Your character gets everything they ever wanted — only to realize the true cost.

Posted in Short Story on Sep 13, 2024

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 73 stories

“Lucy Lusitania” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #268

Lucy Lusitania. (2230 words.) You’re seated in the back of the room when the Chairman gavels for order. “We have been charged with the task of investigating the tragic implosion of the submersible vehicle Lucy,” he says. “We are not here to assess blame or culpability, people. Not at this time, so, let’s all try to be civil.” The grumbling in the room subsides to the point that you can hear the traffic noise from outside. You watch him as he gazes at the assembly of witnesses, their friends, family, lawyers, congressman, photographers, jou...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Cost” by Kate Simkins

Submitted to Contest #268

The day came that he had to start again, from the very beginning.“Lucifer?” A gentle voice spoke, a kindness in the dark.His eyes opened before he felt it; the great gnawing emptiness. It should have been full; of life, of light, the joy of peace eternal. But it was gone.“Where am I? Assie, where are we?” Lucifer’s voice was panicked, uncertain, reaching for Asmodeus’ hand. He found it, waiting, as it always was.“You’re out, Luce. We are all out.”Lucifer looked at him for the first time, eyes adjusting to the pre-dawn light. “Out?” He whispe...

6 comments 6

Read story

“The Average Teenage Girl Experience” by Fatima Lalla

Submitted to Contest #268

It starts as most things between handsome boys and shy girls do - with a crush. I'm walking to AP Latin. The crowds in the corridors are booming with excited pubescents hurrying along in bright lavender bomber jackets. It's basketball season, and everyone's beaming for the match this afternoon. I'm not. Obviously. I rarely ever beam. It's not a word to be associated with me. I snark at most. And I'm snarking up a storm currently. People keep bumping into me. Smelling too much like teenagers and cheap cosmetics for my liking. I have to wait...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A lesson to learn” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #268

He stood in front of the classroom. All the children were all looking at him waiting. Silence. He looked round the room but couldn’t say anything. It was the end of his first month of teaching. 14 years earlier... He had never met a talking rabbit before. It had yellow and green stripes. It had an American accent. The rabbit gave him a present. It was a big chocolate cake. He woke up. He knew it was an important day but he couldn't remember why. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Don’t know.” "Do you want to be a footballer?" "Don't...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Epitome of Confidence” by Taylor Johnson

Submitted to Contest #268

The chair made a small squeak as he sat down. A woman strode over and angled a large light to illuminate his face. He blinked against the intensity, his sensitive eyes watering behind his thick frames. He fumbled slightly with his blazer, not knowing whether it looked better with one button closed or two. He finally settled on only buttoning one button, remembering that was his usual go-to. He ran a pass down his wrinkle-free pants, the dry cleaner making sure his pants were pressed to perfection. A well-dressed woman with bright red ha...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Rockstar Rockenrolla traveling without moving” by Đorđe Marjanović

Submitted to Contest #268

In a world where time is a twisting stream,Lived a man named Rokenrolla, a surreal dream.More deaths than life, an endless cosmic ride,He delved into the Akashic Records, no place to hide. Rokenrolla, a seeker of truth,Through the simulation, he found his route.He hired Star Light Alliance, heroes of might,And faced God's Judgment in Orion's cosmic light. In the realm of endless possibilities,He ventured through the cosmic seas.With the Alliance by his side so brave,Together they traveled, souls they aimed to save. Rokenrolla, a seeker of tr...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Old Tom Cat” by Chris Luna

Submitted to Contest #268

“I was about the age you are now,” my grandmother began her story, gently crossing her weathered hands in her lap and placing them on the seed stitch blanket she had been diligently working on for what seemed, at the time, like months. “We used to have a cat, a mean one too-” she looked upset as she said this, “and he would scratch and scratch at me whenever I tried to hold him. He even gave me a scar you can still see, right here,” She pointed to a spot on her wrinkled face, next to her eye. I couldn’t make out any sort of marking but I nod...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Navaha the Nit. ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #268

Navaha the Nit was so not a female stripper. She often laughed at herself, thinking in general her life was a ripper. She woke up daily in the early hours, celebrating an awakening dawn, a blessing at her age. She realized now she could not solve all the intellectual issues,of her planet's future, but kept on praying for solutions. Navaha sat, reclusive, a lone wolf in her zone, scribbling her ideas, formulating concepts, hoping to flow her prayers to the teeming metropolis of billions of champions and wannabes who were part of humanity. But...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Have Your Cake and Eat It Too” by Eliza Kohler

Submitted to Contest #268

"There's been an accident." But she was supposed to bring the sour cream. "Her husband was with her in the vehicle. He's unconscious. You were listed as her next of kin." If she doesn't bring the sour cream, I can't make Crazy Chocolate Cake. "Ma'am, I don't know what --" Did I say that out loud? "If you know her next of kin, you ought to know her birthday, right?" A pause. "Says here September 10th, 1991." "And today is September 9th. So I am making her favorite cake, because it's her birthday, but I forgot the most important ingredient -- ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Ooops.” by Andrew Sweet

Submitted to Contest #268

The Ending (Of Everything) I turned toward Amanda after I read the news ticker. She smiled at me with those doe eyes and clutched my hand tightly, letting out a little giggle. I smiled back, because it’s happening just the way Clergy Tom said it would…mostly. I’d kind of hoped we could bring the sinful city of San Francisco to a reckoning. We had the weapons stockpile that he’d been collecting for ages, and a plan to start in January. But judging by the tear-filled, puffy-eyes of the newscaster, we weren’t going to make it that long. “To the...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Devil's Coin” by Jay Dillon

Submitted to Contest #268

I started my journey early in the morning, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. This was my first road trip alone, driving from Virginia to Florida. My destination was Daytona Beach, a place I'd heard was great for meeting people, especially girls. My parents thought I was taking time off before deciding on college, but the truth was, I needed a break. After four grueling years of high school, I craved freedom and maybe a bit of adventure."Here's your MapQuest directions," Dad said, handing me a stack of printed pages. "And if you ge...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Queen of the Hive” by Chase Sharp

Submitted to Contest #268

*This story contains mature themes*Rachel slammed on the brakes leaving tire skids on the driveway. She stops just before smashing into the back of her fiance’s parked car. She quickly parks and unbuckles her seatbelt before leaping out of her vehicle. She didn’t bother to close the driver-side door. A smartphone remains situated on the floor of the front passenger side seat. The screen displays a recent text message.“Meet me at Eric’s now. It’s urgent.”She runs past the gaudy fountain that looks like it belongs outside a casino. The bright ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Fame in all its Glory” by Elizabeth Marshall

Submitted to Contest #268

“When you get out there make sure to smile and wave. You do not answer any questions unless it is an actual reporter on the red carpet in a fancy outfit. Pose and be your stardom self.” My publicist Adam says to me in the limo. My name is Ashley Cook. I was the biggest star out there at the moment. I became famous overnight as my new movie “Ava” came out a few weeks ago. I was one of Hollywood’s “it” people. People loved me, I had all the money I wanted, I was hot, and I was a star. There was nothing that could stand in my w...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Circle” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #268

I am dead. I have been dead for forty years. The reason I want to tell you my story is not the fact that I am dead. The dead don’t care that they’re dead; it’s the living who fear Death. Since I have no enlightening story about Death that would comfort or scare you, I won’t be writing about that. The point is rather to warn you that the saying you’ve come up with, "As you sow, so shall you reap," is much more intense in its prophecy than you actually believe. "Where should I begin?" "Always start at the beginning." I died at birth, so I have...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Pioneering My Personality” by Laurel Sparks

Submitted to Contest #268

PIONEERING MY PERSONALITYOr … The Tale Of Jacqueline And Heidi My life always had a peculiar slant to it. I grew up playing games, especially dress up, keeping secrets, being mysterious and elusive. Deviating from the norm, pretending. No, I didn’t have a psychological problem. I was just as normal as the next kid. Nevertheless, my spirit had a wa...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone seeking forgiveness for their past actions.

Short Story – 93 stories

A character’s life of deceit unravels as their past catches up with their present. What are the consequences?

Short Story – 40 stories

Start a story with someone receiving a message from their past self, warning them of the consequences of their actions.

Short Story – 33 stories

Center your story around a character’s attempt to escape a bad situation that inadvertently leads them back to the source of their problems.

Short Story – 47 stories

Contest #268

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Reap What You Sow

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 20, 2024 EST

Won by D Gorman 🏆

Title: An Apology to Mankind, Two Days After First Contact

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Your character gets everything they ever wanted — only to realize the true cost.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“Lucy Lusitania” by Ken Cartisano

“The Cost” by Kate Simkins

“The Average Teenage Girl Experience” by Fatima Lalla

“A lesson to learn” by Paul Simpkin

“The Epitome of Confidence” by Taylor Johnson

“Rockstar Rockenrolla traveling without moving” by Đorđe Marjanović

“Old Tom Cat” by Chris Luna

“Navaha the Nit. ” by Julie Grenness

“Have Your Cake and Eat It Too” by Eliza Kohler

“Ooops.” by Andrew Sweet

“The Devil's Coin” by Jay Dillon

“Queen of the Hive” by Chase Sharp

“Fame in all its Glory” by Elizabeth Marshall

“The Circle” by Ivana Pavićević

“Pioneering My Personality” by Laurel Sparks

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone seeking forgiveness for their past actions.

A character’s life of deceit unravels as their past catches up with their present. What are the consequences?

Start a story with someone receiving a message from their past self, warning them of the consequences of their actions.

Center your story around a character’s attempt to escape a bad situation that inadvertently leads them back to the source of their problems.

Contest #268

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: