Write about a character who smells something familiar and is instantly taken back to the first moment they smelled it.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 219 stories

“The Midnight Miracle ” by Nanditha Murali

Submitted to Contest #61

The night was still young when Ashe got off her car and entered the opening event of the Harley Art Gallery in Compton Avenue. She walked in, looking dazzling as ever in her luminous silk gown, and was immediately greeted by a woman, “Ashe, you made it! How does everything look?” The woman was dressed in a radiant emerald green dress and looked like she was in her mid-30s. Ashe said, “Lacy, you’ve outdone yourself this time, everything looks beautiful.” Lacy smiled and replied, “Oh I’m glad you feel so, I ...

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“Reginald, Too” by Stephanie Orrell

Submitted to Contest #61

Far in the west, the sky was bleeding. The setting crimson sun was a round bullet wound, splattering blood-like stains amidst the cloud cover. The gunmetal clouds hung in the east; they were weeping. I, like the sky, was angry no matter which angle you looked at me. Even though I had my rain hood pulled all the way up, my brow still furrowed, and my lips pursed into a tight frown. I...

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“THE BIRDS AND THE BREADCRUMBS” by Mike Williams

Submitted to Contest #61

“Don’t throw out the old bread. Please, save it for me,” Rachel requested. “At the picnic in the park last Saturday, we watched the birds vacuum up the leftover crumbs. It was so neat, Mom! The birds were just like you when you vacuum the dirty carpet.” “That’s an interesting comparison,” Mom replied. Rachel was left-handed. The pediatrician explained that she might have a propensity for seeing things in artistic and...

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“Nana's Perfume” by Sophia LaFleur

Submitted to Contest #61

I looked up from my schoolwork, furrowing my brow. There it was again: Nana’s perfume. Where could it be coming from? I haven’t seen my grandmother in months. Not since the coronavirus messed up the world and isolated me from the extended family I seldom saw throughout the year. Nana has worn the same perfume ever since I could remember. I had found a Victoria’s Secret perfume a few years ago that made me smell exactly like her after I had been wearing it for a bit. Now, it just reminded me of bad memories, so I usually forgo putting it on. ...

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“New beginnings ” by Maria Orozco

Submitted to Contest #61

"Breathe in breathe out. You got this. Smile, and brag but with personality." She repeated to herself sitting there on a cold steel bar stool. The 80's rock music nearly crossed the thin line between overbearing yet enjoyable when paired over colorful drinks that were being used to wash down american fried foods. The energy in the air was unfamiliar, the whole city brought her an unusual feeling of optimism followed by waves on anxiousness. "Hello I'm Jason general manager, pleasure to meet you." She instantly snapped back to the bar stool t...

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“Never Again” by Shaelyn Bradle

Submitted to Contest #61

(tw: mentions of rape) Laughter and music rose up from the bars lining both sides of the street. The sidewalk lamps blocked out the stars and moon above to illuminate the party-goers and bar-hoppers once more celebrated the temporary relief and freedom of the weekend. Sherry was one of these people, out with her friends for a night on the town - what better way to relax than to be amongst friends and booze? Well, just the friends for her - Sherry wouldn’t be drinking tonight. She had managed to stay sober since college, and wasn’t about to...

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“Wisps From the Past” by Sandy Buxton

Submitted to Contest #61

A tendril of smoke coiled and wafted through the air of the farm. Lazing along with the earthy scent of new corn silage, cows and manure. The movement of the cows through the milking parlor shifted the pong into her working air space. Abby startled when she got a whiff. She gave herself a shake as she continued to prep cow udders and attach milking machines. The rote work provided a chance for her to figure out why the smell bothered her beyond all of the other smells on the farm. &...

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“The Smells of Coney Island” by Perry Baker

Submitted to Contest #61

perrybaker316@yahoo.com The Smells of Coney Island By Perry Baker Boom! Went the sound of the howitzer. Boom, Boom, Boom. Machine guns blasting and hand grenades exploding. What an exciting movie. I loved war movies. Especially movies of the Vietnam war. I was sitting in the Marlboro movie theater with my dad Rocco. This theater was located on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn, USA. My dad, who was eighty five years old, and I, who was sixty years old, loved to go to t...

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“For the girl who saved my life ” by Caitlin Weber

Submitted to Contest #61

I heard my daughter crying, so I was heading to the kitchen. I turned the corner when the thick smell of copper washed over me, and suddenly I’m in my childhood kitchen, my mom’s favorite knife in my hand covered in blood. The sensation of shock and lightheadedness filled my body over the fact that I had slit my wrist. I hadn’t realized I was doing it until then. It was like I had blacked out because of my years of emotional torment; I just couldn’t handle it anymore. I dropped the knife and immediately wrapped a towel around my wrist and sa...

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Write about a character who smells something familiar and is instantly taken back to the first moment they smelled it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 219 stories

“The Midnight Miracle ” by Nanditha Murali

“Reginald, Too” by Stephanie Orrell

“THE BIRDS AND THE BREADCRUMBS” by Mike Williams

“Nana's Perfume” by Sophia LaFleur

“New beginnings ” by Maria Orozco

“Never Again” by Shaelyn Bradle

“Wisps From the Past” by Sandy Buxton

“The Smells of Coney Island” by Perry Baker

“For the girl who saved my life ” by Caitlin Weber

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character passing down their favorite childhood toy to a new generation.

Write about a character who goes to — or purposefully avoids — their high school reunion.

Write about a character discovering something new about their past that changes how they remember an important moment.

Write about a character who’s obsessed with an era they never lived through.

Contest #61

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

719

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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