted to Contest #217

Dear Diary,Well..I am now 16 years old! I have a learner’s permit and am practicing driving. Dad allows me to drive on the way to/from school to band practice. He says I have a lead foot.He strokes his upper lip, where his red mustache used to be, and says, “I need you to practice driving slower so you can drive yourself to school after you get your license.” Does this mean I will get my own car, Diary??!!I met A SPECIAL guy. He is six feet tall, with strawberry blonde hair, and the most beautiful brown eyes. He plays trombone...

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“Pesto” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #217

I remember the first day I saw him. It wasn’t his good looks. Sure, he was ruggedly handsome, messy hair and perfect stubble, but that wasn’t it. It was his smile. When he smiled his eyes disappeared and he was all teeth and chin and cheekbones. Then he’d laugh and blink bashfully, and grin like he was just so happy to be in your presence, grateful that you were giving him the time, even though, really, you were the lucky one. He was sitting on the edge of one of the eastside planters, him and a group of co-workers. They were having ...

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“Wish you back” by Ella Copeland

Submitted to Contest #217

I sit on the bus heading home after a long day. The rain beating down hard as I sit and listen. I pull out my phone and the screen lights up. I stare at the picture of you, your pretty face smiling back at me. It's been almost a year now. I get off at my stop and stand in the rain, letting it run down my face. Wanting to remember you the way you were before. back.. I remember picking you up at your house for the first time. I was so nervous, but when I saw your smile all of that went away. We walked through the park holding hands. Your face ...

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“Any Day Now” by Maya Rose

Submitted to Contest #217

Ellie, Age 13 Ellie Harper. Ellie Noah Harper. Mrs Noah Harper. Just scribbled words on a page, but the shape of them in my eyes, the sound they make in my head, is enough to make my heart pound louder than if a bomb were to go off right in my room. The mental images they invoke make my cheeks heat up. Noah kissing me with those full, pouty lips whenever he wants. His big, strong arms around me whenever I want. That dimpled smile on his handsome face, just for me. Him saying his wedding vows. To me. We’ll have the pre...

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“Venedig” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #217

July 22, 1961 “I love you but—” “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t say it.” I shifted on my feet uneasily, not quite knowing what to do with my hands. “Let’s just—let’s enjoy the time we have left.” I took her hand and squeezed it, giving her a nod, but my expression must’ve been solemn. It’s hard to enjoy something when the end of it is fast approaching; in sight even, just ten hours on my watch. All you can focus on are the grains in the hourglass that are falling way too quickly. “Let’s find a shop, get some wine.” The streets of Venice are ...

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“The End of Herself” by Tatham Baker

Submitted to Contest #217

A small, meek man walked down the street. He held a physics book under one arm and took each stride with purpose and valour. He quickly pushed his hair to the side in a quiff as his mind began to race on what his thesis could actually be; theorems and formulae that were far too complex or specific smashed themselves around his head like bats screeching within a cave, clouding his thoughts in dark, leathery wings. The sun beat down on his scalp as he restyled his hair into the aforementioned quiff. He pushed his glasses up his sweaty nose as ...

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“Too Late ” by Will Williams

Submitted to Contest #217

Content warning: The story contains mention of substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health For the first time in maybe four decades, I had let myself hope. The walls had come down, I looked the universe in the face and accepted that it was my turn. I’ve been alone for a long time. The vast majority of my sixty-eight years. A large part of myself has always felt undeserving like I'll never be able to make up for my past mistakes. I feel more foolish than ever for thinking that God had forgiven me and would finally ...

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“His Dimension” by Zakiya Lockett

Submitted to Contest #217

His Dimension Elio sat on the bench in the free weight area at the gym near his house. He rubbed his head then rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at his watch checking the time, it was 5:37pm. He remembered he told Tyran he would meet him and the rest of the crew for dinner tonight to watch the football game. None of their teams were playing but wanted to enjoy watching the game. They all set the time to be seven to meet up at the restaurant. I have enough time to make it, he thought. He grabbed his gym bag, looked behi...

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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

“Christmas Temptation” by Madeline Honig

“Maroon's Mob” by Patricia Atkins

“Fateful Crossroads” by Captain Henson

“Love Lost” by Denise Clarke-Argo

“The Fight” by Melody Watson

“Good” by Bhavishya Kala Chilukuri

“Flat Soda” by Chalice Davis

“Sparkles and Twirls” by Anastasia E French

“Pesto” by Levi Michael

“Wish you back” by Ella Copeland

“Any Day Now” by Maya Rose

“Venedig” by Joey Balk

“The End of Herself” by Tatham Baker

“Too Late ” by Will Williams

“His Dimension” by Zakiya Lockett

🌟 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 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: