Your character is getting changed in the bathroom of a nightclub or restaurant, then emerges looking completely different. Why?

Posted in Short Story on Feb 7, 2025

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✍️ 58 stories

“The Decision ” by Becca Boucher

Submitted to Contest #289

Landon started at himself in the dingy mirror. What choice did he have? Was he even really considering this? Suddenly, there was pounding on the bathroom door.“You’ve been in the for ten minutes, guy? You coming out?” “Screw off; I’ll come out when I’m good and ready!” One hour before, he had happily been playing with his band, not a care in the world except if this gig would get them a contract. Then, this rando freak confronts him at the bar. “Get a grip on yourself, Landon; you have choices. Accept his offer, or get killed. Yea...

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“Silk Moths Don't Return” by Alex Marmalade

Submitted to Contest #289

Maya's reflection stared back at her from the cathedral bathroom mirror, a stranger wrapped in yards of hand-embroidered silk. The dress alone cost more than what Maria, who was currently mopping the floor behind her, would earn in ten years. Two hundred thousand dollars of white silk and crystal beading, designed to transform her into the perfect Malhotra bride. The same silk that had arrived three months ago in a box carved from sandalwood, accompanied by a note that read: *"Tradition meets luxury. Just like our families."* She remembered ...

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“The Second Shift” by Lila Evans

Submitted to Contest #289

The reverse of a superhero – going in more, and coming out less.Chris Harper straightened his tie in the mirror of the dimly lit bathroom, the sharp lines of his charcoal suit crisp even under the flickering fluorescent light. He exhaled through his nose, rolled his shoulders back, and then, with practiced efficiency, loosened the knot and shrugged off his jacket. This was the part of the day he hated most. With careful deliberation, he folded his suit, placing it inside a garment bag he hung on the back of the stall door. The white button-d...

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“Forty-Five Minutes ” by Mai Bo

Submitted to Contest #289

The muffled boom of the music reverated through the thick tiled walls of the bathroom as I pushed her against them. I wrap my hands around her, one to roam around her body and another to keep me from toppling over. I kiss her, and she kisses me. There are no words needed. I can smell the alcohol on her breath—or is that me? She runs a hand down my leg, her fingers catch on a run in my stockings and suddenly I’m flooded with the reminder of my appearance and I pull away from her. “Fuck. I need to get ready.” “Wha...

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“Precious Moments” by Jae Po

Submitted to Contest #289

“So, are you excited about tonight?” Robert asked his daughter Janelle.“Yes!! I can’t wait!” the 7-year-old cheesed with her gapped smile. “I’ve been practicing for eight whole weeks!”“I know you have,” Robert smiled with great pride and joy. “Can you believe it? Your first big recital. That’s a pretty big deal, you know…”“Oh, I know!! And I’m so ready for it. I can hardly sit still!!”“Well, you’ll have to sit for just a little while longer, through dinner, and then we’re off! You have your outfit, right?”Janelle lifted her right hand from u...

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“Paxton Wessely” by Emilia M

Submitted to Contest #289

Her eyes bore into me; beady as a raven’s and black as space itself. The thin arctic-blue rings surrounding her uncommonly large pupils glisten like the sun bouncing off the surface of a glacial river. Mesmerizing. I have never met anyone with full-spectrum vision before. Only heard the tales my father would spin me to sleep with. He called them Wavers, and I thought them a myth. I fancy asking her if she can see the remodelling of the oblique fracture on my left ulna, but that would be entirely unprofessional and no doubt a ubiquitous quest...

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“Genevive/Gen” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #289

Genevieve struggled out of her plain black winter coat. She was a bit rushed as always. She opened her locker and put her coat inside. She removed her tweed skirt and blue sweater both purchased at the latest sale at Old Navy. She reached into her locker and took out her uniform. It made her flush with embarrassment each time she wore it. She stepped into the one piece black and white outfit, and pulled it up over her body as it became her second skin. The top was so low cut that her breasts felt that they were barely covered. The skirt was ...

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“The Kingdom of Warped Mirrors ” by Zara Miller

Submitted to Contest #289

Zoe had always believed she was real. Every breath she took, every touch against her skin, every whisper of fabric against her body confirmed it.She was Zoe. She had always been Zoe.Until tonight.Her boyfriend’s hands traced the curve of her waist, his lips murmuring sweet nothings, something meant to pull her deeper into the moment. But then he stiffened. He pulled away. His fingers trembled against her as if he had just touched something cold."Zoe…" Peter’s voice cracked. His eyes, wide with horror, stared past her, into the mirror on...

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“Pretty Business” by Taryn Jean

Submitted to Contest #289

Trigger Warning: Violence, gore, and mentions/intensions of sexual assault. “Hey, girl!” I shouted across the bar toward Ali, the bartender and my best friend.“Hey, bitch!” she shouted back as she poured a beer, her hand resting on the spout as she watched the foam reach the top of the glass. “Your usual, Lila?” She raised a blond eyebrow at me.“Please and thank you!” I called back. She got out a new glass and filled it with ice, club soda, and cranberry juice. The clunk of the glass hitting the bar in front of me could only be hea...

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“Cuttin' a Rug.” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #289

M3 was one of the hottest nightclubs in town. It booked the best of the up and coming artist and played host to a monthly dance contest. Nestled right on the waterfront, it had easy access for the yacht crowd and the usual street crowd. The 20 somethings and college kids all came here for partying, drinks , dates, and fun. This is why Gus, the club manager, thought it was odd when the next guest arrived. It turned out to be a senior citizen, using a walker. He stared at her curiously, while 2 nurses carefully guided her down the ligh...

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“What a Night” by Jan Keifer

Submitted to Contest #289

The alarm clock was blasting a rock and roll classic from the seventies era, as I groaned and rolled over to silence the noise. My head was spinning and I was out of sorts. My friends had talked me into going out the night before to celebrate my birthday. Being a bartender, I should have known better. The downtown area had a strip of bars and nightclubs and we started at the first one on the block. We would buy a round of drinks and when they were gone, we would head to the next club or bar. I don’t remember much after the fourth...

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“The Roman” by Allen Penn

Submitted to Contest #289

Dane slowly closed the stall door, trying his hardest to not make a sound. He put his fingers up to the lock and moved the lever ever so gently until he heard the faint click. He winced; it made more noise than he had anticipated, he was rusty. He wasn’t exactly sure why he was being so quiet, the bathroom was empty, unusually so for a Saturday night in club Nuance. The music blasted through the empty room from the speakers placed near the ceili...

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“Drops of Veracity” by Tabatha Wolstencroft

Submitted to Contest #289

Humans aren’t naturally greedy; it’s birthed from embarrassment and insecurities. And every sapien has their insecurities. It’s in what they wear. The words they choose and the words they don’t say. It’s how they react, especially when they think no one is watching. In every action or inaction--they reveal the type of person they are. Humans are fascinating in that way. So, incapable of hiding their nasty little traits. Desperately trying to emphasize their so-called good qualities they fail to see their true selves.I quite like humans ...

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“The 'Perfect' Date” by Esther Andrews

Submitted to Contest #289

As stylish diners stream in through the entryway, the overly perky hostess promptly escorts them two-by-two to candlelit tables. With each jaunt to the dining room, her arms laden with menus, she scrutinizes a pretty young woman anxiously tapping her toes on the hardwood floor who appears to be perched precariously close to the edge of the my-date-is-late bench. The I’m-probably-getting-stood-up bench. The this-is-so-embarrassing bench.Alana repeatedly checks her watch, expectantly awaiting her date, who is now more than ten minutes late. He...

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“The Perfect Man” by Audrey Knox

Submitted to Contest #289

Hayley adjusted the too tight dress she was wearing and tried to avoid eye contact with everyone around her at the restaurant. She tried to tell herself that their looks of pity were all in her head, that there was no way they cared enough to notice the girl at the hostess stand or assume that she had gotten stood up. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and Hayley flipped it up to look at it. Too quickly, she admonished herself. She could feel how pathetic she was, and she hated it. “SO sorry babe,” the text read. “Ga...

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Your character is getting changed in the bathroom of a nightclub or restaurant, then emerges looking completely different. Why?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 58 stories

“The Decision ” by Becca Boucher

“Silk Moths Don't Return” by Alex Marmalade

“The Second Shift” by Lila Evans

“Forty-Five Minutes ” by Mai Bo

“Precious Moments” by Jae Po

“Paxton Wessely” by Emilia M

“Genevive/Gen” by Joan Wright

“The Kingdom of Warped Mirrors ” by Zara Miller

“Pretty Business” by Taryn Jean

“Cuttin' a Rug.” by Patrick Druid

“What a Night” by Jan Keifer

“The Roman” by Allen Penn

“Drops of Veracity” by Tabatha Wolstencroft

“The 'Perfect' Date” by Esther Andrews

“The Perfect Man” by Audrey Knox

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with the lines: “The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here.”

Write your story as text messages or an online conversation between two characters — and at least one of them isn’t who they say they are.

Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.

Write a story in which a character discovers that a truth they've believed their whole life is either false or not the whole story.

Contest #289

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

364

Contest entries

155

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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