Write a story that ends by circling back to the beginning.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 214 stories

“Say Goodbye, Don't Follow” by Tatum Palmer

Submitted to Contest #42

I knew my time was running out, I just didn't realize how quickly.I had been desperate. Tired, hungry, alone, and desperate. My parents could find no place for their gay son in their house, and I left them with no time to tell me so. I ran, ran, ran with thirty dollars in my pocket and turmoil in my soul. I remember that night, the comforts of Autumn took their final bow as the first snowfall of the year paved the way for bitter times.The sky opened up, and seemed to burst as a kaleidoscope of stars and snow took center stage. Flurries dance...

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“The Beginning of the End” by MJ Hancher

Submitted to Contest #42

He sent me away. I really wanted to bash my head into the steering wheel as I drove down the empty highway. The desert never really suited me. I had to return to Florida with my tail tucked between my legs. But I had nowhere else to go. I wasn’t going to draw things out by forcing him to continue living with me. Phoenix was truly his, and I had only wished for it to be our’s. The look in his eyes before he turned for the door had shattered something deep inside my soul. I had packed up everything of mine I could find and stuffed it bac...

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“The Magician” by Lillie Jayne Pilkington

Submitted to Contest #42

He was a magician. Not the kind of guy that could tell you what’s on your card, or make roses appear from his sleeves. No, his magic was truly special, and so malevolent that I can’t even begin to think about it without wanting to cry again, like the many times I did back then.His power wasn’t unique, but a really good one to have; he could bend and sculpture with his words until I almost believed that I was breathing just because he allowed me to do so. He could make every reality into a favorable situation for himself, making everyone else...

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“Change.” by Lanie Bivins

Submitted to Contest #42

This story starts with a hurt 16-year-old. Not hurt in the typical way people usually think of. Hurt emotionally. But you couldn't tell by just looking at her. She has never been that straightforward and open. To know her, you have to gain her trust. Not many people have it. No one in her family or friends in her youth group. There is a group that she is a part of at school but the person that Meredith, Mere for short, trust most with her deepest and darkest secrets happens to be the five-month-old baby she watches on weekdays. She can...

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“Art of Deception” by Joel Samberg

Submitted to Contest #42

“Evelyn, it’s gonna be a hell of a night,” Art says as he plops into one of the big, old, faded-blue easy chairs in the den. “A hell of a night.” Art, just on the other side of sixty-five, has finally put on his pajamas, bathrobe and slippers after spending more than an hour in his basement workshop trying to patch an old picture frame that Evelyn asked him to fix weeks ago. He had been glad for the task, for he had needed time alone to think. To plan. To come up with an idea. After all, he had something very heavy on his mind which...

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“Never ending cycle ” by Melody Cat

Submitted to Contest #42

“Hi, I’m Josh.”She jumped back and looked at the man behind the voice. He stuck out his hand. She shook it. “Carrie.”“Well, Carrie, care to dance?” He asked. She smiled and began walking back to the dance floor. “Sorry, I’m actually looking for someone.” “Wait, can I have your number then?” He asked. Her eyes widened. “My number? We just met.”“Well, how are we supposed to meet again if I don’t have a way of contacting you?” “Smooth, I’ll give you that.” She recited her number to him. “I’m going to be expecting a call tomorrow.”&nbs...

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“Al Aaraaf's (Alas! Alas! Alas!)” by Alonso Arballo

Submitted to Contest #42

To: Aphrodite, My Empress Eye thine initiate inquiry of yon finest,with Hero proportions with astounding impressions.To Aphrodite, my Empress, the fairest of thee!Please, lower, Venus, Venus's Heavenly Palace to me.Above all pedestals, Divine lurks Her seraph balcony.Her throne doest shine, thee Highest, Esteem.Silky scarlet tresses of red-velvet dreams.Ven!, yay!, das!; profound Immortal Soul prophecies:elicit the reddest of the red, red, rose kisses.Impress Empress Heart: propound the Queen of Queens.Please-paint me, in thine bold redder s...

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“Participation, not Sympathy- the Freedom of the differently abled” by Triparna Chakraborty

Submitted to Contest #42

She opened her eyes, confused and exasperated. The darkness in the room seemed to crawl on the legs of the bed. She could feel sweat on her skin. Faint familiar beeps accompanied by the sound of her own breath, speared the silence. Horrified, she tried to sit up, but the excruciating pain in every part of her body, made her end up slamming helplessly against the bed, only her restraints jingled. For the next few minutes she delivered another round of screaming and sobbing, only to never have anyone respond back. Forty minutes later, there wa...

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“Ouroborus” by Joe Mansour

Submitted to Contest #42

iTevenson Hopkins took the head off his pint while he waited for the barman to return with his change. He was careful to count it before dropping into his pocket, satisfied he nodded his thanks and carried the drink back to his seat in the corner. Scowling at the youths sat in his usual spot just to the left of the inglenook fireplace (tucked away from general view but still close enough to feel the warmth) he placed his pint on a beermat then removed his raincoat, folded it up and put it on the stool next to the table. He undid the buttons ...

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“ Looking Back” by Tom Campbell

Submitted to Contest #42

They grimly dragged his inert body into the tall cornfield, not bothering to hide it. It was a young man. Too bad he had to die so young but looking at his scruffy clothing and eyes wild in desperation, even in death, they knew he wouldn't be missed anytime soon. By then they would be miles and miles away.It had been an exhausting day. The heat, for one. Tramping westward on narrow roads, occasionally getting a lift from a farmer. Perhaps at another farmhouse they might get a slice of homemade bread and cheese. They had ...

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“Ally of roaches” by Chiamaka Udechukwu

Submitted to Contest #42

The insecticide lingered all through the night but didn’t manage to defeat the squad of disrespectful cockroaches that tormented us in the kitchen. Knowing what to expect, I tiptoed through the court yard with my brown flip flops tightly gripped in my fingers, ready to smash the first few unassuming pests to catch my glance. I used the side of my hip to push the door open. I tried to be as gentle as possible but the rusty bolts had its way of betraying me; my other hand was too busy hoisting the kerosene lamp so I had no choice. My shoulders...

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“Lorana” by Vincent Damico

Submitted to Contest #42

The air was soft and warm as it blew through the wire screen door. It wasn’t locked and the soft breeze made it bang intermittently against the door frame. The wind whirled around the still furniture, coasting over the wooden floor, snaking it’s around the dark red river of blood that was beginning to seep through the floor. A toddler bent over in the corner, fidgeting and trying to sleep, sucking on her thumb in hopes that someone would wake her from this nightmare. The home sagged into the land it sat on, the land Lorana had bought ov...

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“Nova” by Arandom Secret

Submitted to Contest #42

"Please, stay with me. Don't leave me here alone...." The girl's blonde hair glimmered as the sunlight lightly brushed upon her. Her tears fall out of her red eyes. If people were to see her current state, they would surely be mistaken those eyes to rubies. "......I'm sorry. But I'm sure 'the one' will come and save you from this hell. Then, you will be able to find happiness." The man laid before her spoke, trying to even his breathing while gently caressed her cheeks. His other hand clutched tightly onto the wound on his torso, trying...

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“Abduction” by Connie Clark

Submitted to Contest #42

I look around; no one’s there. I’m alone. My vision narrows; breathing slows; exterior limbs are frozen; everything’s in slow motion; my legs no longer hold me…. I’m falling…. Conscious, I find myself looking upon the world from the stars and basking in the beauty of the earth. Also, in my awareness is the devastation, poverty, and hatred that abounds. Contemplating, is humankind salvageable? “Wait a minute! What?! Where am I? Where is that voice coming from? There’s no one around…” The sudden realization: I am circling the earth and speak...

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“Invasion” by Adrian Tan

Submitted to Contest #42

Rapid footsteps interrupted the sound of a peaceful jungle with calls of the wild. A boy, drenched in sweat, was running for his life, away from the new king of the jungle and his minions. By his side was a lion cub, the heir to the old throne.A rival pride had attacked the lion kingdom and imprisoned the old guards. Years of betrayal and losses had moulded the lion at the head of this new pride into a cold and heartless beast. There was nothing left in his life but to conquer and destroy all things living. In the midst of the chaos, the boy...

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Write a story that ends by circling back to the beginning.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 214 stories

“Say Goodbye, Don't Follow” by Tatum Palmer

“The Beginning of the End” by MJ Hancher

“The Magician” by Lillie Jayne Pilkington

“Change.” by Lanie Bivins

“Art of Deception” by Joel Samberg

“Never ending cycle ” by Melody Cat

“Al Aaraaf's (Alas! Alas! Alas!)” by Alonso Arballo

“Participation, not Sympathy- the Freedom of the differently abled” by Triparna Chakraborty

“Ouroborus” by Joe Mansour

“ Looking Back” by Tom Campbell

“Ally of roaches” by Chiamaka Udechukwu

“Lorana” by Vincent Damico

“Nova” by Arandom Secret

“Abduction” by Connie Clark

“Invasion” by Adrian Tan

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that ends with the narrator revealing a secret.

Write a story that ends in the past.

Write a story that ends with a character asking a question.

Write a story that ends with one character waiting for the arrival of another.

Contest #42

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

903

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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