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

Posted in Sad on Oct 31, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 260 stories

“No Good In Goodbye” by Courtney C

Submitted to Contest #79

Surveying the drab, muted room Poppy felt a peal of hysterical laughter rippling upwards like bubbles fighting their way to the surface of a lake. She clamped her hand over her mouth to fight the urge, fingernails digging crescent moons into her palms. You cannot laugh right now, she told herself. Keep it together, Poppy. A bell clanged over an intercom, harsh and metallic, and on the other side of the glass men in orange jumpsuits began streaming into the narrow space. Most of them were middle aged, although there were the outliers...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Bonds That Break” by Dayle Duncan

Submitted to Contest #79

To start afresh in a new place, saying farewell to the old, and the beginning of a new age. It did seem to make sense and a great idea at first. Two families join to one. The Goldie Oldies as most said, however, three’s always a crowd. “Look at how the little ones play.” Louisa laughed watching Tammy waddle after her three-year-old brother, Jake. Tammy’s nappy bounced like a little balloon between those scrawny legs. “Yes.” Karen stood with a hefty sigh as the wooden bench creaked. “Come Tam-Tam.” ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“'I'll protect you'” by Carole Cobos

Submitted to Contest #79

Two girls and one boy stare at him.Their toned muscular bodies reeking of confidence and self-importance.“Who are you guys?”The short redhead smirks, “You let us in even though you don’t know us? Not very smart of you, is it?”He was more afraid of the racket they would make...leaving him to suffer a big explosion from the lunatic that called himself a father. Actually, it really wasn’t too bad… Gregor only ever hit Jackson. Jackson suspected that a part of him feared Arlo. “Too late now, ain’t it?”“I’m sorry,” the guys spoke up “for bei...

2 comments 2

Read story

“I'm just trying to leave something behind, for good!” by N S

Submitted to Contest #79

DRAMA- “It has been 19 long years and I don’t want to drag a long time over relationship just for the sake of my kids”, I told the attorney. “I have been doing it for almost 2 decades, but no more, I have now promised myself.” I continued, “The abuse only increased by double and the tolerance has reduced by half. To me, my only support are my 3 kids.” “Do you even know what they tell me –‘You better die rather than leave this home!’—I keep hearing this warning from time to time from his family , Every time I go to them with a new scar or a...

0 comments 0

Read story

“I love you, but...” by Josh Gelb

Submitted to Contest #79

Love is a fickle emotion. Finding your mate can be a daunting task. Thanks to woke culture, for the most part, it is accepted that it matters not who this mate is. Love is love and that is all that is important. What a time to be alive. However, sometimes, love is not enough. When I met her, we were kids. I was a young man, no more than 25. She was a newly 21 year old. I was not looking. I was enjoying being single, and not in the way that it sounds. Perhaps to my detriment, I was and st...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Tied Down” by YMK -

Submitted to Contest #79

For most of my childhood, my grandma, my aunt, my parents and I all lived in one big house in Ashwood, British Columbia, and though it was crowded, I loved being with all of them all the time. Though half-White, I was still the only Asian kid for hundreds of kilometres around, I had a weird name, and I had no one my own age to talk to. However, around the time I turned 12, my dad got a job in Ontario, and my parents moved to pretty much the other side of the country. Without me. They insisted they were doing it for my own good, that the...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The first time the world ended. ” by Hallie Blatz

Submitted to Contest #79

“You mean you actually believe them?!” My mother yells. “Yes.” I answer quietly. “And you’re going with them?” Quieter. “Yes, you can too if you want to, there’s plenty of room.” I say hopefully. “And lose everything? No, I will not be taken in by these lunatics. Obviously they’ve put a spell on you.” She says. “They’re not crazy, and I am completely in my right mind.” I say firmly. “I should never have let you marry that man.” Mother murmurs. “That man has b...

10 comments 10

Read story

“Beyond Help” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #79

“Gin? Ginny?” The sound of glass crunching together made Sarah pause, the front door only half-open. Then, the smell hit her. It was almost unbearable, but human curiosity kept her going. Perhaps it was the inevitable guilt that she’d have walked away if something bad had happened. Perhaps it was the fear that she’d find something at all... but whatever it was, she pushed the door open fully and stepped inside, wrapping her scarf around her face. The glass at her feet was a shattered gin bottle. It must have taken som...

13 comments 13

Read story

“The Dusty Trail” by Victoria Lucas

Submitted to Contest #79

I never wanted to head west. I would like that to be known. That grand idea came half-cocked from that husband of mine. He never was a smart one. If I had a penny for every feather headed thing that man has done I would venture to guess that I could give even the richest of men a run for their money. I had made a great protest of the sudden uprooting, but I was informed that I had a woman’s mind and it was no mind for business. Not that my words ever carried weight in any situation, business or not. When Harry got it in his head to do someth...

6 comments 6

Read story

“A Black Rose” by Tehya Peeteetuce

Submitted to Contest #79

The morning sun was warm against my skin as I looked out the window, I had a nice view of the sun rising above the horizon. Almost all my friends had looked at me with much displeasure when they found out I usually woke up before dawn. Eric had even called me crazy, I didn't mind though. Sighing I strode out of my room and went downstairs to make myself a nice breakfast; a simple cut up soft boiled egg on toast lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. I was careful not to be too loud as to not wake my roommates. I chose to eat in the living ro...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Hope” by Luisa Rodríguez

Submitted to Contest #79

How do I begin? Do I tell you her name? Do I tell you her age? And if so, do I tell you how old she was when her mother first beat her? Or do I tell you how old she was the last time she did it? Do I tell you what she did every single time to “deserve” it? Will explaining these things excuse what her mother did to her? Yes? No? I’ll let you decide for yourself.Her name was Clara, she was 18 years old the day she decided that enough was enough, that if her mother laid a hand on her once more she was going to leave, forever. Then she started t...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Spirit of the Father” by Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #79

The sound of the circular saw filled the room. The 32-year-old man stopped to enjoy the smell of the fresh sawdust and lumber. The father exuded good health with an athletic form and not an ounce overweight. On the floor beside the father, Sandy—a red-headed six-years-old—searched for something to go with his wooden blocks. What he found was a board mounted on legs. He placed it beside his blocks. With a mallet, he pounded the circular block in the round hole and the square block in the square hole. Daddy, pleased at what he considered a ...

12 comments 12

Read story

“Blood, Water, and Property Rights” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #79

To My Dearest Great-Great-Great Granny Fanny, Over these past five days, I have greatly enjoyed living in your old house while I recuperated from my recent separation. Though the plumbing is shoddy and the walls are thin, it is a beautiful piece of architecture, and something about residing in a home that has been in my family for generations has inspired me to explore all the branches and twigs of my family tree. So thank you. From the depths of my gratitude, I grant you my appreciation for welcoming me in with all the signs of your.....

2 comments 2

Read story

“First Skin” by Linda Jenny Lambert

Submitted to Contest #79

I’ve found the words. The most difficult part is done. I place the letter on the mantelpiece between my late husband’s pocket watch and the rings that sealed our wedding vows over two decades ago. Bjorn was a good man. I miss him. One more time, I allow myself to stand on the threshold and peek into Sari’s bedroom. I watch my daughter sleep like I’ve done for the past twenty-one years. The familiar sense of contentment that settles in my gut is laced with queasy longing. Homesickness is no stranger to my heart. Soon, that homesickne...

9 comments 9

Read story

“The Shards of Glass” by Luna Wood

Submitted to Contest #79

I am hiding in the upstairs cabinet under the sink. My father storms through the house downstairs. I hear as his beer bottle smashes into hundreds of pieces on the floor.I hear him start to trudge upstairs to get another bottle. I hold my breath as he walks through the hallway. His bottles cling together as he grabs a new one.He stayed home all day. When I came home I saw at least 5 empty bottles on the table. As soon as I walked in a saw something coming at me through the air. I duck down fast as the bottle flies behind me and hits the wall...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

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

Dramatic – 193 stories

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

Sad – 160 stories

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

Adults – 190 stories

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

Fluff – 100 stories

Contest #79

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: The Family You Choose

$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 05, 2021 EST

Won by Reha A 🏆

Title: Puzzle Pieces

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 260 stories

“No Good In Goodbye” by Courtney C

“Bonds That Break” by Dayle Duncan

“'I'll protect you'” by Carole Cobos

“I'm just trying to leave something behind, for good!” by N S

“I love you, but...” by Josh Gelb

“Tied Down” by YMK -

“The first time the world ended. ” by Hallie Blatz

“Beyond Help” by Amy Jayne Conley

“The Dusty Trail” by Victoria Lucas

“A Black Rose” by Tehya Peeteetuce

“Hope” by Luisa Rodríguez

“The Spirit of the Father” by Bonnie Clarkson

“Blood, Water, and Property Rights” by Story Time

“First Skin” by Linda Jenny Lambert

“The Shards of Glass” by Luna Wood

🌟 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: