Start your story with your character(s) going to buy some flowers.

Posted in Spring on Mar 24, 2023

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✍️ 78 stories

“Lilies” by Pari Ghodsi

🏆 Winner of Contest #191

*Trigger Warning: Pregnancy Loss “Do they come with a card?” I solemnly asked the florist, a petite, tan woman with thick blonde hair cascading down her back. The kind of hair that has become popular for women half her age to have threaded and sewn onto the base of their skull. Even though we were in West Hollywood, the pulse of trend and glamour, the three untouched horizontal lines etched onto her forehead told me that her hair was hers and that she had only passed by the fancy salons lined up around the corner on Santa Monica Blvd, neve...

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“Renewal” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #191

When Jack set out to buy a red dahlia on the morning of the 29th of March, he didn’t expect he only had hours left to live. But even if he would have known he still would have bought it, because it was for Lisa. And he’d do anything for Lisa. He hit the cool, hard dirt of his barn, just as the sun began setting. It had been a lukewarm day with a cutting breeze, and with each laboured breath, with each wet wheeze, he felt himself grow colder. There was a warm patch on his chest, and another pooling around his back and shoulders. And there was...

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“On Cherry Tree Lane” by Rebecca Miles

Submitted to Contest #191

When the April winds blow, the first blossoms drift, like a wedding party has passed, carpeting the pavements of Cherry Tree Lane in confetti. The streets are so colourful you can easily feel like you’ve stepped from the pavements through the frame of a painting, and you’re sauntering through a shimmer of pastels along with everyone else, out for a Sunday morning stroll. The beautiful scent perfumes the air and passers-by are like bees, drawn to the heavy pink clusters swaying overhead. My aunt stops beside me and inhales deeply. “Oh Li...

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“Love Language- A Regency Romance” by Michelle Oliver

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #191

The Honourable Michael Sedgwick briskly made his way down Grosvenor Square, his cane, a pure affectation, swinging and clicking on the cobblestones. He was unpardonably punctual, a habit he had inherited from a lifetime of country living. His maternal grandmother had meticulously pounded into his head the value of every minute of the day, emphasising that punctuality equaled profit. Of course, she was also considered quite vulgar in the extreme and he was working hard to forget her every lesson.Michael...

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“A Beer Day for Lilies” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #191

Every time we went for lilies, a letter would disappear.“Ptr tlls m that us that w can’t lav lttrs bhnd whn w go to the flowr shop,” we would say to each other, “H says h knows it’s an honest mistak, but nvrthlss.”Peter is our uncle. Our GREAT-uncle, although not really, because a Great-Uncle is a real thing and not just an uncle you think is great. Peter seems like more than an uncle to us. He’s actually more like a father when you get right down to it. Our Father is lovely, but he’s not around very often and he doesn’t take us on outings. ...

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“The Pigovian Payment” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #191

“Let me tell you how I got this flower." I rubbed my lapel with the white rose boutonniere and stared across the hard wood surface at the man in the bowtie, his gaze stern and expressionless."OK, Let me start at the beginning-"I smelled her outside the door before she ever knocked, aromas of spring flowers, lavender, and crisp $100 dollar bills.It was 11 AM and the sun was streaming through the dust floating in my cramped office. Coffee thick as tar slowly steamed next to me. I was wearing my powder blue suit, dark blue tie over a white...

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“The Wrath of Bridezilla” by Lark Malloy

Submitted to Contest #191

"I need Peonies," my mom said, burying her hands in her face. "This is a flower shop. Why don't you have the flowers I need?" The elderly florist wiped some sweat from her brow. My mom had that effect on people. Her third wedding was the following Saturday, and everything had to be perfect. "I'm so sorry miss, we just don't have any peonies right now. If you come back on Sunday, the new inventory will-" "Come back on Sunday?" My mom laughs hysterically for a minute. "My wedding is this Saturday. But by all means, I'll come in the day afte...

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“Daisies and Daffodils” by Amy B

Submitted to Contest #191

The sky was gloomy. Not a good day for selling flowers. Or for a farmers market. Selia knew this when she arrived this morning. She had contemplated staying home, under her comfortable fleece blanket. Cuddled up with her small poodle, Gary. She had named him Gary because he reminded her of her grumpy Uncle Gary. Always barking and biting at people, except her. He loved to cuddle her, especially on cold and gloomy days. Yes, she had thought about staying home today. Something nagged at her, telling her to come and sell her flowers.“Selia, lov...

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“Flowers” by Morgan Douglass

Submitted to Contest #191

People always look at me funny when I walk into Flora’s Flower Shop. Today is no different. They also gave me the stink eye when I placed a headstone for a man when there wasn’t even a body. My husband disappeared over three years ago, though. Even if I did order the headstone a year after his disappearance, it was more for closure. I also wanted a place that I could lay flowers down for him. Not in memorial, but in hope. I think that if people can, then they will judge you for just about anything an...

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“Spring Awakening ” by Abigail Craig

Submitted to Contest #191

Last night Anna dreamt she was secured in a large rose bud. Every petal of the flower was strategically placed to protect her from the outside world. Thick and thorny vines snap on the ground, threatening anything or anyone that might come close. In that moment she felt nothing in the real world could give her as much comfort as the flower and constantly moving vines did in that dream.The roses she examines in front of her now at her local garden fresh flower shop are more delicate. That’s part of the beauty of them. You have to take care of...

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“The Bright New Day” by Deborah Cabral

Submitted to Contest #191

It was a breezy Saturday morning, and the sun was shining quite bright on the bustling streets of the neighborhood. Amongst the numerous stores floating around in the air, a quaint florist shop caught the attention of Harper and her friend, Elena. The beautiful pink and white arrangements, with sprinkles of daisies and sunflowers, were a sight to behold. Harper, who had a fascination for beautiful flowers, decided to step inside and explore the shop. And in no time, Elena followed suit, also admiring the beauty of the arrays o...

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“Blossoming Hope A Chance Encounter Turned Nightmare” by Belinda Ward

Submitted to Contest #191

Aiko had always been a reserved individual, preferring the comfort of her own company over the bustle of life outside. But as she strolled through the gardens among the delicate pink and white petals of cherry blossoms, something in her stirred. It was a feeling of warmth, joy and...hope. She had come to Japan specifically for the cherry blossom season, and she wasn't disappointed. The sight of the blooms filled her heart with emotion, causing her to smile for the first time in a long time. As she wandered the gardens, taking in the sights a...

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“The Flowers Don't Bloom Like They Used To” by Giselle M

Submitted to Contest #191

“Not quite right,” I say inspecting the tiny bell-like flowers that hang along a green stem. The sweet floral fragrance hitting directly into my nostrils. Tied in bunches with one perfect ribbon made of thin twine rope. Lilies of the valley the florist had called them. The flowers I wanted were much different though, and they did not loop down like tear drops. They were lovely really, but they lacked something that I could not explain. Besides, these were not the flowers I was looking for.“Hmm okay,” the florist ponders briefly. Unmistakably...

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“'The Luck'” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #191

‘The Luck’ "Good luck." Momah's words echo down the street. “It’s Like finding a tack in a haystack.” We were on a mission to find that lucky one with the four leaves. My Momah told me it would bring me ‘The Luck.’ Whatever that means. Dadbob tells Momah she will get lucky every time she wears those short skirts and paints her mouth and eyes. My Momah knows what ‘The Luck’ is. Guess she is the smart one cause Dadbob told me I’ve only made it four times around the sun. I think he’s silly. I see the sun come up every mornin...

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“Artificial Paradise” by Travis O

Submitted to Contest #191

The flower shop looks out of place. Like it doesn’t belong—never belonged. It’s red-brick exterior and dingy windows have certainly seen better days. It’s once-black door now looks rusted and old, like it hasn’t been opened in years. But the neon lights hanging over the roof say otherwise. OPEN is spelled out in yellow letters that flash intermittently. I reach for the door handle and pause. Where are the other customers? Shouldn’t there be people lined up out the door, chatting with one another and admiring the sights and smells? Maybe I’...

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 31, 2023 EST

Won by Pari Ghodsi 🏆

Title: Lilies

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Start your story with your character(s) going to buy some flowers.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 78 stories

“Lilies” by Pari Ghodsi

“Renewal” by Michał Przywara

“On Cherry Tree Lane” by Rebecca Miles

“Love Language- A Regency Romance” by Michelle Oliver

“A Beer Day for Lilies” by Story Time

“The Pigovian Payment” by Marty B

“The Wrath of Bridezilla” by Lark Malloy

“Daisies and Daffodils” by Amy B

“Flowers” by Morgan Douglass

“Spring Awakening ” by Abigail Craig

“The Bright New Day” by Deborah Cabral

“Blossoming Hope A Chance Encounter Turned Nightmare” by Belinda Ward

“The Flowers Don't Bloom Like They Used To” by Giselle M

“'The Luck'” by E.L. Lallak

“Artificial Paradise” by Travis O

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who is starting to open up to life again.

Write a story about a character who’s late to witness a special event.

Make Japan (or Japanese culture) an element of your story.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “I feel alive.”

Contest #191

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

276

Contest entries

170

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: