Write a story about two characters who have been fighting for so long, they can’t remember what started it.

Posted in Sad on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 28 stories

“A Proper Feud” by Kevin B

You must be sure to prepare the tea a few moments before she arrives. She will insist that she’s not in need of any tea, but that’s a charade. She must be served tea. On the good china. Not the plates from the back cupboards. You’ll be tempted to serve her tea in chipped and brightly colored cups, but you must resist this impulse. There is an etiquette to the feud. You must wear your fines...

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“The Longest Battle” by Jed Cope

And now she has won. At least I think she has won. Does that count? Does it matter anymore? It has to. After all this time, it has to. After everything that has happened and everything we’ve done. This is all either of us has left. Seaford sits in the dark, in the part of the house that is now...

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“Edit-Clear-Delete” by Ralph Aldrich

Seventy-eight-year-old Oscar has become more convinced than ever that his wife Deloris is just one big nag. It seems that everything he does is met with criticism or correction. What happened to her? When they were first married, she was so polite. “Whatever you think is right, darling.” Or, “Thank you so much for doing that.” Now, it’s “What did you do that for! Are you stupid or something?” Or, “Why do you always have to leave your slippers by the coffee table. I’ve told you a thousand times it looks messy...

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“That Damn Remote” by Ilan LongSoldier

Months ago, my wife and I had a heated argument over the most ridiculous thing in the world. Our remote for our television disappeared, as they tend to do, which started a domino of exhausted complaints and snarls on both our parts. We checked the recliner cushions, under the sofa, we even checked the damn cat bed at one point. After at least 30 minutes of sprawling around like wild animals, nearly tearing the place up ...

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“An Audience for the Discussion of Everyone and Everything” by Aaron Caicedo

It was long ago when you first saw the squabble. You forget the year, what month, what season even, but it was a crisp morning, that much has stayed clear. The sky was overcast but bright, the thick wall of clouds glowing as the sun slowly warmed them and threatened to burst through. A part of you likes to think the star somehow knew what was to come, a sort of celestial clairvoyance, and was eagerly t...

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“The Last Word” by Michael Shaw

The second Jacob removed his gnarled fingers from the rook, he'd seen his fatal mistake. He silently cursed and hoped that Malcolm would miss it somehow. But he knew better, and Malcolm's hoarse cackle a few seconds later was all the confirmation he needed. If his hands had been surer, and his reflexes faster, Jacob would’ve switched off his hearing aids before Malcolm could start rubbing his face in his...

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“The Spatula” by Catherine Walden

Joan and Norman sold the old house finally and ended up in a duplex, though it took nearly two years to get there. It was a small, simple place. They'd had to give up a bedroom to afford the yard Norm wanted, so the interior was crowded and felt cluttered already. They had several truckloads less stuff in this new home, but they also had considerably less room. Even worse, to Joan's dismay, the duplex smelled l...

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“Dualism” by Robert Bennett

Drp. Drp. Drp. Blood dripped off of his body steadily, adding to the pool of crimson beneath him...wait...above him? Dorian arched his body this way and to try and get a better view. It was hard to really get a good angle given the dozens of large, metallic spikes that pierced his body at odd angles starting at the neck and going all the way to his...

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“Just a Game” by Cody Olson

DISCLAIMER: Crude/profane language and marijuana use.“Mom is picking you up at 8 or so -- how about no black eyes or bloody noses today, eh?” “Pshh,” my daughter laughed.“I’m talking about the other kids, Linds.”“I promise nothing,” she said in a Russian accent as she slammed the door and ran into the gym. That little goon is too much like me.I usually stay for practice, but my wife says I give her too much confidence. I mean she does...

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“The Other Side of Civil” by D.C. Reed

I would say it started when we were young. Brothers. Destined to fight over anything. To compete over everything. But now, now brotherly conflict seems silly. As I sit here, hiding behind a building, as bullets whizz around me. Brother against brother, wondering how we got here. Raised on the land. That’s what my dad had always called it. Raised in the great outdoors. The farm. The life. We shot together...

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“An Ever-decreasing Arc ” by Endi Dan

Luka walked home with a dozen large eggs in a green plastic shopping bag. The name of the supermarket was emblazoned on the side of the bag in big white block letters. Luka swung the bag gently as he walked. The eggs sat safely within the bag, protected by the ridged grey cardboard carton they had been packed in. Luka’s stomach rumbled and he was impatient to get home to prepare the eggs for his d...

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“The Duel” by Kreig Durham

In a dark alley surrounded by expensive high-rises, two men stood opposite each other. Both men held flintlock pistols, and both had vengeance in their eyes. They aimed at each other in silence. Neither wanted to pull the trigger, but both knew that one of them must. For years, the two men had been at odds, locked in a struggle against one another. But once upon a time, they had been friends.As children, Albert Hoffin and Charles McKay attended the same school, a magical academy for the offspring of the city’s elite. Lestrange’s Ar...

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“War and Propriety” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

It was called the No Man’s Land, and what it was, was the alleyway between the house gardens of Mrs. Clakes and Mrs. Milte. It was named so by one of them; exactly who named it was long forgotten. It was named a long time ago, and that it was later mutually agreed upon was all that was remembered. This story is about that alleyway and the two women who named it, and who have hated each other since long ...

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“You Should Have Seen This Coming” by Ben Mears

La Cuillère D'or was no stranger to couples. In fact, it welcomed them with open arms, a delighted handshake, a flourish of the violin, and two delicate flutes of champagne. After all, nothing makes a person feel more at home—and loosens their wallet—quite like a light buzz and a dreamy classical number. The authentic French dining experience was a highly sought-after commodity, especially for the romantically entangled,...

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“The Duelling Houses of Warwick and Stone” by Lauren Barr

“Mother, Mrs. Warwick, I think you both know why we’re all here.” Esmerelda Stone arched her eyebrows. They were very dark and very pointy, and when she arched them, most people became very wary of what might be brewing behind them. Not her mother, though. “You ungrateful upstart! After everything I’ve taught you, everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Esmerelda set her teacup in...

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Write a story about two characters who have been fighting for so long, they can’t remember what started it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 28 stories

“A Proper Feud” by Kevin B

“The Longest Battle” by Jed Cope

“Edit-Clear-Delete” by Ralph Aldrich

“That Damn Remote” by Ilan LongSoldier

“An Audience for the Discussion of Everyone and Everything” by Aaron Caicedo

“The Last Word” by Michael Shaw

“The Spatula” by Catherine Walden

“Dualism” by Robert Bennett

“Just a Game” by Cody Olson

“The Other Side of Civil” by D.C. Reed

“An Ever-decreasing Arc ” by Endi Dan

“The Duel” by Kreig Durham

“War and Propriety” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

“You Should Have Seen This Coming” by Ben Mears

“The Duelling Houses of Warwick and Stone” by Lauren Barr

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character learning to stand up for themselves.

Write about a character trying to heal an old rift.

Write a story that includes the line “I can’t believe we’re arguing over this.”

Write about a character who settles disputes for a living (a judge, mediator, school counselor, etc).

Contest #153

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

218

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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