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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✍️ 264 stories

“The Black Sheep” by Mustang Patty

Jenny’s stomach clenched when she looked at the calendar. It was the day after Halloween, and that meant that the holiday season had officially begun. Over the next few months, there would be family dinners and get-togethers. She felt the clenching sensations and endured nausea and inclination to throw up. Once again, Jenny would have no choice but to endure being in the same room with her. No one els...

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

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...

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“The Lies We Tell” by Anna Mosqueda

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...

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“New England Months & Years” by Calvin Spears

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 soft...

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“Little Robin” by Arwen Dove

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 co...

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“Mother” by Laura B

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 mome...

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“Broken and Healed” by Xiao McdonaldsWorker

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. Horri...

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“Are You There?” by John K Adams

“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?’...

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“When the blood runs cold” by Sara Johnson

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, b...

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“Torn in Two” by Valerie June

“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,...

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

'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&nbs...

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“My Sister Jenny” by Jade Orien🍀

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...

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“Silk and Silver” by William Flautt

Let rabid children loose in a costume shop and they might—just might—produce a passing resemblance to the daily parade of colors and shapes that is Sir Montague Barclay Bishopshire IV, affectionately known, in the sleepy town of Heatherleigh, as Uncle Monty. He only wears silk clothing, and not a single piece twice. In his backyard he has an airstrip for satiny deliveries on a fleet of private planes; in his house live ten tailors—all from different countries—to attend to his attire; ...

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“The Robed Woman ” by Kelly Ellen

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 m...

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“Goodbye” by Alya Kaikuahine

“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 nece...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 264 stories

“The Black Sheep” by Mustang Patty

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

“The Lies We Tell” by Anna Mosqueda

“New England Months & Years” by Calvin Spears

“Little Robin” by Arwen Dove

“Mother” by Laura B

“Broken and Healed” by Xiao McdonaldsWorker

“Are You There?” by John K Adams

“When the blood runs cold” by Sara Johnson

“Torn in Two” by Valerie June

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

“My Sister Jenny” by Jade Orien🍀

“Silk and Silver” by William Flautt

“The Robed Woman ” by Kelly Ellen

“Goodbye” by Alya Kaikuahine

🌟 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

914

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: