Write a story that feels lonely, despite being set in a packed city.

Posted in Sad on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 230 stories

“Between the Stars and Waves ” by Rachel Ryan

Submitted to Contest #59

I don't want them to find me here. To my left there is a half-eaten carton of Chinese food I've suddenly lost my appetite for. On my lap, my fingers are still curled around the glowing screen of my shitty smartphone, the one Gerry had managed to pick up from the pawn shop two blocks north. My lungs have forgotten how to breathe and I sit still, quiet as the night, as if that would change the words of the text message still glaring up at me. My eyes find the water of the bay, which shifts and moves with the tide yet somehow manag...

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“Metropolitan thoughts” by Mrudula Mohan

Submitted to Contest #59

One summer day, after a long shift I came out of my office, to take a small walk without any of my luggages. Leaving my care free hands at the mercy of wind, a long stretched walk, I took a turn towards a street that I have rarely ever travelled. It was the easiest route towards the nearest metro station and yet I always try to avoid this route. The place was crowded, may be a bit more than usual, it was market day and people from different places have come to buy some things at a price cheaper than the market value. As I was was walking thr...

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“Final Kiss” by Allorianna Matsourani

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #59

The old clock on the windowsill by my bed advises me it’s seven o’clock, and another Monday morning confronts me. As I peer at the street from my fourth-floor bedroom window, I assure myself that I will venture out today.Although the sun barely lights the sky, Brooklyn is awake and announces its verve through a crescendo of motion. A procession of cars, buses, and delivery trucks glide along the one-way street in a synchronous line. Across the street, among the pedestrians ambling along the sidewalk that rims Prospect Park, I spot a man with...

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“Silent Citadel ” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #59

It should not have ended like this, and Wu knew it; she was out of time. Weaving through the sea of citizens, Wu stalled by one of the narrow alleyways of Haen. A frigid gust of wind blew through the passageway, ripping the hood from Wu’s head, leaving her gazing at the roiling clouds. Ashen and streaked with the occasional shock of white they did little to absorb the light of the lanterns below. The aroma of spices and old oil permeated the air, clinging to the clothes of every patron and perpetrator who dared to brave the icy winter weathe...

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“A NEW HOME IN A NEW CITY” by Khizra Aslam

Submitted to Contest #59

Despite living in an old shattered house in that huge old town, it was hard for him to settle in a new home of a new city, mingling with so many strangers. It was the city that never sleeps; Bustling, crowded, lively, and also fascinating. How will you imagine a perfect city with all the facilities? But despite having all that comfort, he found it laborious to have a fellow feeling. Even with huge buildings and clean roads, with trees running along the paths and birds cheering on the trees, with the sky showing glints of violet above the hor...

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“El Dorado” by Amalee Bowen

Submitted to Contest #59

The first time she dreamed of the golden city, she woke to the thin gray of morning. Light filtered through the strained gruel of cloud and smog to paw weakly at the whitewashed concrete walls of her apartment. She couldn’t recall anything of the dream, but a subtle, persistent yearning followed her like a lingering shadow as she went through her day. She felt as if she had heard the faint snippet of some familiar melody that she couldn’t quite place. Something ached just behind her breastbone as she gathered up her bag and her coffee and wa...

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“Alone in New York City” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #59

I was walking to work like I did every day. Every day for two years I walked to the skyscraper towering above the city. Every day for two years I took the same route to work. Every day I passed the same buildings and the same people. But I knew none of them. Not really. I kept my head down, not talking to anyone. No one ever spoke to me. I never spoke to anyone else. That’s the way it was. “Jemma,” my boss barked as soon as I stepped into the office. I had long given up on correcting him. Julia, I used to say, but I was nev...

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“Seven Postcards Away ” by S. F. Brooke

Submitted to Contest #59

The same amount of time that the steam from a cup of tea takes to dissipate is how long it took for my entire life to change. I got accepted into college and in less than forty-eight hours I was seven postcards away from my old life. Smack dab in the middle of San Fran-freaking-sico. My life was like a popped bubble, endlessly floating in a vast sea of nothingness as humanity passed onto the next bubble to pop. I was a country girl born in a barren state and my closest neighbors had been an hour away. Now there were people ever...

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“Act Confident” by Regina Morrison

Submitted to Contest #59

The sound of squealing brakes and tyres hardly caused a head to turn in the hum-drum of city noises. A small, discoloured white Volkswagen golf manoeuvered inch by inch between two beasts of SUVs; its wheels protesting the whole way as they slid right, left, forward, back- finally parked. “Can’t be...Can’t be..late,” Zara muttered as she shoved keys into her handbag; grabbed her bursting briefcase; raised her eyes expressively in the rear-view mirror; flattened a non-existent out of place hair strand and bolted out of the car. “Idi...

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“No happy endings” by You'd Think A Writer Would Have A More Creative Name .

Submitted to Contest #59

Everyone is working. The clacking of keyboards fills my ears with a dullness I can’t seem to get rid of, though I’ve tried for years. It makes the whole world a tiny place. The feeling minimizes your vision, until the only thing you see is smudges and blurry lines where people are. All the faces melt together, creating dead eyes and sad lips; curled together in an expression of indifference. Emotion is where they get you. Morale hasn’t been a concern of ours for a long time. A fake smile -stretching and painful -is the only thing I can manag...

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“Lonely in a big place.” by The Musicalman24601

Submitted to Contest #59

*CRASH* Jason's coke can had barely missed the trash can, and instead redirected its course to his books, all of which obeyed the law of gravity. "Well, Sir Issac Newton, you win again." Jason sighed to himself. He stood up and walked on over to the books, putting them back up one-by-one. He looked over at the coke can, which had hit the books just right to knock them all over. He tried organizing them, but his phone started ringing. Unfortunately, his precise organization skills all disappeared with those rings. He threw the books ont...

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“Alone in London” by Alwyn McNamara

Submitted to Contest #59

When she first moved to London everyone told her what a vibrant city it was and how there was so much fun to be had. They also told her how she would have the time of her life, fall in love, start again. As a girl in her mid twenties, the prospect of a new life thrilled Katie. She had not had much of a life to this point. Many of her teenage years were spent caring for a sick mother, who had been in and out of hospital with a range of illnesses. It was finally pancreatic cancer that killed her though and Katie was ready for a change. All of ...

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“Location: Our busy minds. ” by Rita Akatova

Submitted to Contest #59

Loneliness is a word, nothing more. Remove the burden of this word from your shoulders - the burden that has been accumulating since the beginning of the human history. The peculiarity of our brain is to make history from any concept while a language and a word are very imperfect things; we place a heavy load on them, this weight we can feel heavy, dragging and confusing. Loneliness and solitude are important mind states; there is no need to run from them, there should be a place for both in one’s heart. We are all in some degree lonely pe...

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“Lonely and Lost” by R L Brewer

Submitted to Contest #59

(I am not sure how this reads but I wrote one, finally) The house is dark. I sit inside in the loft and look out at the night time street-scape. People pass by, at all hours, and I wonder where they are going. Are they meeting their special someone or a group of friends? Are they off to a movie or to dinner? Why do they let out a laugh, or brush tears away thinking they are unseen? There are many people in this city. So many. How many I do not know, but probably hundreds and thousands. The house where I am is old, old but strong, w...

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“A City of Two Tales” by Yvonne Barker

Submitted to Contest #59

This is such a lovely city. I’ve never been here before and I’ve always wanted to come: important history, great architecture, plenty of museums and galleries; and very vibrant.I wander around with my camera and exchange the odd pleasantries: the people aren’t overly cordial, but neither are they hostile and they do smile – and respond, when I speak to them.It’s going to be difficult crossing this main road – drivers are racing around as though they’re taking part in Formula One. I will be dicing with death that’s for sure………… Phew, that was...

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Write a story that feels lonely, despite being set in a packed city.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 230 stories

“Between the Stars and Waves ” by Rachel Ryan

“Metropolitan thoughts” by Mrudula Mohan

“Final Kiss” by Allorianna Matsourani

“Silent Citadel ” by Elizabeth Inkim

“A NEW HOME IN A NEW CITY” by Khizra Aslam

“El Dorado” by Amalee Bowen

“Alone in New York City” by D. Alfonso

“Seven Postcards Away ” by S. F. Brooke

“Act Confident” by Regina Morrison

“No happy endings” by You'd Think A Writer Would Have A More Creative Name .

“Lonely in a big place.” by The Musicalman24601

“Alone in London” by Alwyn McNamara

“Location: Our busy minds. ” by Rita Akatova

“Lonely and Lost” by R L Brewer

“A City of Two Tales” by Yvonne Barker

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a couple who have just moved to a place that one person loves, and the other hates.

Write about a character arriving in a place unlike anywhere they’ve ever been.

Set your story in a place with extreme weather, but don’t use any weather-related words to describe it.

Set your story in a small town where everyone is suspicious of newcomers.

Contest #59

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

767

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: