Write a story about someone who travels to the future, and isn’t happy about how they’ve been remembered.

Posted in Science Fiction on Jun 10, 2021

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✍️ 131 stories

“Et Tu?” by Iona Cottle

🏆 Winner of Contest #57

The lights had been dimmed in the auditorium, and this was Melissa’s favourite time. Okay, perhaps auditorium was too grand a word for the little box room tucked into the middle of the exhibition, but with only the light from the projector she imagined it was her great stage. Then she could pretend she was presenting her stunning PhD thesis, rather than re-reading the script the museum provided. Sure the job was fun, but it hardly had the grandeur she’d been aiming for when she went into academia. As soon as that started paying properly, she...

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“The Bath...” by Charles Stucker

Submitted to Contest #57

I wake feeling refreshed as I did not for years. Benedictus Figulus's combination of Leonardo's machine and Paracelsus's formula stands proven. My hands are those of a maid, not a matron nearing old age. The catacomb in which I hid the pseudo-sarcophagus while the alchemical principles worked their physic upon my decrepit body stands laden with dust, a thick sediment over an inch deep. Had the long vents which allow shafts of sunlight to enter failed, I should be in darkness. Sitting up, my hair tangles with my body, long as a damsel's...

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“Spare Hearts” by Rayhan Hidayat

Submitted to Contest #57

You wake up and the world is gone.Instead, there are hills of scrap and a smog-choked sky and a face staring down at you.“Aaahhh!” goes the face. Whump! goes the body it’s attached to when it teeters backwards and lands among rusted slivers of things that were once whole. You are pleased to discover your audio detection systems are still functional.You appear to be on one of the numerous scrap hills adorning the land as far as your optical units can see. In fact, you are embedded in a slope, and there is all manner of dust and debris cloggin...

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“Avianicism” by Leya Newi

Submitted to Contest #57

“Lils, what just happened?” Jonas was facing me with wide eyes. I looked at him, then noticed something out the window. A crow. I screamed and cowered behind the couch. “Jonas, shut the window.” “Wha--” he turned around and didn’t see the horrible monster perched on the windowsill. “SHUT THE WINDOW!” I yelled. “Okay, okay! I’m shutting the window!” Jonas shut the window then turned to face me. “Lils, are you okay? That was really weird.” “WE JUST TRAVELED THROUGH TIME AND YOU’RE TELLING ME ABOUT WEIRD?” I screeched. I took a deep ...

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“The magnificent Arthur Goldbury” by Vanessa Marczan

Submitted to Contest #57

Three-quarters of the way through watching The Wrath of Khan with his daughter Alexis, the clock ticked over to a minute past midnight on Arthur Goldbury's 50th birthday. At the end, Alexis wiped her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled. Arthur knew she didn't want him to see her crying.'It's okay, honey,' Arthur said. 'You know Spock doesn't actually die.''I know, I know. But it's still sad.''What was your favourite bit?' he said.Alexis composed herself. She was a tough little 12 year old. A tomboy. A real dad's girl. 'When Spo...

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“Ctrl + Z” by Andrew Krey

Submitted to Contest #57

“I need to know!” “You don’t. We don’t!” I could see the fear in Kristen’s eyes, but I couldn’t get emotional, it could excite my brainwaves. As Kristen leant over my bed, I reached up and held the side of her face with both hands, and pulled her nose onto mine. I spoke softly so only she could hear. “I’m going to be fine. It’s safe, and I do need to know.” I felt Kristen’s cheeks form a smile within my hands, and then we kissed. “It’s a perfectly safe procedure,” said Dr. Chase, simultaneously demonstrated his excellent hearing, and ...

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“A Sad Trip to the Future” by Lauren :)

Submitted to Contest #57

April 8, 2020 Today I’m turning 22. My friends and family are coming over to celebrate with me. I’m going to go take a shower before they come. I finished my shower early so I think I’m going to take a quick nap. When I wake up I don’t know where I am. I check my phone for the time. It’s April 8, 2045. Wait… are they playing a birthday trick on me? No that's not possible. I think it would be best for me to walk around a little. Everything is different. Where would my f...

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“DISAPPOINTED IN THE PAST. ” by Ofo Anis

Submitted to Contest #57

The Universe and its verities is so diverse that it leaves human beings to wallow in awe. Everything that happens seems to be a mystery that to unravel neccesitates a great deal of mental framework and cognitive power. Has it ever been to your sense of analysis that this diverse nature of the universe is the principal reason life so happen the way it does? Well! Worry not, if you find yourself being steered so fast by this.Think about why someone would want to be remembered after his life on this earthly world. A great deal of sense can only...

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“The Concept Of Travel” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #57

Earth 47 - 22 years ago "I can't even with you, Kol! How could you not tell me something like that!" Alexa screamed. She was quite angry and turning red. "Alexa, dear, it simply wasn't something you needed to know. My time-traveling powers are my business. not yours." Kol responded, much calmer than Alexa. "YOU CAN ALSO TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT PLANETS AND DIMENSIONS, NIKOLAS!" Alexa raged. Kol was very tired of her behavior. "Are you done? It isn't a big deal, Alexa. I don't see why you think it is." "Kol, you should be able to tell me anythi...

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“What The Future Holds” by Jorja Orne

Submitted to Contest #57

“Anderson!” Jamal yelled. “Yes, sir?” He asked as he walked into his office. “Please prepare the manor’s staff for tonight's annual ‘Anla Gala Charity Event’, I need everyone to be in tip-top shape. I have some very important people coming tonight. Someone who could really help Ferinian Corp.” “You mean the mob who you’ve been borrowing money from? I thought you were more prosper than that.” Anderson snarked. “You are in no position to criticize me! I’m doi...

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“He's a Liar!” by N S

Submitted to Contest #57

Sometimes it can be quite daunting to justify your actions and thoughts to people around you; the varying cultural, the geographical conditions and when you are dead you don’t even stand a chance. “Time travel always fascinated me, and the western movies added fuel to my explorative mind. I always wondered how it would be to travel to the future. Learn the secrets behind new inventions and bring the thoughts back to the present, rather past. It would be so exciting to have a futuristic better life in our present.”, wrote Hussein in his tiny ...

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“The Deerstalker Debacle ” by Saige Severin

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #57

“It will be your greatest achievement,” said his editor. “Thousands of copies sold, and your name forever remembered as one of England’s greatest writers.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sneered and took a drag from his pipe. “If in 100 years I am known only as the man who invented Sherlock Holmes, then I will consider my life a failure.” … John Wilson sewed the last seam into pla...

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“The Artist” by Katina Foster

Submitted to Contest #57

The last thing Frankie remembered was moonlight on metal and thunder. She’d just finished installing the last of her enormous sculptures in City Park. She’d hired a crew to help her move and bolt down her large pieces, paying extra for their discretion and willingness to work at night. The crew had packed up and left once done, leaving Frankie and Joe alone in the park while it started to sprinkle. Frankie and Joe weren't exactly close, but he was a big supporter of Frankie's work, and the only other person she'd told about the commissi...

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“Forget Me Not ” by Arianna Noelle

Submitted to Contest #57

I died two deaths that year; once when my heart stopped beating, and again when the sound of my voice became nothing more than a distant memory to the people I thought would love me forever. As living, breathing beings who have never known a time in which our lungs weren’t taking in air and our eyes not looking for a clock to tell us how long we’ve been doing so, it’s only natural to wonder what comes after.Where do we go when our earthly forms finally decide to fail us and the last words that slip from our mouths become the epitaph on our g...

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“Peckish Packer” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #57

It was snowing when Alferd entered the pub on Bradshaw Road. He stomped his boots and shook the snow off his coat before sitting at the bar.“What can I get you?” asked the bartender. Alferd thought the man looked smart – a black button-down, black slacks and carefully gelled hair.“Whiskey.”Alferd glanced around the pub while the bartender busied himself. A couple talked quietly at a table by the frosted window. A Christmas tree sat hunched over in the corner. Holiday music spilled softly from a small speaker behind the bar and black and whit...

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Won by Iona Cottle 🏆

Title: Et Tu?

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Write a story about someone who travels to the future, and isn’t happy about how they’ve been remembered.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 131 stories

“Et Tu?” by Iona Cottle

“The Bath...” by Charles Stucker

“Spare Hearts” by Rayhan Hidayat

“Avianicism” by Leya Newi

“The magnificent Arthur Goldbury” by Vanessa Marczan

“Ctrl + Z” by Andrew Krey

“A Sad Trip to the Future” by Lauren :)

“DISAPPOINTED IN THE PAST. ” by Ofo Anis

“The Concept Of Travel” by Artemisia Pearl

“What The Future Holds” by Jorja Orne

“He's a Liar!” by N S

“The Deerstalker Debacle ” by Saige Severin

“The Artist” by Katina Foster

“Forget Me Not ” by Arianna Noelle

“Peckish Packer” by Lani Lane

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a humorous story about the descendant of someone remembered for an insignificant act.

Write a story about someone who’s famous for something they never actually did.

Write a story about someone breaking a long family tradition.

Write a story that starts with someone writing their will — one they know people won’t like.

Contest #57

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

676

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: