Write a story with the line “I’m late!” or “We’re late!”

Posted in Short Story on Mar 7, 2025

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✍️ 10 stories

“A Pinch of Stars” by Natalie Garside

Submitted to Contest #293

Benedict Augustus Reardon had the misfortune of discovering he was in possession of magical powers whilst aboard a speeding train. A man who believed every situation deserved a singular, well-selected adjective, his exclamation upon turning the morning toast of every traveler in the breakfast car into a parliament of owls: “Untimely!” “I say sir,” declared the official in the dining car, a burly man named Franklin who bore a brusque moustache, “An impolite time to be practicing magic while people have their breakfasts.” “My apologies,” Bened...

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“Better Late Than Never” by Austen McGee

Submitted to Contest #293

Mornings were always the hardest, but I could never decide why. Maybe it was the blue-white tint of the sunrise, a far cry from the red-gold I remembered from my childhood. Or perhaps it was the dread of facing another day as Professor Dylan, the only job I was qualified to perform.Either way, coffee was the only thing that got me through the day. Well, a dark coffee-like substance. It had almost the right color and aroma, but like so many other things here, it wasn’t quite the same. Usually, a healthy pour of whiskey in it was enough to mak...

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“Freedom” by James Moore

Submitted to Contest #293

‘I’m Late’ Harry thought as he hurriedly pulled on his work clothesHe hadn’t been at the foundry long and he knew they had strict starting and finishing times, each late clock-in or early clock-out resulted in docked pay. This felt draconian to Harry but ‘a jobs a job’, and at 25 with no formal education, this is where he’d found himself, ‘for now’ he thought.The foundry was a loud, hot, toxic place filled with despair, desperation and acrid stale smoke. The ventilators whirred and sucked out the majority of the worst air, but created a cons...

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“The Quiet Before” by Monique Martin

Submitted to Contest #293

I bent low over the painting, the tip of my brush dotting at the corner of the landscape. It was just a tree after all, but the spot of varnish that had welled up and discolored over the years needed to be removed. When the acetone leeched into the surface, it peeled back, and my heart clenched. As the varnish removed a layer of paint, it revealed a subtle, dark patch of pigment beneath its surface. I sat back, a chill running through me. Underpainting. Maybe a hidden painting? I held my breath and stripped off my rubber gloves as I leaned b...

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“I met death last night” by Ella Storey

Submitted to Contest #293

I met death last night.Being alone in one of London’s many streets, I was already cold, but his presence behind me was more than that.It was ice—sharp, hard ice that seared through my flesh, travelled through my blood, urging goosebumps to shoot out of my skin.When I turned down the lonely alley, I regretted it instantly. It was said that he lingered in dark streets, waiting for a desperate soul to pass him by.But still, I had decided to keep going.Arriving in London on the night of my sister's birthday was already fine, but her party had be...

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“Trials Intro” by Lyric Bailey

Submitted to Contest #293

Disclaimer! This is a nonpublished unfinished novel intro!Humans were a miracle. We were never supposed to survive past the ice age. We could only gather enough for one person to eat each day. Though somehow by a miracle, we grew in size and our technologies and cities advanced. From copper tools and crossbows to holograms and skyscrapers. In six million years we have accomplished so much and went from nearly zero to fourteen billion. But that brings some issues, there are fourteen billion people to house. There's not enough room for e...

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“~Beyond Reason~” by Jim Parker

Submitted to Contest #293

~Beyond Reason~“WE’RE LATE!” Barked Mr. Portis from the pilot seat. “LET’S GO!” His assistants, code named Will and Grace entered the black helicopter and they left the Brownsville, Texas airport headed for the Mexican border. Grace was surprised Mr. Portis was such an accomplished pilot as he explained how he could easily fly under the radar and enter Mexican airspace undetected. Portis, Will and Grace had come all the way from Langley Air Force Base together. It was unseasonably hot and she was extremely uncomfortable, still in her office ...

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“I'm Late.” by Mark Bedell

Submitted to Contest #293

I'm late.Of course. What was I thinking? Trying to make a delivery for the ACME Corporation, in the middle of a desert, miles from anywhere, when my tire decides to give up on life. I pull the truck to a stop on the side of a dusty, endless road, step out, and confirm what I already know, the back left tire is flatter than a pancake in a steamroller factory. Oh Geez, now I’m starting to sound like Yosemite Sam.I groan and kick the tire, which only succeeds in making my foot hurt. Since this is an ACME shipment, bound for none other than Yose...

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“Rambling Rose” by Jude Heyyer

Submitted to Contest #293

"I'm late!" Life always passes over me. 'I'm late' is just another phrase for situation normal, absolutely fluffed up. "Did you put in your application, Rosie ?" An unnecessary question, probably motivated by a sense of duty. I give my usual frown and grimace; a sigh, an 'I don't care but will try to appear concerned' look.The office crew is sniffing each other out. They're silently musing on the expected unfairness, their anticipated realisation of failure; judging nepotism or brown-nosing from each participant. Jones from service and repai...

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“White Rabbits” by Arlin Dixon

Submitted to Contest #293

I’m late! Oh, the sickness is coming. I feel it twisting my stomach, upsetting my bowels. I regret the lemon cookie I ate with such gusto, washing it down with that milk sludge. I poured it, thinking I would get to it straight away but of course, I didn’t. One thing led to another, as it always does, and I only picked up the glass when I was nearly choking on lemon crumbs. But that crumb was delectable. So buttery, yet light! I wish I had another. I shall visit the baker in the morning. He’ll remark that I’ve come back a second day. But ther...

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Write a story with the line “I’m late!” or “We’re late!”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 10 stories

“A Pinch of Stars” by Natalie Garside

“Better Late Than Never” by Austen McGee

“Freedom” by James Moore

“The Quiet Before” by Monique Martin

“I met death last night” by Ella Storey

“Trials Intro” by Lyric Bailey

“~Beyond Reason~” by Jim Parker

“I'm Late.” by Mark Bedell

“Rambling Rose” by Jude Heyyer

“White Rabbits” by Arlin Dixon

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your entire story in a car, train, or plane.

Center your story around someone who realizes they’ve left something behind.

Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.

Start or end your story with someone looking out a car or train window.

Contest #293

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

393

Contest entries

141

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: