Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Posted in Sad on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 260 stories

“It’s All Good and Well” by Carrie O'Keefe

Submitted to Contest #79

TW: domestic abuse Just another day. Melissa thought to herself as she stared at her black eye in the mirror. She leaned forward and touched her puffy eye and searched her bloodshot eye to make sure it was still intact. One day he will get help. “Hey, you little Tramp. Get in here.” Her husband Jack called out. Melissa wiped a tear off of her cheek and tucked her brown hair behind her ear. She slowly walked down the hall shaking in anticipation of what her husband was going to do next. No telling what he could muster up to yell at her. He’d ...

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“New England Months & Years” by Calvin Spears

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #79

13 For exactly the opposite of what I thought I would be lying across cream carpet with––carpet thick enough to bury toes in––I looked to her. Smells resembled the inactivity of rubber storage containers and Christmas decorations wrapped in trash bags. Smells of patchouli candles that Mom burned only around the holidays in an effort to remember her 1950s childhood, smells of the comforter’s fabric softener, smells of perfume tray that had been gifted from some great-aunt, lying as a carcass on the furniture with blac...

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“The Lies We Tell” by Anna Mosqueda

Submitted to Contest #79

He lifts the weathered ladder-back chair, holding it aloft shakily as he makes his slow way across the road to the bridge. I follow behind him cautiously, ready to catch him if he falls. Once we make it we sit on the edge of the bridge, our bare legs swinging over the dark water. I know this will be one of the last times I spend with Archie. I can just see it in the way he walks, talks, and even breathes. It pains me to sit across from him at the dinner table, to watch his pale hands shakily bring his fork to his mouth. Tears spring to my ey...

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“Little Robin” by Arwen Dove

Submitted to Contest #79

The sun shone brilliantly through the thread-bare branches of the swaying trees. Robins chirped at a rapid pace, trying to keep in tune with the immensence song of the Swallows. It was a constant battle. Robins had been at war with Swallows since time began. Finally a little Robin, who had been standing his distance for a while, sang out. For a moment all that could be heard was silence, then the outranges racket of the applauding Robins.All Swallows were now cowering under the friendly stare of the singing star.No b...

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“Mother” by Laura B

Submitted to Contest #79

Don't try to please me; there is nothing you can do that will be good enough. Buy me groceries and fail to get the things I enjoy most. Take me to town to get my own groceries and refuse to pay for them. I’ll ask for advice and you’ll offer your best words, but when things go wrong it can’t possibly be my fault. Visit me more! I'll tell you how much I look forward to your visits and then I'll count the moments until you leave. I'll tell you how proud I am of you and when your brother calls, he'll know in how many ways you failed me. Recomm...

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“Are You There?” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #79

“Norman, are you in there?” ‘Oh for a moment of privacy. But no…’ The shards of a dream slipped through my fingers. “Of course Mother. Do you see me?” “No.” “Is the door shut?” “Yes…” “If it were open you’d be in here with me.” “Yes…” ‘How many times have we read this script?’ I thought as I sat on the edge of the tub. ‘Is there no other way?’ “I’ll be a moment…” “Yes.” I flushed the toilet so she wouldn’t pester me about what took so long. ‘The dream… I almost had it…’ Through the door, she said, “No.” “No what, M...

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“Broken and Healed” by Xiao McdonaldsWorker

Submitted to Contest #79

Chapter 1 “Keefe Sencen!” I heard my dad shout. He waved my sketches in my face. “What's this? I thought I told you to study and not draw useless things!” He angrily said. “Sorry but Fos-I mean Sophie told me that I should do what I like in my life!” I said. My dad tore my drawings and threw it in the trash. “Study.” He growled. I clenched my fist. Horrid family I thought. I dug out a piece of paper in the trash and smoothened it. Foster had requested to draw her. I leaped in front of Havenfield and knocked. “Hello-oh! Hey Keefe.” Edaline le...

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“When the blood runs cold” by Sara Johnson

Submitted to Contest #79

As far back as I could remember, I knew I was different then the rest of my family I was the baby of 3 and the only girl. As the years passed, I've came to realize I was the black sheep of the family. My heart and mind was nothing like my brother's. I felt it every day, and as years passed by it was proven to be true. My life was a chaotic mess, filled with lots of hurt, trauma and brokenness. No one could do no wrong, besides me. And when life took it's evil turn, I was Left with a fear and realaztion that, my life I was born in, was not my...

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“Torn in Two” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #79

“Why did he have to do this?” he asks under his breath as he rapidly writes on a piece of parchment under candlelight. “Sir, are you positive you will carry through with this?” a voice whispers in the darkness. “When have I not? You know, Paulio, that he’s absolutely forcing me to do this. I am innocent and to prove to the country that I stick to my word, it is unavoidable for me to let him off the hook,” he sighs sorrowfully until a spark of anger fastens his eye, “after all, I have a duty to perform to my kingdom and his love affair won’...

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“My Friends Call Me Red” by Michael J. Conroy

Submitted to Contest #79

'What's he doing here?'The look on Ruth Jenkins' face suggested she thought she had more time.'Red, please. Now is not the time,' she said.'What, you can't speak now, is that it?' Red asked, pointing, not at his wife but the figure in the corner.'Merry Christmas, Dad. I –''I knew it was you,' Red interrupted. 'The minute I saw them, I knew it was you.''Saw what, Red? What did you see?' Ruth asked.'Shoe prints! Dirty shoe prints on my hall floor and the blades of grass he dragged in with him,' Red said.'You jumped the wall...

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“The Robed Woman ” by Kelly Ellen

Submitted to Contest #79

Trigger warning: This story contains non-explicit depictions of physical and emotional abuse. How did we get here? My brother and sister are playing with the other two younger boys. The view of the beach is amazing from here! The boys and their father live here and we were all invited to come over to enjoy their huge beach house. The father was a friend of our mothers in high-school. I let myself in the front door to hear the kids all having a blast and I am excited to join in, even though they are all much younger. I see our moth...

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“My Sister Jenny” by Jade Orien🍀

Submitted to Contest #79

My sister Jenny has been envious of me ever since she found out I was going to be existing in her presence.She was the only child for 7 years before I came.Since she was the FIRST & ONLY child at one point my parents treated her like a princess.Brought her anything she wanted.She was involved in all of the extracurricular activities such as plays, ballet, singing, sports & much much more.But then one day my parents decided to have another child.they felt as though Jenny was bored with being the only child & that maybe it was time...

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“Cutting Ties” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #79

“Holy guacamole.” I coughed as a cloud of dust flew up from the cardboard box I was opening. “Could Dad have been any less of a hoarder?” “Well, I’ll not say that he was exactly sensitive of peoples' allergies,” Alex began, trying hard not to let his features bend into a snicker, “but let’s not push our luck, Ky. It’s only his office that we’ve got to go through—Mom and Viv have all the rest.” “Thank God we’re the family’s worst cleaners,” I muttered, folding back the box’s flaps. Alex glanced at me and sighed, leaning back on his heels...

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“Goodbye” by Alya Kaikuahine

Submitted to Contest #79

“You know what you have to do.”“Yeah.” The spray bottle was cold as ice as I rolled it between my fingers.“I expect this to be done by tomorrow. You must disappear and get rid of that nuisance. Or else….” The threat hung like a cloud in the cold night air, draping over my shoulders, weighing me down. We walked away from the bench we were on, careful to make sure no one knew we were talking. As I walked back to my house under the cover of night, I thought about what I had to do. It seemed impossible, though I knew it was necessary. He had bec...

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“Ammunition” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #79

“Now.” He would not disobey his father. Even if he was no longer a child, even if it clearly not his fault, he was willing to accept that he was going to have take responsibility. “Yes, dad.” * The best thing about this time of the day was that the house was usually empty and quiet. His younger sister was with her friends at someone’s house (always late for dinner most days; she got permission for this when their mother saw how quickly the tears came); his mother was still at work (pick-up was around 4 pm; another hour to go and th...

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Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 260 stories

“It’s All Good and Well” by Carrie O'Keefe

“New England Months & Years” by Calvin Spears

“The Lies We Tell” by Anna Mosqueda

“Little Robin” by Arwen Dove

“Mother” by Laura B

“Are You There?” by John K Adams

“Broken and Healed” by Xiao McdonaldsWorker

“When the blood runs cold” by Sara Johnson

“Torn in Two” by Valerie June

“My Friends Call Me Red” by Michael J. Conroy

“The Robed Woman ” by Kelly Ellen

“My Sister Jenny” by Jade Orien🍀

“Cutting Ties” by Inkstained Introvert

“Goodbye” by Alya Kaikuahine

“Ammunition” by Kendall Defoe

🌟 Similar prompts

Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

Write about two characters who’ve gone through something so intense they now feel like family.

Write about a “found family” who are finally able to get together again after a long time apart.

Contest #79

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: