A chance encounter brings together two old friends who have changed in surprising or strange ways.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 4, 2024

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✍️ 48 stories

“Metamorphsis” by April Walch

Submitted to Contest #271

I first met Barb in high school, and I remember even then, I thought she seemed a bit odd. Being only fifteen and lacking in worldly wisdom, I didn't have a clue as to why Barb was different; I just knew she was. For instance, Barb couldn't seem to keep her hands off my best friend, Sandy. Barb and I bonded because of our mutual love of horses, but when Sandy was around, I ceased to exist. Barb did touchy-feely hugging things with her so often that Sandy headed the other way when she saw her coming. Barb didn't ...

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“The Circles of Life” by Karen Duffell-Canham

Submitted to Contest #271

Sally blew the dust off the old, leatherbound bible. The dust motes drifted down in the shafting afternoon sunlight. She blew her nose and wiped away a tear. These bits and pieces were all that were left of her parent's long lives. Their sixty-seven years of marriage and four children. Their triumphs and tragedies, and there had been many of those. There were her Mom's 'precious things' as she had called them. Her gifts from her children at various stages of her life. She had been such a sentimentalist, Sally mused. There was her lit...

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“Autumn ” by Orthodoxia Papachartofyli

Submitted to Contest #271

Choking on your own hair. Not a good way to go, as far as brutal murders go. The victim is now sporting a surprisingly straight bob. The surprising part is that the bob used to be connected to the thick ponytail that is now jammed down her throat as she lying on her plush carpet, eyes staring at nothing. Dan, the officer who was here first, is calling for backup as I approach the perpetrator who is now handcuffed on a radiator. I double check that the pipe is fixed on both sides; people would be scandalized to find out how many criminals wal...

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“The Happy Twins” by Lou Jayne

Submitted to Contest #271

This story contains multiple sensitive themes which may trigger people including bullying, mild violence and loss. On the 4th of June 1974 two girls were born at the exact same time of 4.44am. One to Tom and Lydia Brown who they called Margaret (their little Angel Maggie) whom they had prayed for, for so many years.Believing she would never be, she was the most precious gem in their jewellery store. She had golden blond hair, just like Lydia. Which naturally fell into cute ringlets around her head as she grew into a toddler, a...

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“Never Forgotten” by Bree Gambini

Submitted to Contest #271

I stared at the smoke curling around the lights that lined the ceiling. The familiar smell of cigars comforting the ache in my chest. I turn on the leaning barstool, glancing over the people that fill the old bars room. I often come to the dirty spot that sits beside the towns burger and fry walk up. The owner didn’t care if you dropped grease, ash, or blood on the bar top. He kept it rough and straight forward, just like his father did. It was a family only operation. The bar offered a prime spot to overhear the local gossip and w...

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“Two Paths Diverged” by Molly K

Submitted to Contest #271

Her thumbs pushed deftly into her shut eyelids, as if the pressure could halt the pulsing headache thrumming through her head with a nauseating swell. Mona concentrated on the needling fireworks of color playing against the inside of her eyelids. And, of course, there was that feeling again. That fluttering nestled in the soft cleft beneath the sternum - a flailing, scrambling, slipping need to scream. “Mona, what are you doing? We’re supposed to be walking out the door this minute. Tell me you’re ready to go.” Mona’s eyes snapped open to me...

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“Unexpected Treasure ” by Ivy Talaga

Submitted to Contest #271

Opportunity Knocks and holds its breath waitingDaring us to choose… Sometimes the world tilts beneath your feet and your life is never the same again. Searching and searching for a special soul for so long, one eventually gives up. This year was the year, apparently. This year was the year I finally started to take action to offset the apathy; to climb out of the well of despair I've been stuck in for so long. This year I finally remembered that hope still remained in the Pandora's box of my soul. This year I joined the librar...

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“A Journey Into The Past” by Duncan Sheppard

Submitted to Contest #271

Victoria is in Wales visiting her daughter Lucy who works in an artisan food shop in Powys. Her visit has come to an end and Lucy's boyfriend Dave drives her to Holyhead as she is getting the train to London to visit her son. On the way to the station, the conversation was like any other conversation when a parent would be leaving a loved one and wouldn't see them for another few months or so.‘So when will we see one another again?’Dave pulls up outside Holyhead railway station, and waits in the car while Lucy walks her mother to the train, ...

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“Two friend ” by Jagdish Naidu

Submitted to Contest #271

Two friend This is the story of two friends who meet by chance in 10th class. Both are located in different cities First carecter, soham Second carecter, abhay Soham, is a boy from a rich family living in City. And abhay was a living in poor family in rural areya beginning of the story Carecter soham ,soham 10th class results are out and Sohan has failed in 3 subjects.At home his parents are scolding him a lot.Because his parents had high expectations from himBut father sees her angry face and says no problem, you will pass ne...

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“This Beautiful Place” by Carolyn Blackmore

Submitted to Contest #271

Holding my breath, I cracked open the heavy metal door and peered inside. Light filtered in through large metal grates near the ceiling, illuminating the surprisingly spacious chamber holding the tall metal toilet and wall-mounted toilet paper holder. There was plenty of paper and the place looked clean enough. Nothing like that one I stopped at in New York, almost full to the seat with shit and soiled paper.I wasted no time taking care of business. Outside, the air felt fresh and cool, the sunshine warm on my face. A quick walk around the c...

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“A strange heart warming meeting” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #271

A strange heart warming meeting Deep in the land of dreams I heard a hideous sound, an annoying call to rise and shine. Who invented alarm bells or maybe I did not spend the time to select a more agreeable one. I turned over to see my wife had already risen. I was thankful that the chaotic mornings of having young children had long pas...

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“The Unseen Connection” by Britney Glowinski

Submitted to Contest #271

I wake with a start, sound blaring from my phone as the screen shows 6:00. I never had an issue waking early, that is until I started my first full-time job out of college. A mere two months into my new marketing job and each morning as I listen to my alarm ring on, I can't help but ask myself how I will manage waking up every day to my 6:00 o’clock alarm for the next forty years of my life. What will motivate me day after day to leave the warmth of my bed on cold mornings, only to commute on an overcrowded subway and sit at a cubicle for 8 ...

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“The Magic of Yuletide” by Althea Whyte

Submitted to Contest #271

The airport was crowded with holliday travellers. Carl Seaton disliked travelling during such a season but his mother would be disappointed if he did not show at the family Christmas weekend. His older brother and sister will be there with their families. He was the youngest and being single was no exemption from the obligation. Only once he had missed such a celebration while exploring Europe after he finished College four years ago. Now, he was standing in the midst of a tsunami of travellers at Heathrow Airport as he returned from a photo...

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“The Music Between Us” by Veronica Quinn

Submitted to Contest #271

Maya stepped off the stage at the Royal Albert Hall, applause still ringing in her ears. She smiled as she passed crew members, her face a practiced mask of composure, even as exhaustion tugged at every muscle. It had been a flawless performance—another triumph in a long string of successes. The critics would no doubt rave about her precision, her poise. It was what she had been working towards for years, after all. But now, as the stage lights dimmed and the crowds dispersed, all she wanted was quiet. She needed air, a reprieve from the bus...

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“Beyond the Path” by Nicole Ashcraft

Submitted to Contest #271

Every Saturday for eleven years now, I have followed the same route: A right at the end of the cracked concrete walkway that leads from my front door, then along the stones to the riverbank. From there, navigate roots and rocks that line the river as I descend the mountain towards town. The hemlock trees, normally stoic even in their droopiness, ripple in the wind that has arrived ahead of the storm charging up from the Gulf. My days resemble this trail, relatively unchanging for now. Such repetitiveness would have bored me back when I was i...

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A chance encounter brings together two old friends who have changed in surprising or strange ways.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 48 stories

“Metamorphsis” by April Walch

“The Circles of Life” by Karen Duffell-Canham

“Autumn ” by Orthodoxia Papachartofyli

“The Happy Twins” by Lou Jayne

“Never Forgotten” by Bree Gambini

“Two Paths Diverged” by Molly K

“Unexpected Treasure ” by Ivy Talaga

“A Journey Into The Past” by Duncan Sheppard

“Two friend ” by Jagdish Naidu

“This Beautiful Place” by Carolyn Blackmore

“A strange heart warming meeting” by David Nutt

“The Unseen Connection” by Britney Glowinski

“The Magic of Yuletide” by Althea Whyte

“The Music Between Us” by Veronica Quinn

“Beyond the Path” by Nicole Ashcraft

🌟 Similar prompts

A character crosses paths with a stranger who looks eerily familiar.

Write a story that includes the line “Have we met before?”

Two strangers discover they have a hidden connection that alters their understanding of each other and themselves.

A character finds a clue or object linking them to a stranger.

Contest #271

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

384

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: