Write about a character coming out of a long hibernation (either literal or metaphorical).

Posted in Spring on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 158 stories

“A Burden to Bear” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #86

It was a cold afternoon in late December as Ted trudged his way through the deep, wet snow. His heart pounded and his mind raced as he recalled the events that brought him to this moment. Ted was a quiet man, though he knew that deep inside, a rage was being held at bay. That rage surfaced as Ted returned home from work the previous evening and witnessed his neighbor beating his twelve-year-old son senselessly on...

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“The Thing” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #86

The first thing that struck Charles was the sound.Thump. Thump. Thump.Charles strained his ears. Was he sleeping? Dreaming? Thoughts swirled around his head in a groggy haze. His eyelids weighed a million pounds.Thump. Thump. Thump.He twitched, his mind struggling to catch up with his ears.Thump. Thump. Thump.Then the noise began to change.Thu-dump. Thu-dump. Thu-dump.Charles groaned. Was it...getting faster? Louder? THU-DUMP. THU-DUMP. THU-DUMP. What hit Charles next was the feel of dirt cocooned around his body. He shifted and th...

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“Finding Faith” by Angel Elle

Submitted to Contest #86

She glanced at her cell phone for only a moment with the faintest hint of nostalgia on the corners of her lips, but with a fierce fire in her eyes. She spoke not a word, but continued teaching without skipping a beat. The students were none the wiser for the slight intrusion that otherwise went unnoticed. Children have much grander things to trifle over. It wasn’t until much later that day, after the children were gone and the classroom was filled only with the sounds of birds muffled through the thin-paned glass windows, that...

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“Covid Hibernation” by Krys Remaley

Submitted to Contest #86

I unbuckle my seatbelt, then immediately reach for my mask. I realize suddenly that this is a habit I no longer need, but I add the mask to my purse; it eases my anxiety. I turn off my car, throw the keys in my bag as well, and head into the store, my stomach in knots. Social anxiety is never fun, but it's especially worse after you've faced a pandemic. I feel like what a bear coming out of hibernation must feel, a little disoriented and hazy. This is my first time purchasing groceries in a store since the CDC announced we'd finally beaten...

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“The White Hours” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #86

I had the dream again last night. I say last night, but it was really this morning. The time that is neither night nor morning, the time the French call Les Heures Blanches, the white hours, and although they are more often grey, even though dawn comes early at the moment, I can see why they are called that.The thing is, I no longer know, and wonder if I ever did, if it is a dream of something that was once real, or just a dream of a dream of a dream. I know some maintain no dream comes from nowhere, but that is one of those phrases that can...

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“The Decade” by Nicolette R

Submitted to Contest #86

The phone rang. I roused from sleep and gave a weak "hello". It was my mother. It was always my mother. She called me constantly these days. Was she lonely or was she worried about me? "Hello! Are you there?", she shouted. I had zoned out, like I did everytime she called. In the last few years, I realized that I could not sustain the energy to continue a conversation. Especially with her. "Yes, yes I'm here. Just getting ready for work" I sighed. That was the magic word. She valued work, hard work. She valued it too much to ke...

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“Who Are You? Who Am I?” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #86

A gentle click and a kittenish hum accompanied Amy’s unladylike yawn. She looked around and apologised to no one, at least no one awake. “It’s six o’clock, you asked me to call you,” as a lively nurse popped her head around the door. Amy checked her watch. “Thank you, I’d better go,” Amy dabbed her eyes as she did every day. She twirled her engagement ring as she did on the hour. As she did every hour. “Miss Amy, can you hold on for a moment, the doctor wants to talk to you?” “Is there any change?” Amy asked hopefully. The nur...

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“THE BURN” by Cole Lane

Submitted to Contest #86

"This is the burn, Ronald."The air cracks open pushing a rush of heat and ash into the suburban basement."But, but, you're a cop, you're supposed to protect," Ronald says spitting on his stained t-shirt cowering in the corner."You sell children to the depraved, Ronald.""What about redemption? I can change."The heat intensifies until Ronald screams, convulsing as his soul splits from his body, forcibly inhaled into the abyss. The portal turbulence and flames retreat just as quickly as they began, leaving the basement quiet again. Ronald's lif...

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“The Spring Awakening” by Caia Rose

Submitted to Contest #86

The clap of thunder was still ringing in Rick's ears as Jim walked away. The conversation had started out simply enough. They had been arguing - it felt like they'd been arguing a lot lately - about what had happened that day. Or rather, what hadn't happened. They were supposed to have gone out with a group of friends on a socially distanced hike. Take some time away, out in nature. Out of nowhere, the morning of, Jim had decided that he wasn't in the mood for a walk. "What's been going on with you lately? You were just complaining about ho...

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“The cow on the adventure” by Noah Morrow

Submitted to Contest #86

Early in 2017, I was touring Mexico enjoying everything a person could enjoy on a trip, having fun snorkeling and swimming. I had just finished going to the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary and was heading back to my hotel. On the way there, I passed by a barbed wire fence with a lot of land and 1 single cow off in the distance. I didn't think much about it but as I came closer, I heard someone say “excuse me, I wonder if I might ask a favor”. I looked at the cow and screamed and thought how is this ugly yet floppy eared cow talking to me? A ...

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“Roadwork ” by Aburrow Marsh

Submitted to Contest #86

He woke just after sunup, blinking at the golden light above the curtain. How had he managed to sleep through the night? With a grunt, Lee swung his legs out of bed. They seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. He glanced at his bedside clock. 7:10 a.m. Christ, he hadn't slept this late in how long? Four months? He sat on the edge of the bed, cradling his head in his hands.After a moment, he rose unsteadily to his feet. At 65, you expect a bit of a wobble in your step, but this was ridiculous. He leaned against the wall to get his bearings. A tum...

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“Ursa Minor” by Abhik Mukherjee

Submitted to Contest #86

Even before I woke up, I could feel my heart beating faster. It was reassuring since this would be my first spring all alone. I did not have my mom beside me like the first five springs that I had woken up to.As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the familiar spectacle of a lush green valley that I longed so much before I feel asleep a few months ago. I rushed out of the den which I had so carefully selected last winter. I was so excited that I almost stumbled on a boulder which was exposed on the surface which was now devoid of snow.Let me ...

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“Raw wounds” by NK Hatendi

Submitted to Contest #86

Heidi arrived at the meeting feeling very self-conscious. She was having second thoughts about whether it had been a good idea to accept the invitation as the guest speaker at the Women in Action club meeting, where she had been a member. Busi, the chairperson, an old school friend, was hard to refuse.As Heidi entered, she was pleasantly surprised by the turnout. The morning tea club meeting was jam-packed. With a few minutes to go, people were still milling absorbed in small talk and picking up their refreshments. Latecomers were hunting fo...

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“Stay And Wait For Spring” by Emma Rose

Submitted to Contest #86

-Trigger Warning: implications of an eating disorder-It was cold.Too early to be awake, too cold to be alive. I grumbled to myself and burrowed deeper under my sheets. I’d get up.Eventually.Probably not today, (maybe not even this week, come to think about it) but eventually.I tentatively reached to the windowsill, hand searching for my phone, fingers cringing in protest when they brushed against the icy glass. My hand quickly retreated back under the blanket. Nope.Too cold, it wasn’t worth it, though a part of me knew I should pro...

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“Mother Awakens ” by Elizabeth Rose

Submitted to Contest #86

I felt it happen slowly, the awakening. It started with a single whisper in my head, a plea for help. Over time the single plea grew into a chorus then an army until finally it grew loud enough that I could no longer ignore it. So, I awoke my eyes, the creatures of the wind. All manner of winged animals offered me their sight; I was not pleased with what they had shown me. A new species had come to the planet and they were harming my children. They called the foreign aliens the Virtue. My chi...

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Write about a character coming out of a long hibernation (either literal or metaphorical).

Submissions are closed

✍️ 158 stories

“A Burden to Bear” by Greg Gillis

“The Thing” by Lani Lane

“Finding Faith” by Angel Elle

“Covid Hibernation” by Krys Remaley

“The White Hours” by Deborah Mercer

“The Decade” by Nicolette R

“Who Are You? Who Am I?” by Colin Devonshire

“THE BURN” by Cole Lane

“The Spring Awakening” by Caia Rose

“The cow on the adventure” by Noah Morrow

“Roadwork ” by Aburrow Marsh

“Ursa Minor” by Abhik Mukherjee

“Raw wounds” by NK Hatendi

“Stay And Wait For Spring” by Emma Rose

“Mother Awakens ” by Elizabeth Rose

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a park during a spring festival.

Write a fairy tale about someone who can communicate with woodland creatures.

Start your story with one character pointing out the first sign of spring to another.

Write a story where flowers play a central role.

Contest #86

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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