Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Posted in Short Story on Dec 27, 2024

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✍️ 54 stories

“A Very Mortal Christmas” by Brutus Clement

Submitted to Contest #283

A Very Mortal Christmas “I can’t feel my legs” I can hear the panic in his voice. “What do you want me to do?” “Rub them. Do it as hard as you can.” So, I pull the hospital blanket back exposing his white and now wasted legs while starting to rub them. They feel unnaturally cold. I can tell he’s not feeling it and rub harder. This isn’t like him, my father had always been a man with a calm, balanced disposition and I can’t remember him ever bein...

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“Always Grateful” by Ray Samber

Submitted to Contest #283

For Roxy, getting sober hadn’t been easy. It had taken about six months of relapsing, changing her number, and altering her entire lifestyle in order to get to a place where she could put together any time that really felt legit. Nearly six months was the longest she’d ever been sober since she started the journey a year ago in November, when her family found out the truth about how she was coping with life. It had been a blur when everything first came to light, but it all happened because of her brother. He had a surgery and she just could...

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“At the Lowest Hour: A Christmas Time Loop” by K. L. Renaud

Submitted to Contest #283

A gentle snow fell as twilight deepened across the quiet streets of Hazelwick. Fairy lights clung to every window, and tiny wreaths swayed on storefront doors. On the third floor of a modest brick building, Emily stood in her living room, trying to decide if the small strand of tinsel drooping from her potted fern constituted a festive touch or a feeble attempt at holiday cheer. A new job had brought her here only a few weeks earlier, leaving her hundreds of miles from the place she used to call home. Normally, Christmas with her large, rauc...

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“The Gift of Presence” by Molly Layne

Submitted to Contest #283

Christmas Eve 2024 The snow sifted down in large wet flakes, turning into water as soon as they hit the sidewalk. The wind was getting slightly more chilly as the night wore on and more people were coming out of hiding, creating a crowd that for the most part went unnoticed by one slender, dark-haired girl. Nadine lowered her gaze slightly against the chill of the wind and tears pooled in her eyes. She hadn’t realized it would hurt this much. It felt like a ball of pain in the middle...

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“This isn't Normal” by Vivi Omeke

Submitted to Contest #283

Contains: Past Child Abuse/NeglectRacismPhysical Violence (Past)Homelessness (Past)Emotional Distress/TraumaImplied Social IsolationLUCA ADRIAN (1916, December 25th)IT’S CHRISTMAS!!! These were my first thoughts as I woke up on December 25th.Mama and Papa, before he left, used to have this rule: we (my siblings and I) can’t get out of bed until 7:01 a.m. I had about 40 more minutes before I could bang on my siblings' doors.I looked around, hearing a sound…Eryx was awake and sitting in the corner of the large bed my friends and I were sharing...

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“Every Miracle Is A Blessing ” by Janae H.

Submitted to Contest #283

There I was again, slowly walking with my arms crossed to look out the window. Watching the snow piled on top of each other, one flake after the other. This winter storm didn't seem as if it was going to ease up as I hoped for. Although, home was the last place I wanted to be. My husband and I flight has been delayed for over two hours now. I slowly made my way back to where my husband and I were sitting, which was at gate B30. Howard’s eyes stayed glued to the departure screen as the delay time for our flight continued to climb by the...

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“The Christmas Tree Warrior” by Tika Bonda

Submitted to Contest #283

Now, Grandpa swung his legs out of the truck—his real leg first, followed by his prosthetic leg. He sighed deeply, his eyes fixed on the dimming sunlight. His hunched shoulders had weathered many storms in the past, well, until two months ago when they had finally met their match. Papa came around the truck, offering a steadying hand, his face filled with worry. Grandpa took it, leaning slightly as he climbed out of the truck. I bounded up from behind, flashlight in hand, hoping we wouldn’t actually need it. I wanted to be back in the cabin ...

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“Christmas All Alone ” by Joseph Seechack

Submitted to Contest #283

Reedsy Prompts Contest: “Christmas all alone” Christmas All Alone By Joseph Seechack, author of, “A Love To Die For” Christmas Day with family and friends is finally over. Everybody finally went home; all the pressure is over now. The dishes and all the cleanup can wait for New Years Eve. Now Grace Butler can finally lay down on her bed and relax ...

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“Persian Blues” by Nea Le

Submitted to Contest #283

Tehran, 1978To RoyaRemember December last year? While Golnaz and her cousins were busy bragging about their American cars, we didn’t know if we should take the shot or just stay put. It’s Christmas now, and I’ve gotten a bit closer to Zarrin. It’s just me and her now—all the others have been transferred to some other facility. There are still roaches and spiders every now and then, but no signs of rats yet. When night falls and the stone floor freezes up like ice, if we sit still on our bed, sometimes we can hear singing a few cells down. Th...

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“What should have been” by Linsen Loots

Submitted to Contest #283

Michael stared, unseeing, at the sparse living room. It should have been a whirlwind of colour and glitter and sparkle. There was the corner where the tree should be standing. The long couch should have been moved to the opposite wall weeks ago to make space, and the tree should have watched over a pile of meticulously wrapped gifts. There in the passage should have been a glittering ceiling of fairy lights hung with bright green and gold baubles, leading from a hand-crafted wreath on the front door through to the lounge that should have bee...

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“Polka Dot Sock” by Markus Byrd

Submitted to Contest #283

DECEMBER 24TH, 2004 “My name is Detective Sarah Nolan, can you state your name for the record?” I choked through the dryness in the air. Three-hundred and sixty-five days and it still wasn’t any easier. “My name is Jackson Price.” I said through shaking vocal cords. “Jackson, can you verify today’s date for me?” Her voice wasn’t robotic, but very procedural. It was subtle, but little ticks in her delivery told me it was nothing personal. “It is-“ DECEMBER 24TH, 2003 I moved through the dense crowds with careful precision, making sure to be ...

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“Carl and Catherine's First Christmas Together” by Tina Truelove

Submitted to Contest #283

Carl and Catherine stood outside the store window. The Christmas display was mesmerizing. The twinkling lights and the bright red, green, gold, and blue ornaments sparkled such that Carl and Catherine couldn't take their eyes off them. "Someday, our Christmas decorations will look like this," Catherine sighed. "Someday," Carl agreed, "but we don't need fancy decorations to have a great Christmas, you know." "I know, but still, it would be nice someday." Catherine thought of their tiny little tree back at their apartment.&...

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“The Unimaginable Christmas” by Stephanie Walsh

Submitted to Contest #283

Well, at least no one peed on me today. Gary got the mall Santa job this year because facing Christmas alone was…unimaginable. Not that it was going to help him tomorrow, but at least it got him through Christmas Eve. Or rather, Christmas Eve Day. He had thought it would be a fun distraction, and it was, at first. Most of the kids were sweet or shy or excited; to his surprise, he found that bratty parents outnumbered bratty kids 2:1. But the redundancy of must-haves, pretty-pleases, and can’t-live-withouts, coupled with the loop of tinny Chr...

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“Left Behind” by Anuva Suresh

Submitted to Contest #283

It was there, just like you said – I knew you would get it done, you always got it done. Always put up too early, always lit up with the same lights, the same colors – you did it just like you promised. The music just started playing outside, unavoidable, but comforting - it never really bothered me, and I know it didn't bother you either. I guess it isn't really the season that bothers me now, it's that you got that damn tree done like you said. I know, I know, you hate it when I say "damn," but, damnit you got it done. I didn't even hear t...

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“...and we danced...” by Elizabeth Rich

Submitted to Contest #283

"Jesus, Joseph, and Mary," she muttered as she stood in front of the ticket agent on Christmas Eve morning. Meredith knew she was tempting the fates, but it couldn't be helped. Her youngest daughter didn't get home from her most recent gymnastics meet until late the night before, with an injury to boot. "I'm sorry, ma'am. With this flight being delayed, there's no way you're going to be able to make your connection in Chicago," the ticket agent said, wildly tapping the keys on her computer." "Are you absolutely sure? Can you put us on any ot...

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Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 54 stories

“A Very Mortal Christmas” by Brutus Clement

“Always Grateful” by Ray Samber

“At the Lowest Hour: A Christmas Time Loop” by K. L. Renaud

“The Gift of Presence” by Molly Layne

“This isn't Normal” by Vivi Omeke

“Every Miracle Is A Blessing ” by Janae H.

“The Christmas Tree Warrior” by Tika Bonda

“Christmas All Alone ” by Joseph Seechack

“Persian Blues” by Nea Le

“What should have been” by Linsen Loots

“Polka Dot Sock” by Markus Byrd

“Carl and Catherine's First Christmas Together” by Tina Truelove

“The Unimaginable Christmas” by Stephanie Walsh

“Left Behind” by Anuva Suresh

“...and we danced...” by Elizabeth Rich

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Contest #283

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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