Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Posted in Sad on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 79 stories

“Explain” by Gwyn Everett

Submitted to Contest #76

I’m late. I throw my tattered coat over the banister and walk into the dining room. I sit down and pick up my fork to dig into my dinner. I stop with my fork half-way to my mouth as I glance across the table. She holds her forehead in her hand, her eyes stare wide and angry at the full plate of untouched food. “What. Happened.” I huff a sigh. “It’s not what you’re thinking. It isn’t like that.” “What am I thinking? You came back like this, how could it be anything else?” “You’re being unfair.” She shifts i...

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“Serendipitous” by Ankita Chanda

Submitted to Contest #76

"I told you before get a girl and be happy in your life." She said these words without minding any situation. I wanted her to be by my side but it doesn't seems right all the time. " OK I will get one. What about you?". Suddenly she stopped at the doorstep turned back and answered with a fragile smile"I am not meant for anyone." With those words not belonging to me keeping me away from her she took her steps and went away. She is my best friend, without her I think I am incomplete. When she said ,"be with me" I didn't know what of it would b...

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“Arigatō (Thankyou for being my friend)” by Soghra Fatima

Submitted to Contest #76

1684...1693.....170..0 and done for another four miles today. I head over to a bench nearby, satisfied with my consistency, just for a short break. This is my second week in Tokyo and honestly I've never felt more healthier or satisfied my whole life I think to myselfMy phone starts ringing with it's questionable yet guiltily unchanged ringtone"Hi honey, guess what, I made your favourite dinner tonight""Wait no way! You traitor I'm catching a flight back to san Francisco right this second and you can't have a single bite of it until I reach"...

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“ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER...” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #76

There was something cold in the kiss he had just received. Troy could not understand. He thought things were going okay; maybe she had had a bad day. Arriving at the restaurant they sat in an alcove where they could feel the warmth from the fire and watch the flames leap up the chimney. They perused the menu in readiness for the waiter’s arrival. There was no conversation. They could have been an old married couple so used to each other small talk was unnecessary, but that was not usually the case with Troy and Heather. ...

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“Not Brainier Than a Chimp” by Sasan Sedighi

Submitted to Contest #76

The show started with a close-up shot of the presenter. ‘Hi, I’m Ashlee Johnson. Thank you for watching our program- A chat with experts. Today we have Dr. Richard Prince as our guest in the studio.’ The third camera’s master shot feed with both the presenter and the guest appeared on the screen. Ashlee turned her attention toward Dr. Prince and said, ‘Dr. Prince, thank you for accepting our invitation.’ The second camera’s feed with a close-up shot of Dr. Prince came on the screen. ‘Thank you for having me.’ Dr. Prince said and ended his s...

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“The End of Our Road.” by Laura Clark

Submitted to Contest #76

I thought we could work things out, as if things would be different this time. How could I continue to allow you to return after the many arguments we've had. "No, I will not allow you to sit here and mock me Jeremy." Elle said. "Sit here and mock you? That's not the case here Elle." Jeremy said confusingly. He told me three days after our wedding night that he didn't want kids. He knew my plans of being a stay at home mom and taking care of our family, why did he change his mind last minute? "We talked about this for days on end before we c...

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“Fear of Rejection” by Carole Cobos

Submitted to Contest #76

Brushing her fingers against his cheek all she can think was... 'I choose you'."Sage," he breathes, his eyes like shadowed ice and wholly on her "please. Can I...?"He was the one- he was the one! It wasn't her handsome, sweet, considerate tutor. Though a part of her will always love Louis. After all, he was her first love (okay, fine. Feeling were still there.) The first one to break her heart. He will always have a claim on some corner of her heart. But at this moment, with Trydez, superhero to the city, so close...it felt right.And he love...

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“Conundrum” by Jessica Dzer

Submitted to Contest #76

Champ stared passively through the glass at the aggressive torrents that tore through the sky and made home on the ground he stood on. Watching the rain had always seemed to him like a trivial thing to do, he never understood what people loved about water falling continuously and preventing regular day to day activities; or at least slowing them down. It was time wasting as well as vigorously annoying and time was money. But as he sat still embracing the chill the rain came with, he figured listening and watching it was better than...

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“Resolve” by Goodness Woke

Submitted to Contest #76

He pushed the study door open and the King's flinty stare met his. Without hesitation he took a seat opposite his father, straightening his Royal blue jacket. The king's fingers steepled as he dumped whatever it was that he was writing on the desk and studied Philip. They both had been through this routine so many times before that Philip knew what was expected of him, this time however, his instincts told him that the stakes would be much higher, so he willed his racing heart to calm itself. His eyes avoided that of his fathe...

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“A Sleepy Misunderstaning ” by Lucy Nowland

Submitted to Contest #76

I glanced at Gavin's sleeping face and frowned. He was always sleeping. Why couldn't he just manage to stay awake? He couldn't even manage a few waking hours. Not even our daughter's graduation! I huffed and turned my gaze back to the stage. I watched hundreds of alumni walk across the stage to receive their diplomas before they got to my Katie. Katie looked so pretty in her cap and gown, well as pretty as anyone could in the ugly mustard yellow gowns. She stumbled across the stage. She had always been clumsy. I remembered when she was in f...

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“Pitter-Patter” by Cosmic Cassi

Submitted to Contest #76

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Rain pelted the cement outside, big fat drops from the sky. The earth swelled with lust for the moisture and drank it until it no longer could. The remaining pooled on the surface, leaving puddles of tears from the gods. The air smelled liked dirt, and I wonder what rain would smell like on other planets. Surely our earthy scent was unique, a natural odor that could not be reproduced. “What do you think Mars smells like?” I was supposed to be meditating but a wandering mind has many questions. For example, if I di...

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“Old Goksar” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #76

Goksar and I knelt on prayer rugs beside each other on the cliff behind Bencap's Takofuea, watching Kaybok (class G1V star), rise above the ocean. Behind us, at the Takofuea proper, male and female monks bowed before a ziggurat-like structure, chanting prayers and singing to their god, Ponai. The sky purple sky reflected the deep burgundy ocean water. I'd become fluent enough in Wava to ask for the information I wanted, I just didn't know if Goksar had it. Everyone said the old monk knew more about ancient lore than anyone else...

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“The Growing Distance” by Anna Figueroa

Submitted to Contest #76

Tomas looked up from his plate of waffles with a bright beam spreading on his pale face. His thick eyebrows shot up in excitement, then he forced them down and leaned on the cushioned red booth as he picked up his cutlery. “Today’s our eight-month anniversary, isn’t it? I always lose count, but the twenty-second sounds about right.” Ally’s mouth hung open, her fork hovering in front of her face as she thought about her and Tomas’s anniversary, and how she forgot it was today. ...

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“Promises and Priorities” by Paula Burke

Submitted to Contest #76

“I get it. You don’t want me to sing in the choir,” he said. “No, you don’t get it. I don’t mind that you joined the choir. If you recall, I’m the one who suggested it,” she replied. “Then tell me what you’re complaining about—please.” She took a deep breath and continued, “You just...

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“The Talk” by Chris Culpepper

Submitted to Contest #76

He couldn't believe it. It happened again! Every time he and his wife tried to have a serious conversation, it spiraled out of control. And he wasn't going to take the blame this time! It wasn't his fault! She felt as frustrated as he did. Though for obviously different reasons. She sat in the new car with the key in the ignition. Maybe she should just take off driving and never come back. The man was successful in his business. He knew how to negotiate. He'd brokered deals that others had deemed impossible. Why couldn't he talk to his w...

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Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 79 stories

“Explain” by Gwyn Everett

“Serendipitous” by Ankita Chanda

“Arigatō (Thankyou for being my friend)” by Soghra Fatima

“ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER...” by Claire Tennant

“Not Brainier Than a Chimp” by Sasan Sedighi

“The End of Our Road.” by Laura Clark

“Fear of Rejection” by Carole Cobos

“Conundrum” by Jessica Dzer

“Resolve” by Goodness Woke

“A Sleepy Misunderstaning ” by Lucy Nowland

“Pitter-Patter” by Cosmic Cassi

“Old Goksar” by Chris Wagner

“The Growing Distance” by Anna Figueroa

“Promises and Priorities” by Paula Burke

“The Talk” by Chris Culpepper

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue.

Write about a character who is incapable of telling even the smallest lie or half-truth.

Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Contest #76

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

787

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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