Write a story about someone who must fit their entire life in a single suitcase.

Posted in Short Story on Jan 17, 2025

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✍️ 113 stories

“Trading Cages” by Jackie Marcink

Submitted to Contest #286

Trigger Warning: Contains themes of childhood abuse. In the beginning, there were three suitcases and two duffle bags scattered on the driveway of the home on the corner of Squire Mansion (not an actual mansion) and Ranchwood Drive. Only two would fit in the borrowed Jeep Wrangler. My entire life was packed in that old luggage, from clothing and shoes to books, personal care items, and the few precious tchotchkes I used to decorate my bedroom—my small attempt to make that space my own in a house that never truly felt like home. But, I knew...

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“Suitcase To Mars” by Robert Radcliff

Submitted to Contest #286

At the age of 28, Massie Mandrake a trained and highly qualified astronaut is on the verge of accomplishing a goal that she has been working toward for a considerable amount of time.It is expected that she and her crew will begin a mission to travel to Mars within the next few days, which will be a huge milestone for humanity.As part of their reward to go to Mars each chosen astronaut can bring a limited number of personal items that are significant to them and serve as a physical connection to Earth.They are each given a small suitcase in w...

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“Trash Versus Treasure ” by Sharon Moore

Submitted to Contest #286

Trash Versus TreasureBy: Sharon MooreThroughout various stages of our lives, we often find ourselves needing to reassess and categorize what items we consider most important. This often happens as we transition through different phases of life. From childhood to adolescence, we might give up our favorite toy for items more popular for that age group. As adults, we fill our homes with a favorite decor, but even that can change due to circumstances that cause us to downsize. A little over ten years ago, I found myself in such a position. It wa...

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“Moving On” by Gina Nelson

Submitted to Contest #286

Lulu sat hard on the suitcase; she plunked her butt down over and over again, hoping it would help her squish the opening together, so she could zip around the corners. It squished things alright, but they kept edging themselves out through the sliver of space between the zipper teeth. She kept tucking and zipping, tucking and zipping, trying to get the damn suitcase to close. Like her life, the suitcase was full of stuff she didn’t want to give attention to or sort out or make fit, things she couldn’t do without. So here she was, determined...

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“Good Girl” by Raven Water Blossom

Submitted to Contest #286

When I arrived here I hadn’t yet met the woman who would save my life. The wipers squeaked across the window as tiny semi-solid balls of ice fell from the sky. It’s May, 2,017 miles away from the humid embrace of southern nights, and 36 miles to the next chapter of my life. Despite the chill in the air, it already felt like home. I missed this. That’s the thing about home, it’s not somewhere outside of you. My mother would often say, “Home is where the heart is.” As a young girl (and until maybe this very moment), I thought that me...

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“Suitcase Full of Tupperware” by Katherine Kaczor

Submitted to Contest #286

What is your go-to complimentary hotel breakfast? It says a lot about who you are as a person. Some people believe it is the most important meal of the day. And others, like my husband, think it is a meal made up by the “cereal people” with no value whatsoever (unless a Bloody Mary is involved). When it comes to hotel breakfast. You have a few primary personalities. You’ve got the cereal people. They like routine and are not willing to break away from it just because they are having breakfast away from home- no shame in being boring. You’...

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“The suitcase” by Daria Urban

Submitted to Contest #286

Anyone’s home could be invaded. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, right now, or never. Why? Because they simply could. They came to me on a Thursday. For some reason, I had always thought they would come under the cover of darkness, cloaking themselves in shadows to amplify the fear they wanted to instill. But they didn’t. They knocked on my door at dawn. The quiet knock startled me awake—not loud or frantic, but deliberate, as though to signal their authority. I opened the door. I don’t like rumble. I had been sitting in the kitchen, watching the...

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“4000 Page Autobiography” by Miya Doolam

Submitted to Contest #286

TRIGGER WARNING: a school bus and civilian collision described somewhat explicitly. Melony’s flight left at dawn, and there she was at midnight in her home office, her industrial printer in full swing belching out her 4000-page autobiography. Her black cat precariously perched at the top of her arm chair, moonlight spotlighting her in witch-like lore, squinted down at her in a matter of judgment, wondering how Melony planned to fit her manuscript into her mini suitcase. “Don’t worry, Luna, I’ve got this.” Her cat purred and...

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“A bear named A.G.” by Kamran Connelly

Submitted to Contest #286

A Bear named A.G.By Kamran ConnellyAs the police car arrived at the little house on Bellow grove. The younger of two brothers stood peering from the upstairs window of the humble home. He watched the police men walk up the driveway and relief washed over him. They were both bigger than dad and could surely get them away from this place. The fear of a furious father, vicious and possessed by a spirit from Russia, subsided when the sturdy knock of authority banged on the door. The younger of the brothers, nine years old, assured his older sibl...

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“Slow Burn” by Kristy Case

Submitted to Contest #286

The koi fish in the pond is a splotchy yellow with whiskers the length of Nico’s pinky finger. Its round, black, beady eyes seem to stare at him in expectation. What? It opens its gaping mouth and the wail of a siren sounds. The sky darkens and clouds with smoke. More koi float to the surface, belly up. The portly yellow continues to wail. Nico startles awake atop his bed. The AC unit shoved into the window shoots out cold air. The remnants of a Pringles can dust his Metallica shirt in a crunchy constellation, his tongue th...

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“Moving Forward” by Kara Slater

Submitted to Contest #286

I shove a small box into the corner of my suitcase. It fits, just. I look around my room and there are still things that I thought I would want to bring with me but now know they aren’t going to fit. I sigh. This is so much harder than I thought it would be.A month ago I got a job offer for my *dream* job. One I had applied for not thinking I would actually end up getting it.. well I did get it and it’s on the other side of the world. Okay, maybe not the other side of the world but in a different country and far enough away from here to feel...

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“The Lynching” by Len Rely

Submitted to Contest #286

From “A Practical Guide to Anarchism”…Since our hero never knows when or why the state is going to crack down on him, one must have certain munitions prepared in advance. It is necessary in any profession to have a canard, a decoy waiting in the wings when called for. For example if you prepare taxes, everyone thinks the number of outstanding returns you have is the number of clients waiting to file. It wouldn’t occur to them you have a return with a blank name, pre-approved by the IRS, dated to before the tax laws changed whi...

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“Ages of Gold” by Tiersa Remisha

Submitted to Contest #286

“Mother, I implore you, listen to me,” Nathaniel holds his hands out in earnest supplication towards the woman who birthed him, sat primly on her favored chair in the drawing room. “We have an opportunity now like never before – nay, a duty, to pursue peace with the common people. With the tyrant gone, we can –” “Speak not ill of your King, Nathaniel,” she interjects harshly. She gestures gracefully with one arm to draw his attention to the room, large and ornate, coloured the deep red of rubies on every wall. Gold nuggets are interspersed a...

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“What We Carry” by Mahmoud Yassin

Submitted to Contest #286

The night was a symphony of chaos, each missile a screamingcrescendo that shattered the fragile stillness. Flames danced likevengeful spirits, consuming the remnants of lives once whole, theirfiery tongues licking at the darkness. The ground convulsed with each explosion, a wounded beast groaning beneath the weight of itstorment. Smoke billowed in heavy, suffocating waves, wrapping thecity in a deathly embrace. Cries of anguish pierced the air, raw andunyielding, mingling with the metallic crash of collapsing walls. Blood etched cruel rivers...

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“LIFE IS WHAT YOU CARRY” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #286

The stench of smoke and seared wood continued to greet my day as I stepped outside. There was no relief, and we all had to endure the devastation. This warm day, however, brought an end to the season of wet snow and windy times with a promise of hopeful new beginnings. Spring was a welcome moment in the village as each one had suffered the ruins of the winter months. I stepped back, put on my well-worn layers of cotton clothing and pulled a weighted shawl over my shoulders. Looking out the bright transparent window, I could only envision pot...

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Write a story about someone who must fit their entire life in a single suitcase.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 113 stories

“Trading Cages” by Jackie Marcink

“Suitcase To Mars” by Robert Radcliff

“Trash Versus Treasure ” by Sharon Moore

“Moving On” by Gina Nelson

“Good Girl” by Raven Water Blossom

“Suitcase Full of Tupperware” by Katherine Kaczor

“The suitcase” by Daria Urban

“4000 Page Autobiography” by Miya Doolam

“A bear named A.G.” by Kamran Connelly

“Slow Burn” by Kristy Case

“Moving Forward” by Kara Slater

“The Lynching” by Len Rely

“Ages of Gold” by Tiersa Remisha

“What We Carry” by Mahmoud Yassin

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU CARRY” by Debbie Curtin

🌟 Similar prompts

Center your story around a character who’s struggling to let go.

Write a story about a cherished heirloom that has journeyed through multiple generations.

Center your story around a character who’s afraid of being forgotten.

Write a story with the line “You never know a good thing until it’s gone.”

Contest #286

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

368

Contest entries

146

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: