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

Posted in Short Story on Sep 13, 2024

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✍️ 73 stories

“New Parts” by Benjamin Khoury

Submitted to Contest #268

Mission Statement. The video begins with a man laying in a recliner covered with blankets. His skin is thin and stretched over his boney body like loose rubber. Various wires and tubes weave around him like spiderwebs.“Good… morning” the man starts through rasping breaths that cause his chest to inflate beneath his coverings “My name… is Dr. Gries… and… as you can see… I'm dying… but…” With an upsetting amount of effort Dr. Gries leans forward to press a button on his computer. Then he slumps back in his chair and closes his eyes. A small li...

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“Be Careful What You Wish!” by Karen Duffell-Canham

Submitted to Contest #268

Ding-dong! The sound of her doorbell jerked Shirley out of her reverie, back to the present. A policeman stood on her doorstep. He held an identikit of a middle-aged, bearded man in his forties. The man was sporting a big, black beard. He was wanted by the local police for housebreaking and, more seriously, attempted murder. The policeman wanted to know if she had seen anyone of that description around the neighborhood. Shirley answered in the negative, absentmindedly running her fingers through her fine, light brown hair. She had liv...

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“My Journey of Ambition and Growth” by Angie Windsor

Submitted to Contest #268

As I stand by the large, panoramic window of my apartment perched high within the skyline's embrace, I'm greeted by a mesmerising view. Below, the city stretches out like a vast, intricate tapestry, each thread woven from the stories and dreams of those who walk its streets. This sprawling urban landscape, with its twinkling lights and towering structures, serves not just as a backdrop to my daily life but as a gentle reminder of the incredible journey I've embarked upon in my corporate career. The sight before me is breathtaking, and its be...

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“Claimed” by Michelle Smith

Submitted to Contest #268

Content Warning: This story addresses sensitive topics such as mental health struggles, trauma, post-partum depression, and medical complications related to premature birth. Didi Godfrey's life felt like a tornado of indifference and longing. At 25, she was stuck in a rut, feeling older than she was, but without any of the perks - a successful career, a significant other, or even a sense of purpose. The black sheep of her family, she'd moved to an unfamiliar town to be closer to her parents, but instead found herself more isolated t...

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“All Those Layers” by Aaron Arm

Submitted to Contest #268

It was her voice that first entranced me, that held the whole of my attention, and which captivates me still. She found me in my most vulnerable moment and blanketed me with a sense of That-Which-Was-Always-Meant-To-Be. She was my lifeline, my providence—or so it felt—and it was through her voice that I discovered another layer within myself. I first discovered her much in the same way as she left me: through song. It had been a rough winter. My life was effectively in freefall, though falling would at least have felt exhilarating. I was sim...

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“His big break” by Corina P

Submitted to Contest #268

“And now?”“And now, we wait.” The cold winter breeze peaked through Taylor’s window and slipped into the conversation discreetly, almost like an uninvited visitor. December was here to stay, and so was his prying flatmate. Taylor thought Matt to be an uninvited visitor. He would much rather leave the conversation hanging, than having to constantly explain his moves to him. It had become a challenge, a dreaded reminder that things might go right, but they may also go wrong. The audition had taken place yesterday, and all Taylor could t...

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“Avarice” by Julie Norman

Submitted to Contest #268

“Surprise!” Grinning like a maniac, Jake popped the little jewelry case open, and inside was a shining silver bracelet, encrusted with diamonds all along the band. Cassandra gasped, clamping a hand over her mouth. “Jake, its beautiful!” She exclaimed, taking the bracelet from its cradle and fastening it onto her wrist. “Oh, wow. I just can’t… Hang on a second. How much did this piece cost?” Her husband’s grin grew even wider. “That’s the second surprise.” He produced a small slip of paper from his pocket and shoved it into her hands. Cassand...

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“STARVED FOR JUSTICE” by Antoine Polgar

Submitted to Contest #268

STARVED FOR JUSTICEYour character gets everything they ever wanted — only to realize the true costAntoine J. PolgarThings happen on a May afternoon the smartest person is not clever enough to foresee or understand. A paunchy retired academic Philip Kohl, the hero of this story, sits alone in the study of his Woodward Avenue, Buffalo home in the Parkside area house he shared with his wife Eugenia. She noticed that since the delivery of what appeared to be a piece of heavy computer equipment, he locked the door to his study and the electr...

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“Mary” by Feline Kögel

Submitted to Contest #268

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago there was a small kingdom. In fact, this kingdom was so small that it had little more than a few hundred inhabitants, a king and a pub. The king was young, handsome and not very stupid, so the people liked him. One in particular liked him and that was Mary, the daughter of the pub owner.Oh Mary! This Mary was the prettiest, smartest, and most cheerful girl anyone had ever seen. You could find her every evening in her father's pub, which was not strictly speaking the only pub in the kingdom, but it was ...

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“Beauty” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #268

TW: Mental Health/Body Issues Michelle Crawford spoke six languages fluently, earned two PhDs in finance and computer information sciences, could play the piano at a near master level, and earned in the high six figures as a senior executive at a global, tech company. She had traveled the world (38 countries and counting), eaten the finest cuisine, stayed on luxury beaches, and swam with dolphins while working courtesy of her employer. Knowing what an incredible asset Michelle was to the company, they allowed her flexibility in her comings a...

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“Planet Nine” by Nikki Elbertson

Submitted to Contest #268

“Ooh, I got a good one!” Matchmaker 3791 shouted from her desk. “It’s a widower wishing to reconnect with his high school sweetheart.” She rubbed her hands together like a giddy child. “Maybe I’ll have them seated next to each other on a flight to the town where they grew up. He will be on his way to his daughter’s wedding…and she…hmmm…” Matchmaker 3791 paused and looked up. “Any ideas why she’s going back?” She looked around the room as everyone else read their daily assignments from their screens. “Hello?” Teacher 516 rolled his eyes. “Dif...

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“Exhibit 1” by Amanda Wisdom

Submitted to Contest #268

“Help us! Please, God, someone help us! Please God, make it—” “Turn it off, turn that off right now! My apologies, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my apologies.” The prosecutor adjusts his glasses, his voice tight. “What you just heard was a clip from the found footage discussed in this case. Upon review, the Honorable Mary Dolas determined it was insufficient for viewership, due to its grotesque and gruesome nature. For this purpose, you will be reading only the transcript of the found footage. You may proceed in reading Exhibit 1.” ...

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“Wealth To Death” by Alex GC

Submitted to Contest #268

He stood beside the bed, where his father lay, gripping the bed frame, staring at his dying eyes, as the old man was breathing slowly. He stared at his father intently, with his eyes open wide, as if awaiting something to happen. The sound of his father’s quiet wheezing was accompanied by the sound of a weeping woman coming from outside the room.Though the man by the bed didn’t seem too troubled by what he was seeing on the bed of his father, but rather excited, as if listening to a traveller’s tale and awaiting the end of it.Then the old ma...

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“Be Careful What You Wish For” by E J

Submitted to Contest #268

Growing up, I often found myself alone. My two sisters, both nearly a decade older, lived in a world far removed from mine. They had their own lives, their own interests, leaving me to navigate childhood mostly on my own. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my childhood—I cherished it in many ways—but the silence of solitude was always there, quietly lingering in the background. I filled my days with books and solo adventures, but no matter how vivid my imagination, the sense of isolation never fully faded. I would often catch myself hoping, almost...

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“Fine For Now” by A M

Submitted to Contest #268

Another day at the shop. Preparing for the day as I recite my morning mantra. What wonderful splendors will we get the pleasure of talking to the customers about today? It’s been a long morning already but for the most part I am usually a bit more excited. The store is truly a wonderful place, especially on the quiet shifts and closing times. The antiques that Glen has collected over the years are truly wonderful. Hand crafted works of art made from all sorts of different types of woods some aged hundreds of years,...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“New Parts” by Benjamin Khoury

“Be Careful What You Wish!” by Karen Duffell-Canham

“My Journey of Ambition and Growth” by Angie Windsor

“Claimed” by Michelle Smith

“All Those Layers” by Aaron Arm

“His big break” by Corina P

“Avarice” by Julie Norman

“STARVED FOR JUSTICE” by Antoine Polgar

“Mary” by Feline Kögel

“Beauty” by ER Castaneda

“Planet Nine” by Nikki Elbertson

“Exhibit 1” by Amanda Wisdom

“Wealth To Death” by Alex GC

“Be Careful What You Wish For” by E J

“Fine For Now” by A M

🌟 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 🏆

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