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Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Posted in Spring on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 257 stories

Staring at a Stranger

Submitted to Contest #90

Kavya was staring at him again. The familiar aroma of tea and samosas, coupled with the stench of urine made up the entirety of her nasal journey. But she wasn’t concerned. After all, her visual journey was of much more interest to her. He sat in front of her as he had always done, his head leaning back and black hair covering his forehead, mouth slightly open, hands on his knees, buds in his ears and eyes closed, right hand holding a small camera. She always wanted to know what colour his eyes were. When he stirred slightly, her e...

84 likes 61 comments 61
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Grandma

Submitted to Contest #90

GrandmaYet another busy day to get ready for the office. In a hurry, I checked again if I had locked the door. Will I get the cab, will I reach the office on time...? Did I switch off gas...? I haven’t yet read the last mail... Will my daughter like lunch today...? Will my husband’s presentation be liked by his managers..., Should I take the elevator or the stairs, My thoughts were endless. Sometimes I am amused how my brain can manage so many things? I rechecked if I had locked the door and took the stairs.Looks like the cab will be late so...

75 likes 54 comments 54
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Freaks

Submitted to Contest #90

ROW’S POV: “Shadow, sit down!” Stretch says. Shadow sticks his tongue out at her, laughing, before jogging down to the end of the train to where Chill is. Stretch’s arm shoots out, elongating in the air, and they grab the back of their boyfriend’s shirt before dragging him back to his seat. Soar, who is sitting by me, sighs, spinning her dagger on the seat. We’re on yet another train ride to go fight rebels for the government. The thirteen of us on the train have different gifts, like Stretch. They can stretch any part of them, even thei...

53 likes 54 comments 54
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White Light

Submitted to Contest #90

I board the commuter train with heartfelt tears in my eyes. The taste of my husband’s salty lips still in my mouth, and the whiff of cherry blossom still in my nose from my daughter’s favorite lotion. It breaks my heart to say goodbye to them. I’m shaken to my very core as my heart aches with sadness. I must leave Boston for a very important business meeting in Cape Cod.   Come back soon mommy - echoes through my mind as I find my seat. I smile as I sit down in a maroon colored seat. I had no idea that train seats would be so com...

52 likes 44 comments 44
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One Last Time

Submitted to Contest #90

Marcella Harvey sat on a bench at Holbrook Park Station, waiting for the train to arrive. She adjusted her glasses and continued reading her book, only glancing up every now and then, to check the time. The train was late, but that didn't bother her much. She was in no hurry to reach her final destination. However, the platform was now becoming rather full and some of the other passengers were getting impatient. Without a second thought, Marcella moved a bit further down the bench, so an older couple with two large suitcases, could have a...

52 likes 14 comments 14
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atleigh's apocalypse

Submitted to Contest #90

   That day Atleigh nearly squeezed her phone so hard it would’ve molded to her fist’s sweaty interior, the cemetery hills were unearthed by a trillion trillion trillion muddy hands picking off maggots like lint.   Atleigh had a trillion one-word texts she never sent even though every previous time was easier once she stalled and recalled that instance side by side with the one at hand. By that point though, it was impossible to send anything once again.    Atleigh was stiff on the train, nos...

41 likes 13 comments 13
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A Journey to the Past.

Submitted to Contest #90

A Journey to the Past.While she loaded her final box of belongings onto the Tourist Railway train, Andrea could not determine whether her actions were selfish. Many people probably would consider booking two cabins on the most frequently used train during the beginning of summer a significant inconvenience. The train station was renamed 'Tourist Railway' because of the usage rates. Packed with people ready for fantastic adventures, they often brought little or no luggage. Any part of year the train was crowded. Frequently, there were moments...

38 likes 1 comment 1
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Symbiosis

Submitted to Contest #90

There are only two types of people on campus that Javier can’t stand: a cappella singers and environmental studies majors.Unfortunately for me, I’m both. Is that a form of irony? I wouldn’t know; I’m not an English major.Javier and I met on a train last spring. It was packed, and I dragged my way-too-full suitcase down the aisles, bumping into wayward elbows and ankles. Not my fault people can’t keep their limbs in their seats, but the way they glared at me, you’d think it was. Imagine my relief when there was a single open seat, next to a g...

34 likes 10 comments 10
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Lavender Memories

Submitted to Contest #90

I glare at the back of yet another person who has pushed their way past me, not even bothering to say “Pardon me.” Manners are so nonexistent these days. “Hey!” I hear a tiny voice cry out, interrupting my train of thought. “Give it back!” “Loreen,” I scold my daughter. “Keep your voice down.” I take the doll from my son’s hands. “Andrew, we don’t take things from our sister, alright?” “Please,” I speak to both of them. “be quiet and play together nicely.” It’s hard enough keeping them in line at home— Home, I don’t have one of those now. It...

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For Posterity

Submitted to Contest #90

London, 1885The overnight train to Glasgow was packed with vacationers, mail workers, and traveling salesmen alike. Families, with their children and their encumbering luggage, had the left half of the carriage. Despite not being part of a family, I landed in their midst—the last seat available. Excited young voices peppered the air with shouts and too many questions to count. By the time of our departure, my preternatural ears begged for a reprieve from the incessant buzz of activity. To my relief, most quieted down after the initial excite...

31 likes 4 comments 4
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Just Like Nature

Submitted to Contest #90

We were packed like sardines in a tin. The putrid smell of urine clouded my nostrils and my eyes watered at the horrible stench of body odor that surrounded me. My calves ached, but I knew if I sat down I would never have the strength to rise again. My neighbors shared the same predicament. Ever since boarding that crowded box car I had never looked in a mirror, but I had a general idea of my appearance by observing the other passengers aboard.It was dark inside the train, but it was still possible to see that their pale faces shone lik...

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Keep. Eden. Alive.

Submitted to Contest #90

The Gardeners, they called us. We were the only ones they trusted to take care of Eden, and I was one of the lucky few to make it all the way here. The application process had been grueling, but now, as I sat in the middle of a crowded train, I couldn’t help but smile. Being a Gardener was the highest level of work: guaranteed riches, guaranteed insurance, and the best medical care Earth had to offer. So long as you keep Eden alive. That phrase had been ingrained in my head by my superiors, over and over and over. At all costs. The words ...

31 likes 15 comments 15
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A Villain Arrives at Vorotyntsev Station

Submitted to Contest #90

Roday Rostovich Ranovichi sits on the metro, alone and happy as usual. He is only happy when he’s alone, when there’s no one else around wearing weird smelly clothes and offending his eyes and nose. Roday does not consider himself to be lesser than anyone, nor does he see himself as superior. He knows himself to be superior. First, he’s good-looking, but he’s also learned to use that to his own advantage. He is not a man you’d want on your bad side, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to get on his good side. Roday is wearing his ...

30 likes 10 comments 10
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Going to Job Corps

Submitted to Contest #90

August 14, 2006, Ms. Otis picked us up but however, we were in a such a rush that I forgot the folder with my ID in it. A voice told Ann to get quarters. (By the way, this is our first train ride ever.) Ann asked,"why?" The voice did not answered. "Come on, the train will be leaving in two minutes" said Ms. Otis.      It was about 6:58AM or maybe 7:58AM, I can not remember. We went into the car and Ms. Otis drove us to the train station. We hurried up on the rump and saw a man. Ms. Otis told him that we ...

29 likes 1 comment 1
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Sweet, Painful Memories

Submitted to Contest #90

*Sweet, Painful Memories*  He was still, sinking deep into the leather black seat of the train, his emerald green eyes boring out the window, staring at nothingness as the moving train sped through, heading all the way to Detroit. The black circles and puffiness around the skin of his eyes attested to endless tears he had shed and the unbearable pain and sadness that murdered him.He pulled his tiresome gaze from the speeding scenery from outside the moving train.His unmoving gaze fell unto the round, yellow and portable Urn that st...

28 likes 21 comments 21
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