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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story with two characters who meet for the first time — and one of them has a secret.

Posted in Short Story on Sep 6, 2024

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 83 stories

“BAD INK” by Laura Camacho Frias

Submitted to Contest #267

I had arrived at the hospital that morning, and I was feeling like crap. It's not an elegant way of expressing my physical and mental state, but saying I was low, tired, or exhausted would not be a fair description. The night before, I had barely slept, drove my car for four hours at dawn, and arrived at my destination needing caffeine as if my life depended on it. The only thing that helped me wake up was the cold air that slapped my face as soon as I opened the car door, but as soon as I entered the building, my body seemed to switch off. ...

8 comments 8
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“mended” by Amanda Stogsdill

Submitted to Contest #267

Mendedby Amanda Stogsdill "This call is from Teresa. To accept, press two. You can speak now." An automated female voice directed me."Hello?" I waited, licking my lips."Hi. How are you?" Teresa asked. Her voice was soft, and a little flat.“All right,” I replied, “And you?”"About the same. Stuck inside these four walls. Nothing to do. How's everyone?""We had Tyler's party last week. Same water slide as always. Until the kids get bored, that's what it'll be."Silence. "Wish I was there." Teresa's voice trembled, "Do they ask about me?"Yes, Tyle...

2 comments 2
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“A Distant Melody” by Tirsa Maciel

Submitted to Contest #267

Ellie had never been to this part of town before. It wasn’t that it was particularly far from her usual haunts, but there was something about the quiet streets and the absence of familiar faces that had drawn her in. She liked places where no one would recognize her. Today, more than ever, she needed to feel invisible. The small café, tucked between an old bookstore and a vintage clothing shop, seemed like the perfect place to disappear. With its dim lighting and eclectic decor, it felt worlds away from the bustling city just a few blocks ov...

3 comments 3
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“Coffee With a Splash of Mystery” by Janet Brown

Submitted to Contest #267

COFFEE WITH A SPLASH OF MYSTERY        The morning began as a typical fast-paced work day. The smell of freshly brewing coffee emanated from the Bean Barn, a quaint coffee shop frequented by people en route to their places of employment. Inside the shop, soft New Age music wafted through the air as people lined up to order their favorite morning beverage. Small, round tables were scattered about the place, some folks reading the paper while enjoying their coffee, and chatting with friends. Massive glass windows ...

4 comments 4
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“Myrrh, Earth, and Red Wine ” by Han Ly

Submitted to Contest #267

In some forgotten corner of the world, squeezed between bakeries, bookshops, and premium cafes, lies Bill’s auto mechanic shop. Across the cobblestone road from Bill’s is a peculiar floral shop owned by Leena. Her dark licorice hair and wine-colored lips demand a second glance. Leena’s voice is melancholy when she speaks, hiding her secrets behind gentle smiles. The townspeople often spoke of her enigmatic beauty and her strangely eternal blooms.Roses were by far Leena’s favorite flower. The soft petals and sharp stems reminded Leena of hers...

5 comments 5
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“Cyberpunk” by Savannah Campbell

Submitted to Contest #267

I am in charge of finding individuals who are charged with crimes against creation. The government has strict rules to delegate how robotic and cybernetic based life can be developed. My sworn responsibility no matter how little I like it has been on this force against such mayhem for over a decade. Without servants like me, the world is at risk for a chaotic overhaul to the stability the governmental leaders continuously work to ensure.        As I walk down a deserted alley, I search for the las...

8 comments 8
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“Allergic” by Bri Heron

Submitted to Contest #267

**Mention of a child's death due to an allergy I found out who my new neighbors were when my son killed theirs. It was an accident, of course. My son gave theirs a peanut butter blossom cookie at recess, not knowing a bite of it would send him into shock. His parents, overwhelmed with moving into a new house the weekend before school started, forgot to pack his EpiPen in his backpack and his extra in his pants pocket. Their son died on the way to the hospital, and I didn’t know about my son’s involvement until twenty minutes before we left ...

0 comments 0
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“Secrets Kill” by M Jargins

Submitted to Contest #267

Three facts to know about me.One: I’m Ellie.Two: Whatever I do, it’s not what you think.Three: I’m not crazy.There’s no time left to tell this story.Help me spread the news... such great news!- - -It’s one of those horribly perfect days, announcing itself without worrying about repercussions that I will throw at it later. I think it’s a fucking miserable day. I can’t even catch sight of him, most likely due to the fact that an unending flow of tourists keeps getting spouted onto the street, ignoring the taxi drivers who try to mow them down ...

2 comments 2
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“Over the Moon” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

Submitted to Contest #267

On what was supposed to be the best day of her teenage years, Red felt lost in a sea of maroon graduation gowns that made everyone look the same. She watched and listened to the hubbub as parents and siblings joked with and fussed over the teenagers that she had spent four long years with at high school. Above the stage, the breeze teased a golden yellow banner with maroon writing which said: Class of 1978. It was going to feel odd to have her full name announced when she lined up on the stage with other students from her row ...

2 comments 2
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“Should I TellHer” by Gil Harris

Submitted to Contest #267

SHOULD I TELL HER? Why did you pick me to dance? You seem to know what to do on the dance floor. Can’t say that about most of the other guys around here.” “Just saw some pretty legs that seems they should be on the floor.” “Thanks. I’m glad you thought so.” “This one sounds like a cha cha beat. Wanna go for it?” “Don’t think I know how to cha cha. Wanna show me?” “Love to. Those pretty legs shouldn’t be just standing around.” He was hoping they’d be wrapped around his neck before the night was over. “Are you from around here?” she asked. “Ha...

0 comments 0
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“The Cage” by Dan Coglianese

Submitted to Contest #267

A faint orange glow hung low in the western sky as Samantha drank in the black and maroon exterior of the Blackthorne Lounge. A dark red awning hung over the front door.      Lucius picked this place. But she picked Lucius. On Bumble. It was the app Samantha and her four sisters used to hunt for men.       Samantha spotted him from across the room. He wore a tight black t-shirt and black jeans with a black leather coat. All black. She liked his style. Approaching him, she noted a silver necklace w...

2 comments 2
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“The Echo in the Mist” by Samantha Red

Submitted to Contest #267

The mist hung thick over the river, curling around the iron arch of the bridge like ghostly fingers. Beneath it, the water flowed dark and steady, its surface barely visible beneath the swirling fog. Soft footsteps echoed on the damp stone path leading up to the bridge, the sound reluctant to disturb the stillness.Eva walked alone, her hands buried deep in the pockets of her coat, eyes fixed ahead but unfocused. The bridge had always been her sanctuary—a place to think, to escape. Lately, the world felt heavier, a weight pressing down on her...

4 comments 4
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“Stay in Touch? ” by Lora Hovakimyan

Submitted to Contest #267

Kate was sipping on her coffee, waiting for her gate to open so she could finally get home. She was so lost in thought that she wasn’t feeling how the hot coffee was burning her tongue. Maybe if her tongue became numb from the burn it would distract her from feeling numb on the inside? All she knew was that the coffee wasn’t helping her with anything – neither her sleepiness, nor the numbness inside. She brought the cup closer to her lips once again, but nothing happened, no liquid touched her lips, no wetness, no nothing.  “Oh, so I dr...

4 comments 4
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“The Photographer's Lens” by Drop Kick

Submitted to Contest #267

Emma adjusted her camera, framing the dilapidated barn against the setting sun. The golden hour cast long shadows across the overgrown field, creating the perfect ambiance for her rural decay photo series. As she clicked the shutter, a twig snapped behind her. She whirled around, heart racing. A man stood at the edge of the clearing, hands raised placatingly. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said, offering a disarming smile. "I'm Jake. I own this property." Emma lowered her camera, embarrassment replacing fear. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I sh...

1 comment 1
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“O'Malley's List” by Suzanne Jennifer

Submitted to Contest #267

(Contains cross-dressing themed material)Lyla stood in front of the full-length mirror, analyzing her dress for the third time since she started dressing. The chiffon fabric was a swirl of blues, greens, and yellows that reminded her of a meadow in the spring. Her husband, Malcolm, felt she should wear a dress tonight. This was the only one she owned that was light enough for the environment. She had yet to update her cool weather wardrobe to suit their new climate in the desert. Though she was much more relaxed in jeans and a blouse with a ...

6 comments 6
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