Write a story where time functions differently to our world.

Posted in Science Fiction on Mar 22, 2024

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✍️ 41 stories

“Down the Long Tail” by Corbin Russell

Submitted to Contest #243

“Once you have been spaghettified, it takes all the pressure and worry about what might be, and all the heartache about forgetting what was.” The phase of Bertram that sat in front of Hathabet, the blur, seemed to pause in his statement. The glass of pale whisky in front of him rose, enveloped in that blur, and came back down to the table diminished in content and clearer for having been released from the Singlatarian’s grip.Hathabet, reporter for the Lalond Station Grid, a thriving community of stations orbiting Lalond 21185, forging an eco...

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“The Problem of Four” by Neil Achary

Submitted to Contest #243

Haru ruminates in a darkened corner of the café, away from the wooden counter and the queue of customers. We lock eyes as I wander over. He stirs his tea three times in a circular motion with a silver spoon. "Were we supposed to meet again so soon?" I ask as I take a seat at the table, putting my satchel of books down beside me."No. That's the problem."Chaotic jazz music lilts overhead from speakers attached to the wall. I don't know who the artist is, but the melodies and rhythms seem to collide and bounce off each other. My eyes lift, and ...

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“The Void of Escapism” by Clara Chin

Submitted to Contest #243

23:57. Andre shuffled through the dirty clothes strewn across the floor of his room to his unmade bed, swatting away a fly that had made a few rounds around his tousled, greasy hair. Andre lifted his arm to brush aside a mixture of wrappers and crushed up receipts. He sat at the edge of his bed, his eyes darting to find a familiar blade at the corner of his desk. He reached out, carelessly — a small poke on the tip and out came a drop of crimson from Andre’s cold, pinkish finger, the same force pushing the blade off the table with a soft thu...

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“The Birth Diggers” by Alejandro Gonzalez

Submitted to Contest #243

"Hey Ed, did ya hear? They said there's other universes out there." Ed Vigna looked up from his tablet. Rob had been his coworker for years now, and he'd been a huge fan of these science podcasts. Often he annoyed Ed with speculation that seemed like so much philosophical hallucination. "Yeah," Ed replied, trying to keep his eyes from crossing. These scientists and their proclamations made him feel like his mind would overheat. "No," Rob continued. "They say how our universe is mostly antimatter, there's universes out there that are mostly m...

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“It's just an illusion” by Ann McIlwee

Submitted to Contest #243

“Tiny fingers – tiny toes. I created those my daughter. Hope was always going to be your name, but there is a story that I must tell. One that however implausible and far-fetched it appears, is true. And yours to accept and relate to your own children in your own good time. And Time is good again believe me. Never forget, as you grow older and wiser, that we Faith and Hope will always be one. Creation was ours – not once but twice. Time will heal wounds. It is ours to use as a salve in the future, as it has done in the past.”“And listen to m...

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“TTA” by Cody Olson

Submitted to Contest #243

The crystal wind chimes swayed on the small wooden porch, shooting rainbows through the screen door. The bursts of color danced in the natural light, jumping with each clink. The summer breeze traveled a great distance to find this home, making a final stop at the lilac bushes lining the yard before coming inside. Johanna basked in the rays steaming through the massive french-windows. She sat motionless— slumped into the uncomfortable wood couch with her legs and arms dangling over the sides. She was in a trance with the dripping glass...

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“Life History” by Susan Lamphier

Submitted to Contest #243

My body felt like a thousand knives had cut me. My mind played images of laboratories, and approaching needles, test tubes, and eager whispers. I lay in a pool of light. The fixture above me swam into focus. I was on a platform, a small cushion beneath my head. I tried to get up, but pain and weakness overwhelmed me. A man entered the light and hovered over me. "Take it easy," he said, gently pressing my shoulder down. "You've been through a lot, but you're safe now." &nbs...

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“The Shadow of Time” by Maya Fremon

Submitted to Contest #243

He told me something that I barely believed, he told me “to live in the presence of love is to live in the sun as a sunflower”.He said it fuels us. He said we lean towards it all the time, even when it’s hot enough to burn us.When we locked eyes, I felt the pull. My love was the sun.I had never been brave enough to freeze, even when I felt so happy I would rather live in one place forever than feel anything different. I never felt like I could freeze, even when what to say was on the tip of my tongue; when holding a moment in my ha...

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“Everything, in Time” by Cassie P.

Submitted to Contest #243

Ariana sat at her computer, squinting at the screen through a pair of glasses. Hot rod red frames were paired with iridescent black lenses. It was the only indicator of their true value. Her fingers caught on the frames as she ran a hand through her hair, a childhood habit survived to adulthood. Set into the ceiling, the fluorescent lights hummed. They had been her bosses' attempt to hasten the work day; something to allow 9-5 to pass in the span of four hours, rather than eight. The other employees had certainly appreciated it, citing varia...

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“The end” by Taquindle Remington

Submitted to Contest #243

“I will always love you.” He looked at the note card, reminiscing her emerald green eyes. He continued walking, straightening his posture to hide his limp. “Psh,” the door closed as he entered the dimly lit store. “ID please,” the cashier said, wearing an all-white uniform. “Here.” The cashier paused for a moment. “Okay have a good one.” He walked out onto the sidewalk where people were slumped over empty bottles. The door shut as he walked into his empty house, cobwebs on his doors, and dust on the floor. He looked at the hazy p...

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“Another Take Two” by Jake Asbell

Submitted to Contest #243

As if waking up from a dream where you were falling, Emile jolted forward as the memory of a recent yet future pain lingered throughout his body. His knees shook like a newborn fawn as his body continued to fight off the side effects of his most recent attempt. He placed a hand against the alley wall to hold himself up as he accidentally shouted, “Damn it, a truck?!” The dark alleyway echoed his frustrations towards a lady getting into her car. She flinched at the sudden noise, then rapidly fiddled with her keys as she murmured to herself, “...

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Write a story where time functions differently to our world.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 41 stories

“Down the Long Tail” by Corbin Russell

“The Problem of Four” by Neil Achary

“The Void of Escapism” by Clara Chin

“The Birth Diggers” by Alejandro Gonzalez

“It's just an illusion” by Ann McIlwee

“TTA” by Cody Olson

“Life History” by Susan Lamphier

“The Shadow of Time” by Maya Fremon

“Everything, in Time” by Cassie P.

“The end” by Taquindle Remington

“Another Take Two” by Jake Asbell

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story imagining 'what if' one historic invention had never happened. How would our world be different now?

Write a story with a strong sense of place. How is the setting of your world the same as, but different to, our own?

Write a story from the point of view of a non-human character.

Write a story about a character who wakes up in space.

Contest #243

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

283

Contest entries

113

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: