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

“The Skarbnyk” by Brittany VanRooy

Submitted to Contest #268

Mama always said that my blood will protect me. My boots tap against the flagstones at the mouth of the tunnel, each pair of echoes seeming to say, ‘Turn back, turn back…’ Anya clutches at the embroidered sleeve of my vyshyvanka as we follow the priest, her fingers still dimpled with baby fat, her six years of life a stark reminder of how long I’ve gone without my beloved mother. &nbsp...

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“Family Ties” by Terri Benoit

Submitted to Contest #268

Lily sits at her desk, her office is bright with the afternoon sunlight, the south exposure extends Lily a warm embrace. Lily is distracted by her thoughts, “what made me think this was a good idea?” as she stares at a blank screen in front of her, she suddenly realized that the dream of telling her story just became her nightmare. “No turning back now”, she says, and proceeds to type the words she’s been holding on to for the past 25 years. “To my dearest family, with all my love I write to each of you personally, sharing my most persona...

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“The Heart of the Matter” by Lindsey Goldstein

Submitted to Contest #268

The Heart of the MatterBy Lindsey Goldstein Like the smoky trail of an extinguished match, the faint scent of sulfur wasn’t the most striking thing about him. He moved with an inhuman fluidity, like water snaking through a cut canyon or wispy clouds building to a pillowy grey mass in an otherwise azure sky. My fingers perched on my keyboard, though my eyes followed his entrance into my office, registering nearly imperceptible movements as he folded himself into a cushioned cha...

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“The Price of Perfection” by Artistry Alleys

Submitted to Contest #268

Title: The Price of PerfectionAs Emma Parker stepped into her new life, the air crackled with anticipation. She stood on the balcony of her opulent penthouse, the city skyline spread out below her like a canvas she had painted. From this vantage point, the streets and people seemed insignificant, their bustling lives a distant murmur. Emma had finally achieved everything she had ever desired in her thirty years.Wealth? Check. A seven-figure salary as a renowned architect is enough to afford this glass palace and more.Love? Check. James, her ...

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“The Fate Of Life And Death ” by Tanyah Woodson

Submitted to Contest #268

The Fate Of Life And Death By Tanyah Woodson I never thought my life would end up this way. I had it all planned, I thought my life was special, I was going to be a therapist. I understand now that all life ends the same way, in the abyss. We may all die in different ways but one thing is for sure, no one can cheat death no matter how hard they try. I should know I've tried. I guess I should start this story off at the beginning. This story starts with my father. After my mom and dad found out t...

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“The Joan of Arc Fountain” by Ane Gummel

Submitted to Contest #268

All that money. Thad thought about how different his life would be if he had money. He could take Sundara to expensive restaurants, buy her fine silk dresses in olive or emerald green colors that would beautifully compliment her skin tone. The first time Thad locked eyes with her, something inside him shifted, the universe seemed to take on new meaning. For the first time, Thadeus thought maybe, just maybe, there was a purpose to life. Thadeus walked past the bank for the fourth time in two days. It was slightly out of the way, but he ...

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“From Rags to Riches” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #268

12, Parsons Lane,Marshton,September 19, 1924Dear Lesley or Leonie,Or whatever you are calling yourself now. It’s me, Rosalind from Marshton village. I remember you with a runny nose and holes in your shoes at Marshton Primary School, though I know you’ve come up in the world since those days. I see your new film is coming out next month. I am sure it will do right well. You probably would like to show off to all your old school friends, dressed up in a fur coat and all the jewelry and that at the premiere in London. But it’s funny how y...

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“Steam and Grit” by Geir Westrul

Submitted to Contest #268

"Give me what I want, and no-one gets hurt.""I know that voice." Marshall Calhoun swiveled on the barstool. "Silas McReady. Ol' Lead Heart.""In the flesh." "Been a while.""Fifteen years, Ethan. Long time.""What's with the gun, Silas?""Wanted to start this off on the right foot. Heard you've turned lawman now, Ethan. You were a quick draw back then, fifteen years ago, and from what I hear you're quicker now. Still don't think you're as quick as me, but I'm not anxious to find out. So, figured I'd get the draw on you from the get-go. And ...

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“the secret of the echo” by Abigale Ov

Submitted to Contest #268

The secret of the echo I always get what I want. woke up to that realization, like someone whispered that in my ear and I repeated it with my voice. No dream not slowly coming too, just this sentence in my head "I always get what I want", I'm not sure it came from me, I mean it sounded like my voice but with such strong tone. the confidence shocked me. That much that I stayed in bed for a couple of minutes, wondering about that, why did I wake up to this, was this really me or just a dream I forgot? whatever those weird stuff always happen. ...

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“Time Conquers All” by Soul Dachuk

Submitted to Contest #268

“Jacky, we’ve been here for three days. Let’s just go home!” exclaimed Sylvia from the ground, her round blue eyes pleading with Jack to concede to her demands. Jack only responded with a huff and a sideways glance, before electing to ignore her and climb further up the moss-ridden statue. His mind conjures the image of himself bathing in gold and riches, and being waited upon by servants dressed in silver chains. Jack was by no means poor, but like any young man who had never been told no in his life, he wanted more. So when he heard a stor...

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“Peace” by Katarina Karlane

Submitted to Contest #268

My childhood room always terrified me. It’s white, blank walls waited to be covered in prophecies, yet they became mirrors. Loud voices that should have offered guidance reflected murmuring growls-even at night, when all doors closed. With no escape, sounds bounced off the illusion of sturdy walls, passing through my body again and again. The unflattering light of my bedside lamp transformed their cries into monsters, yanking me from sleep. I wished for peace. A entitlement erupted-the hole inside my growing torso pressured non-existenc...

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“All He Ever Wanted” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #268

Sol Crabbe blinked. He blinked again and stretched stiffly, joints popping like an old man’s. It was dark. There was a weird yet familiar smell, like a hospital. Where was he? This was a peculiar place. He didn’t recognise it. He’d awoken here, wherever here was, and he had no idea how that had happened. He was sitting - perhaps lolling fit better - in a high backed armchair, that felt like it was upholstered in vinyl or faux leather. Sol’s mind snapped back to boyhood, when he’d often slept over at his grandma’s house. Befo...

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“Nova Eclipse ” by Tamara Mallia

Submitted to Contest #268

CW: This story contains verbal abuse and sexual coercion.The moon shone bright under a canopy of shrouded darkness, the translucent clouds shifting aimlessly to and fro. A comforting beacon of hope, like the warm embrace of a close friend, or a light pat against the back. Oh, how Nova longed for such simple treasures, which, like the moon, seemed unreachable, far away, distant. Her mother’s screeching yells burst the bubble of entrapment she shut herself in, pummeling her back to reality. ‘Someday,’ she’d tell herself, gazing absentmindedly ...

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“The Organist” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #268

The organistI sat there basking in the thunderous clapping and cheering that was filling the great church with sounds that seemed to make the great dome above vibrate. In front of me is an exceptional organ which in its present state dates back to the 18th century. I had just finished a Bach concert played on this magnificent instrument that has some 6,600 pipes and 110 wooden stops. Listening to the noise the audience was making I had achieved my life’s dream of being recognised as a great organist. All those years of practice and ded...

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“Reaping The Wind” by Alex Marmalade

Submitted to Contest #268

The lights from the chandelier reflected off the crystal champagne flutes, casting fractured shadows across the dinner table. Gregory Ivanov sat at the head, his posture upright, his eyes sharp despite the years. At seventy, he had finally made it. Around him, laughter and voices buzzed, a warm hum of congratulations and well-wishing. This dinner wasn’t just any dinner—it was a celebration of the impossible. Gregory Ivanov, son of immigrant parents, a man who had grown up above a failing convenience store in the worst part of town, now sat a...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“The Skarbnyk” by Brittany VanRooy

“Family Ties” by Terri Benoit

“The Heart of the Matter” by Lindsey Goldstein

“The Price of Perfection” by Artistry Alleys

“The Fate Of Life And Death ” by Tanyah Woodson

“The Joan of Arc Fountain” by Ane Gummel

“From Rags to Riches” by Bettina Karpathian

“Steam and Grit” by Geir Westrul

“the secret of the echo” by Abigale Ov

“Time Conquers All” by Soul Dachuk

“Peace” by Katarina Karlane

“All He Ever Wanted” by Rob Ryter

“Nova Eclipse ” by Tamara Mallia

“The Organist” by David Nutt

“Reaping The Wind” by Alex Marmalade

🌟 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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