Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Posted in Sad on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 88 stories

“Herb and Mr. Reaper” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #163

Herb and Mr. Reaper“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”-Muhammed AliHerb wished the end had come during the football season. He had little interest in the baseball games on TV, the news was always bad, he found little merit in today’s sitcoms, and he had seen his old favorites so many times he could predict nearly every line. He was no longer receptive to visits, having grown tired of the gushing, overly dramatic, even tearful visits from family and friends. Herb was in a sorry state.At least he w...

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“The One That Got Away” by Tuesday Harmon

Submitted to Contest #163

Time, never enough time. Death is coming for me. When I heard Missy scream outside my door, I knew then- my time was up. The doctor lied to me. He said everything was going to be okay but I knew better. I remember the look of pity the doctor gave me. This time he didn't even bother to write anything on his clipboard. When he turned and walked out the door, he shut it softly as if the sound would explode my ear drums. My wife would never scream and cry, unless she was with her ex, Kevin, the lucky bastard is a millionaire. Maybe, he will tr...

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“The Death of Blitzkrieg” by Jamal Hartley

Submitted to Contest #163

My life is kinda funny Here I am sitting on one of the most famous buildings in the world, The Empire State Building, looking down on one of the greatest cities in the world during its night life. Looking out seeing lights as far as the eye can see. The roar of thunder makes me glance up at the sky. Oh yeah, I just found out my life may be coming to an abrupt end. That could ruin your whole day. Staring up into the sky, watching the dark threatening storm cloud rolling in fast, and then I look down at my gloved hands. Everyone always sai...

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“Apple Seeds” by Ramel Kersey

Submitted to Contest #163

I wish somebody would’ve told me that dissociating yourself from pain will only cause more damage. Then again, I probably wouldn’t have understood. I know I wouldn’t have comprehended the concept of experiencing misery in order to value joy. Not because I was too naive, I simply didn’t have the tools to apply that logic. In fact, I wish I didn’t have the knowledge so I could continue on in my bliss of ignorance. I would trade so much to live a life unaware of trauma, to walk through the world without the cognizance of potentially not making ...

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“It Was My Fault” by J.R. Wise

Submitted to Contest #163

This short story contains graphic scenes from combat, explicit language, and references to mental health issues related to combat experience. It was my fault. “Fuck! What did we hit?” I yelled as my head whipped forward and hit a solid metal wall. Only my helmet saved my skull from being cracked open like an egg. Objects which apparently were not secured in their proper places pelted me as the whole world seemed to shake. The tremors then stopped as suddenly as they had started. A loud buzzing noise ec...

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“A Moment of Self Pity” by Mandy C

Submitted to Contest #163

The day outside seemed perfect. Small,fluffy white clouds travelled lazily across a blue sky, and the sun was reflecting off the snow covering the backyard. A blue jay skipped across the top of the fence toward the feeder, and it was still too early for neighbours to be leaving for church, so the everything was still quiet. Allison felt that the scene seemed so false, like a painting hung over a hole in the wall, calm and serene when the inside of her mind was like a black pool of turmoil. Anger overwhelmed her, and she yanked the blind...

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“One Day Closer to Death” by Jennifer Rinaldi

Submitted to Contest #163

Alex“I’m sorry Ms. Razilee, we need to remove this tumor now, the sooner the better, we need to make sure that the margins are clean, so that we can spare as much tissue as we are able. After we are finished here I’ll have you follow my PA to scheduling, do have any questions for me?”“No.” She swallowed hard as the sound left a throat that was so dry that words had no voice. The tears came hot and sudden, the doctor’s face a mix of sympathy and boredom. No one acknowledged her red face, or her tears, as she walked down the long dark hallway ...

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“Lost but Heard” by Kyle Quande

Submitted to Contest #163

In the city of sin, the reaper walks in the light. I’ve come to learn that now. I went on a trip to Las Vegas, just my friend and me. “My best friend!” That’s what he called me, but he was a hindrance to me, or so I thought of him as such. But I went with him on this trip cause he invited me and paid for me to go. How could I say no? We hit the pool, and he wanted to play some childlike games. I was hesitant but gave in. It was fun. I hadn’t let loose like that in a long time. He was different from me in many ways, and I always thought ...

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“Jayden's Revelations” by Jack Latreille

Submitted to Contest #163

Trigger Warning: Violence and Mental Distress Jayden punched the white brick wall, and then his head. Both thuds were swallowed by the stagnant air of the shelter. He shot a glance at his peeling knuckles as they re-inflated with a bright pink and purple hue. He shuddered and looked away from the coarse, cracked stones that were his hands. Sitting up, he looked at his watch and shot a cautious glance at Marl and Dennis. They sat in their usual positions, angled at the wall. Jayden let out a shaky, sputtering sigh. They hadn’t started yelli...

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“Feeling for the First Time” by Daniel Rains

Submitted to Contest #163

[CW: attempted suicide and violence] My journey wasn’t always honorable. Long ago, I used my abilities for personal gain and caused pain instead of hope. After spreading suffering for decades, I finally realized helping others produced extended happiness rather than the short-term pleasure of instant gratification. I peered at the small glass vial. The bright blue liquid glistened in the afternoon sun, reflecting its light into the face of the man across from me as I spun it. His sunken features, scab-covered skin, and pul...

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“DORIS” by Les Clark

Submitted to Contest #163

DORIS By Les Clark “Are you tired?” I’d asked Doris a few times during our back and forth. She paused, referring to her notes. “Of course not,” she responded in an unwavering voice she used long ago to corral six kids. “All they talk about here is pills and illness. I’m enjoying this. No, I’m fine.” Doris rested comfortably in a well-padded red brocade chair she’d had one of her kids bring from the home she shared with her husband before he passed years ago. Before her, on a TV tray table of indeterminate age, sat her latest large prin...

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“Katie and Gigi’s Conversation” by Jennifer Steinhurst

Submitted to Contest #163

Katie and Gigi’s Conversation By Jennifer Steinhurst Katie felt cold. She wondered if Gigi felt cold wherever she had gone. It still didn’t quite make sense to her five (almost six!) year old brain as to where exactly her Gigi, her mom’s mom, had gone exactly. It was such a sunny, pretty day for everyone to be so sad. Mama was sad, so was Tia Lis and Tio Bernard. Mama and her brother and sister all held hands at the front of the church, standing near the box that had her Gigi in it. The church had been decorated all over with flowers on ...

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“A Few Lessons I learned from Death” by Hannah Barton

Submitted to Contest #163

I held my phone in my hand, the dial tone echoing through my head. That's it. It's happened. The tears slipped from my eyes before I realized I was crying, and I closed my eyes and just sobbed. It was 5 in the morning, and I was sobbing on a pile of clean clothing I had to fold that day. My ex husband was getting ready for work, and heard me. He walked out of the bathroom cautiously, as he had never seen me cry before. "What's going on?" he asked fearfully."My mom died," I said to him. I couldn't stop crying, but I didn't know why I was cryi...

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“Dead Wrong” by Alice Baburek

Submitted to Contest #163

DEAD WRONG The inside was dark. Madison Redman was bound and shoved into the compact trunk, her entire body afflicted with agonizing pain. With each bump in the road, her pounding head throbbed, and her heart accelerated. When will he finally stop? What will he do to me once he reaches his destination? She tried to wiggle her fastened wrists. The scratchy rope burned her skin. But this didn’t stop Madison from trying to break free. Free from this horrific nightmare. And from thinking people are basica...

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“First Volk” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #163

“It’s inoperable, Adam.” Adam Volk fights to digest the news, pushing his thick glasses up off the end of his nose. “I can make you comfortable, but that’s about it,” Dr. Karl Ambros says, his furrowed brow registering his concern. The fifty-seven-year-old doctor has been treating his close friend for the past two years. During that time, he’s watched fifty-two-year-old Adam disintegrate from a robust 220 pounds to a scant 160 and seen his friend’s dark hair turn silver from worry. Experiencing sympathy pains, Karl has developed ulcers an...

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Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 88 stories

“Herb and Mr. Reaper” by Murray Burns

“The One That Got Away” by Tuesday Harmon

“The Death of Blitzkrieg” by Jamal Hartley

“Apple Seeds” by Ramel Kersey

“It Was My Fault” by J.R. Wise

“A Moment of Self Pity” by Mandy C

“One Day Closer to Death” by Jennifer Rinaldi

“Lost but Heard” by Kyle Quande

“Jayden's Revelations” by Jack Latreille

“Feeling for the First Time” by Daniel Rains

“DORIS” by Les Clark

“Katie and Gigi’s Conversation” by Jennifer Steinhurst

“A Few Lessons I learned from Death” by Hannah Barton

“Dead Wrong” by Alice Baburek

“First Volk” by Michael Jefferson

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Write about a character who risks everything to pursue their heart’s desires.

Write a story in which someone says “You'll never be content.”

Contest #163

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

126

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: