Write a story that starts and ends in the same place.

Posted in Short Story on Dec 20, 2024

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✍️ 80 stories

“Looking Inside” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #282

I had an epiphany while standing in line at the DMV. Since I had all the time in the world I picked at scabs of old hurts, swept away the fragments of broken promises and scoured the stains of spilled tears till I saw a pattern.In the crevices between memory and reality live the ghosts of dreams.I remembered bedtime stories from when I was a child. The stories of girls who became princesses and lived happily ever after. Though evil tried to interfere, no amount of deceit and lies would aid the wicked. It was always the patient, innocent, swe...

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“The road not taken” by John Rutherford

Submitted to Contest #282

Lady and Pluto lay opposite each other one hot summer night. The breeze lay idle over the land and sea, lethargic, listless, too tired to move. It had surrendered, hiding in the shade, deep inside the belly of the hills, after hours, since dawn, exposed to the hot baking sun. Lady as always sat upright, listening and forever on guard with all her senses on constant alert. She did this every waking hour, and remained half alert even when sleeping, or dozing for an hour. Her life was one endless vigil of alertness, it was her duty; more than t...

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“Full Circle ” by Helen A Howard

Submitted to Contest #282

I vowed I’d never return to this street yet here I am.With my mother’s soul hanging in the balance, the need to revisit has come swiftly like the blooming of flowers from a baobab tree at sunset. Or maybe I’ve lived too long in an emotional desert and am seeking resolution. A kind of remedy for my own soul’s pain. Even now when I think of mum, I think of a fighter. She’s always been a fighter. Or she was before her spirit got broken. I can only hope she’ll be drawing on that former resilience to aid her in the hardest battle. On the sh...

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“Drowning In the Milk of the Moon” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #282

I try to roll off the checkered blanket as Daddy desperately tries to wipe the sticky drips of mint-chocolate from my ice-cream coated face before it reaches the new white blouse left exposed to stains.“I promised your mom I wouldn’t stain your shirt before dinner.” He said, leaning down to whisper the words in my ears.I giggle, squirming in his arms. My eyes drift past the nearly empty playground to a pair of eyes in the bushes. The setting sun makes them glow.“Daddy look! The bush has eyes.”He glances at where I’m pointing, and the eyes di...

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“Claus and Effect: A Holiday Tale of the Arts Department” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #282

To the real Merlin Kennedy, who brought Black Santa to town…December 17, 1966Adams ParkMillington, Illinois“Why are you stopping me?” Santa asked calmly as the officer pulled him none too gently from the “sleigh.” If there were to be one cool head this frosty Saturday morning, it would be his.The boy was blonde and blue-eyed, like Officer Friendly in a Norman Rockwell painting or the fellows used to goose-step Jews off to the livestock cars.“No way in hell you’re gonna be in this parade today,” the cop stated, leaning in. “There’s only one S...

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“Dust to Dust” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #282

Dust to Dust“So whoever knows the right thing todo and fails to do it, for him it is sin."-James 4:17Life begins at… conception? Heartbeat? Viability? Introduction in to this world? A subject of debate in today’s society. Beginning of life in the Christian community? Not debateable- Baptism.In 1923, St. Patrick’s was the pearl of this industrial suburb of Milwaukee. Today, despite its age, the structure maintains the calming, historic feel of the traditional- six large bronze pendant lights hanging from the ceiling, a mesmerizing statue of ...

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“The Labyrinth Realization” by Kristy Schnabel

Submitted to Contest #282

As Vera stood at the threshold of the labyrinth in the hospital courtyard, she recalled when she first met Charles thirty years before. In 1990, "It's Only Lunch" had just launched as a way for singles to meet over a meal. When Vera asked her date about the hobby on his profile, the bearded, lanky, serious-looking man shared his passion."A labyrinth is not the same as a maze," said Charles. By design, mazes confuse and have more than one pathway. You can actually get lost." His deep voice resonated as if we were giving one of his math lectur...

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“The Olive Tree Assignment ” by Toby Doncaster

Submitted to Contest #282

Bangkok. Last week, it was Delhi, before that Tokyo. Matthew plonked his traveller’s case onto the hotel bed and opened the envelope given to him at the reception counter. Just two words. Charon Bangkok. Enough to tell him the specific details of his next assignment. Matthew sighed and sat down. Reaching for his laptop, he swiftly searched for some details. There it was. Somchai Sahapat, the CEO of the Charon Bangkok company, Thailand’s largest producer of olive oil. Thippawan, his wife. His children and a home address in Bangkok...

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“Rachael's Tower” by Brutus Clement

Submitted to Contest #282

Rachael’s Tower It’s hard to imagine that we were all so young once, and how the world stretched out before us with seemingly endless possibilities. My friends and I managed to rent an old house in the now famous wine destination town of Napa, California in the early 1970’s. The town wasn’t as famous then as it is now. The house was huge and out of place in the poor neighborhood of small closely packed dwellings. Two forty-foot date palm trees perfectly framed the front of the house as w...

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“The Girl in the Snow” by Winslow Meyers

Submitted to Contest #282

Walking down the long winding road, a lonely, sad girl saw the snow. It came in a flurry, covering the road, and made her freeze. She hadn't seen snow since he died. Her father. Not a man named He. Her breath caught in her throat, and a slight strangled noise escaped her lips. Not today. When the girl reached the front door, she paused for a second. Her mother was inside, probably staring out the window blankly. She couldn't let her mother see the snow. The girl walked inside and saw her mom on the ground. Strange. She usually sleeps in a be...

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“Once Upon a Midnight Graveyard” by Sophie Stevenson

Submitted to Contest #282

Once upon a midnight graveyard, I emerged from the dirt. I arose from my resting place in the cold ground where death held me in a tight embrace. The moon shone almost as bright as the hours under the sun—the hours I had not beheld since I met my death. I drank in the crisp night air, my lungs expanding as they once did before. Looking upon the lonely grave I now call home, I ran my iridescent fingers over my name. Daughter, sister, friend, it reads. I look at my hands, my feet, my new body: wispy and white yet also translucent, much like th...

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“THE RETIRED HANGAR” by Luigi Conte

Submitted to Contest #282

Mary Jane flew for a living, not as a crew member but as a businesswoman. She sat in the same seat each time she travelled and left her house in a rush to get to the airport. Mary Jane Ellis volunteered for the position because she loved travelling and had no family. Going from North America to Turkey was the first time she saw it. She gasped, “Say, do you see that?” She asked the guy sitting next to her. “See what?” the man said. “Lady, were you drinking before you came aboard today?” “Shit no!” “I think so, honey. T...

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“Iron Bar Motel” by Trebor Mack

Submitted to Contest #282

Write a story that starts and ends in the same place. Iron Bar Motel Slam!Johnny’s heels had no sooner cleared the doorway when the heavy metal frame slammed behind him. Standing outside, wearing an evil grin, the overweight police officer turned the key to the cell door with irritating slowness.“Righto, Curly, welcome to Peaceville’s Iron Bar Motel. If you go disturbing the peace in Peaceville, you won’t get much peace from me. Haha, pun intended, little man.”Earlier that evening, Johnny had got caught up in riotous celebrations following h...

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“Pellucidity” by Diana Van Der Velde

Submitted to Contest #282

The anchor on the television is smiling. She smiles oddly, like she’s tried too many times, and now the pink paint on her lips cracks as her mouth stretches too wide. The picture switches from her to the weather woman. The weather woman smiles too, but it’s gentler, and she says the anchor’s name like a lover would. A hint of an accent curves her words into curiosities. No one knows what it is, and I have to leave before I can place it. The twenty-minute drive to the church is nearly silent, an odd juxtaposition to the roiling cl...

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“Why Daddy Didn't Like Christmas” by Zack Herman

Submitted to Contest #282

It’s Christmas Eve. I’m sitting here in my living room. I’m looking at the tree with the presents piled under it. I’m in my easy chair, facing the fireplace, nursing a glass of eggnog, the non-alcoholic kind. Thank God, I gave up drinking three years ago. The fire is roaring and I feel the warmth from it. I’m listening to the radio. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our local radio station replaces the usual country and bluegrass with Christmas music. This is the same room where I’ve celebrated many of my holidays. I live in the house tha...

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Write a story that starts and ends in the same place.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 80 stories

“Looking Inside” by Trudy Jas

“The road not taken” by John Rutherford

“Full Circle ” by Helen A Howard

“Drowning In the Milk of the Moon” by Cedar Barkwood

“Claus and Effect: A Holiday Tale of the Arts Department” by Martin Ross

“Dust to Dust” by Murray Burns

“The Labyrinth Realization” by Kristy Schnabel

“The Olive Tree Assignment ” by Toby Doncaster

“Rachael's Tower” by Brutus Clement

“The Girl in the Snow” by Winslow Meyers

“Once Upon a Midnight Graveyard” by Sophie Stevenson

“THE RETIRED HANGAR” by Luigi Conte

“Iron Bar Motel” by Trebor Mack

“Pellucidity” by Diana Van Der Velde

“Why Daddy Didn't Like Christmas” by Zack Herman

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that begins with an apology.

Write a story where a character relives the same event over and over again.

Write a story where someone who has done something wrong seeks a fresh start.

Write a story set in a world of darkness where light is suddenly discovered.

Contest #282

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

267

Contest entries

124

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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