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

“Fragments of a Hollow Self” by Eric Falvey

Submitted to Contest #289

The bathroom smells of cheap cologne and regret. Dim fluorescent lights hum above, flickering in protest against their own existence. The cracked mirror reflects a man I no longer want to be.My fingers tremble as I peel off my worn-out hoodie, the fabric damp with the sweat of anxiety. My eyes dart to the locked door, then back to the duffel bag at my feet. Inside, my salvation. My metamorphosis. My escape.The first outfit I pull out is a pristine suit—charcoal gray, tailored, sharp enough to cut through the haze of self-loathing. I slide in...

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“Transformation” by Maura Gillies

Submitted to Contest #289

Penelope was late. She could feel the pressure of an invisible clock ticking above her head, but she had to get this just right. She had to look just right. The bathroom’s dim lighting made the small space feel cosy and intimate, but it was also inconvenient. Penelope fluffed out her light brown hair, unhappy with how flat it lay against her skull and checked over her outfit. She twisted side to side a little. Plain black trousers, slightly uncomfortable smart shoes, and a sapphire blue shirt that made her grey eyes pop. The outfit she...

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“This is Who I am...A Glorious Open Book” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #289

Prompt: Your character is getting changed in the bathroom of a nightclub or restaurant then emerges looking completely different. Why? This is Who I Am…A Glorious Open Book My cell phone flashed the time of 6:00pm. I was running late for my dinner engagement with a friend from college. I had not seen Pauline for over six years after we graduated from the university. We had taken a few of the same classes together. Afterwards we often exchanged our personal interests and life stories at the campus coffee houses.&...

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“Intermundium” by Will Butts

Submitted to Contest #289

INTERMUNDIUM It was as if the music were inside of her. Pounding downward onto her shoulders, into her ribs and down, pulling her into a rhythm that she hadn’t realized she had lost in the last long years. It wasn't the music as much as, the final exasperated acceptance, just a few hours ago, that she deserved a break and now she was here, the music living inside of her, her body untethered from her mind and for the first time since she could remember, she stopped thinking. The sound turned to nothing more than a feeling of vibration a...

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“On the Run” by Paul Hellyer

Submitted to Contest #289

He stripped in the cubicle in the restaurant to his briefs, then began to put on the tracksuit which was in the shopping bag. It was important to do this quickly – he didn’t know how much time he had. He also had bought some dark hair dye earlier, and did a roughshod job as quickly as he could manage. It didn’t matter if there were stains left on the tiles. Towelling himself as dry as he could get in such a limited time, and snapping on his belt bag, he was ready to leave.It was now or never. Quickly he swung the bathroom...

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“Predatory Aura” by Riley Noel

Submitted to Contest #289

Carol fiddled with her watch. It was almost ten o'clock."Donna, you there?"It was a gift from her mom, all she had left. Carol wiped the face, ashamed she'd let it get dirty at all. She licked her thumb and buffed out a smudge."Barkeep! Hey Donna, you're looking low. Want another?"The numbers were starting to dim. Carol gave the watch a soft tap on the side."It's solar powered.""I know," Carol finally responded. She looked up at Jimmy. His eye let out a little twitch, as if the gaze he'd been begging for stung."Are you bored of this place al...

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“Vendetta” by Tasha Kelley

Submitted to Contest #289

“Leslie!", yells a man dressed in a pair of dark blue slacks, a white button up shirt with the top button left undone, and a pair of nicely polished brown leather oxford shoes. He is holding his left hand up as if he were hailing a cab. I smiled and wave back as I work my way towards him on the busy sidewalk in front of Pocorello’s. It is a nice Italian restaurant that always seems packed to full compacity and that is why I chose this restaurant. Always a full house, busy sidewalks, and easy access to a cab, or in my case an Uber ride, ...

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“Not Who I Thought You Were” by Christine Roddie

Submitted to Contest #289

“Kanoe? Are you ready? Got your costume?”“Yeah. Just a minute.”“We have to go. Your kumu just called and wants to know where you are.”“Okay. I'm ready., and thanks for calling her a kumu instead of a teacher."As usual, she looked gorgeous. I was proud of my Hawaiian daughter.We made it to the show in time. I walked her to the tent dressing room which was at the park where her halau was performing. The other girls were inside inspecting each other’s costumes and applying their makeup. I didn’t go in so as not to bother them. They were teenage...

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“Purity of Love” by Victoria Bouvier

Submitted to Contest #289

It’s hot in here. Too hot. My hands are sweaty. I can see the humidity resting on them as the bathroom neon shines its ruthless light. Looking up, I make eye-contact with myself. A mess. An absolute mess. I never should have accepted his invitation to dinner. But come, I remember him saying, please I just need to talk to you. I love you. Give me just another chance, please, we’ll just have dinner. Yes, yes I’ll stay calm. Yes, I promise. Eventually, I caved in. I’m the one who broke up with him after all. I guess I owe him some kind of expla...

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“Unladylike” by Hannah Wall

Submitted to Contest #289

I hate my family. I loathe them. I might as well be Dr Jackle and Mr Hyde because of them, only I’m Lady Meridith and Miss slut-bag. “Mary, are you done yet?” My only true-blue friend, Em shouted from outside the bathroom cubicle I’m currently using as a changing room. It’s not often I have to do this, show my obligations before heading to The scene, the club we like to head up to live vicariously. Em and I or M and M as those who know us like to call us are actually Emelia Isles and Meridith Charles, two girls who grew up in wealth, neglect...

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“Living two lives.” by Lydia Seales-Fuller

Submitted to Contest #289

Tonight is scheduled worship night with my family. Also tonight, at my job, we have a cocktail party to cater for the Judges Cocktail and Dinner. And tonight, at the Library, it is Ladies Free Night. I am making a conscious choice. I will go to two of the events and one I plan to miss. One of the events is a family occasion. One is part of my job and one is my other life. My real life.Let me tell you, I am one hundred and twelve pounds of just muscle and bones. Oh sorry, there is about 4 pounds of hair included. I am 5 feet 3 inches. &n...

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“Cherry's Pickings” by Iris Silverman

Submitted to Contest #289

I cringed as I wiggled into the cherry-red leotard, fishnet leggings, green headband, and black pumps. As instructed, I pulled my auburn hair into a high ponytail that was so tight I could feel the blood vessels in my scalp start to pulsate. It was a sharp contrast from my faded cotton T-shirt that read “Cherry’s Pickings,” blue checkered apron, and loose jeans that I entered in. I looked at myself in the mirror of the bathroom and saw a ghost of myself. My eyes wandered over to the window, where the only lights were the dim ones that barely...

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“A Night on the Town” by Lisa Climenson

Submitted to Contest #289

Anna and Jesse entered the restaurant at 8:00 pm. It was crowded, as expected, suiting their plan perfectly. Rancho Travador was located in the gaslight area of downtown San Diego. With its bright red awnings and outdoor tables with umbrellas, it appealed to people who liked to mix fine dining with a cheery atmosphere. Jesse wore designer jeans with a white polo shirt, looking like a model for GQ magazine. He’d paid more for his joggers than most Californians earned in a week. His face was tanned and ruggedly handsome, and he walked co...

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“The Man in the Mirror ” by Patricia Szymanik

Submitted to Contest #289

The Man in the Mirror The accusing face in the full-length mirror decorated by an ornate gold frame mouths the words, “So you think you can do this job better job,” The words are mine; however, the face disappears like a snowflake on a warm cheek until only my reflection remains. Startled but undistracted, I make my way through the small row of lockers in the employee lounge of the Buon Appetite restaurant looking for one assigned to “special guest”. That would be me. The locker squeaks ...

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“In for a Penny” by Hugh Knight

Submitted to Contest #289

Two deep breaths. I’ve done this loads of times already. Binder on the chest. Suit and tie too long for my torso. I inspect the baggie of coke, and flick it twice because that’s what I’ve seen my new friends do. I tie a long string around the door lock, and check on all fours to make sure nobody else is in the men’s. The floor stinks of bleach. I get up and exit with the string over the door. I leave my knee-length black skirt and satiny white dress shirt in the stall, along with the baggie. I close the door and give the string a tug. It loc...

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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

“Fragments of a Hollow Self” by Eric Falvey

“Transformation” by Maura Gillies

“This is Who I am...A Glorious Open Book” by Pete Gautchier

“Intermundium” by Will Butts

“On the Run” by Paul Hellyer

“Predatory Aura” by Riley Noel

“Vendetta” by Tasha Kelley

“Not Who I Thought You Were” by Christine Roddie

“Purity of Love” by Victoria Bouvier

“Unladylike” by Hannah Wall

“Living two lives.” by Lydia Seales-Fuller

“Cherry's Pickings” by Iris Silverman

“A Night on the Town” by Lisa Climenson

“The Man in the Mirror ” by Patricia Szymanik

“In for a Penny” by Hugh Knight

🌟 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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