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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Posted in Teens on Oct 28, 2022

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 388 stories

“When The World Caves In” by Georgia Perlah

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #39

I’m on my back. The unseasonably cool August grass tickles the back of my neck. But it is not unpleasant. I wish I could describe the feeling, the infiniteness of the stars staring down at me as I, a fraction of a grain of sand, a microcosm in the universe, am gazing up into the midnight sky. I point out The Big Dipper, to no one in particular, it is just a comfort to know that it is always in the sky, as I am always on the ground. Somebody once told me that they think of me when they see The Big Dipper and now I can’t help but to give the l...

3 comments 3
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“The man who did nothing but smile” by Dustin Softman

Submitted to Contest #39

The man who did nothing but smile beamed. There was no reason not to. He stuck his tongue between his teeth, crinkled his nose and pulled his face up into something not unlike the knot at the heart of a bow. Ribbons of leathery face skin were neatly drawn up around his eyes and then folded themselves back down to rest upon hardened cheeks as he threw back his head to gaze upon a starlit sky.     The moon rained down upon the oval. Prostrate, arms and legs wide as could be, square in the middle of the field, the man l...

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“Under the Night Sky” by Ujiro Asagbra

Submitted to Contest #39

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Trevor turned away from the stars to look at the lady lying beside her. He couldn’t believe how beautiful she was even lying there next to him under the beautiful night sky.“It sure is” Fey shivered and drew close to him trying to get some warmth from his body. He took off the jacket he had on and helped her put it on. He was left with just a thin polo, but he didn’t mind. He would dive into the chilly ocean naked if it made her happy.“Better?”“Yes, thank you”He felt her inhale deeply. Home. She was home. ...

2 comments 2
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“Timemachine Meeting” by NANDINI MUJUMDAR

Submitted to Contest #39

He wondered gazing up at stars, the night sky clear in Timbavati white lions reserve, "Why do people prefer city neon lights to such beautiful natural light"? With a wild life research doctorate, he was always engaged in remote natural spaces. No city professional,media personnel would like to join in with his project,leaving aside the amount offered by the natural environment media channel. He will have to get it done as usual by a local as usual. Gazing at the evening star she wasn't sure why she was sitting in this garden o...

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“Going Beyond the Stars.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #39

“Daddy, what are those lights in the sky?”“They’re called stars, Teddy.”“What are stars, daddy?”“Well, there is a big black curtain up there and behind it is a ginormous light. The curtain is very old and starting to get holes in it, so you can now see the light behind it shining through.”“Why did someone put the curtain up, daddy, wouldn’t it be nice to have light all of the time?”“If there was light all of the time, son, you would have difficulty getting to sleep at night.”This explanation satisfied the five-year-old Teddy, but it also spa...

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“The Librarian’s Favorite” by Jill Howard

Submitted to Contest #39

   There weren’t many vivid colors in the Warren. Vibrant hues must have tired of always fighting the drab reality of hopelessness in that place. But one bright hideaway was always there: a cluster of three clumsily cutout stars, faded in the middle, taped to the ceiling of my bedroom. Mother said they had been there when we moved in. She also said- for the benefit of the cameras in every corner of our house, no doubt- that of course their cheeriness was not consistent with real stars, in space. “Those outside elements ne...

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“The Stars: Where I Found My Purpose” by Caroline G

Submitted to Contest #39

There was a screech of tires.A crash.Glass shattering. All I could do was lay there on the grass, in the middle of a ditch, on a long country road, staring up at the glowing summer sky. I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t scream. There was no one in sight, of course. I had made sure to choose a quiet place to die so no one would find me and try to keep me alive. It was just me and the stars. All I can think now is, “How did I get here? Am I ready to die?”. Not here physically, but here, in this stage of life. I crashed my car into a light pole on ...

11 comments 11
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“Scarce To Be Counted” by Ed Vela

Submitted to Contest #39

They were always brighter out here. City lights would dim their brilliance, but out here in the vast expanse of desert that his favorite uncle had taken him to for a guy's weekend the stars were ablaze!His name was Bentley, and twelve years ago his way too ambitious father had named him for the car that he would surely own one day, but it was a rusty Ford truck that would end that dream when Bentley had just turned two.Bentley never knew his Dad, Franklin Costas, but he was very glad he had his father's brother Gabriel always at his side, in...

3 comments 3
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“In The Rain And Under The Stars” by Neisha Williams

Submitted to Contest #39

Whenever there's a clear night sky like this one tonight I always look up to see those bright dots. According to the astrology classes I took once some of them are planets, some of them are suns like ours and this always makes me think about how much we appreciate the magnificence of the things that appear small in our life's which might just be major.I personally think that modern humanity has become very materialistic, and has forgotten the importance of the stars, both energetically and symbolically. My grandmother use to say that 'the sy...

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“"To think or not to think that is the question"” by Taskin Hasan

Submitted to Contest #39

" All the time the stars dazzle the sky. The only difference is that the day-star do not shiver like the night ones...". Maybe I'm the only one thinking such looking at them...... The helipad above a hill, probably the best place to look for the drama, the drama of the nature. The night, the best time to search for the lights.I closed my eyes to enjoy every bit of the nature and its charisma. With eyes closed, I imagine the nature to be what it could be.Hushhush! Hear... can't you hear that sound? The tune of wolves walking down the hilly fo...

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“Stars are better with friends” by Hannah Reitz

Submitted to Contest #39

 She looked up at the stars, tracing the constellations with her eyes. She listened to the crickets chirping and closed her eyes. She sighed, finally some peace and quiet. Lina hadn’t been sleeping well for the past few nights. Her mom had just given birth to her baby brother. And while he was cute, he was loud. Very loud. So loud that he woke everyone in the house up at night.After many restless nights, Lina had decided she’d lay in her backyard, since it was warm enough for it. She’d hoped that she would get tired enough and when...

3 comments 3
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“Too Far So Close” by Joy Barton

Submitted to Contest #39

The small boy sat on the front step that August summer night in 1969. The air was heavy, and only a slight breeze breathed across his face as he gazed up at the dark sky, searching for Deneb, his favorite star. Vega and Altair were just as beautiful, and they fought for the same attention. They were bright, and only because they were closer to the eye. Deneb never sought the attention, she was present, but so far away and yet the most luminous of her sisters. Deneb caught his eye, blue and white she was. 'I'm here,' she seemed to say. 'So...

7 comments 7
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“Braccata” by Dey Knight

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #39

Her gaze flicked to the stars, each one twinkling against the pitch-black blanket of the sky. She had the type of gaze that tends to make people uncomfortable. Too sharp, with eyes that could strip you down in a moment. Too critical, evaluating and assessing more than she should. She had the type of eyes that suggested she knew all of your secrets, that she had already laid you bare in her mind. It was the type of gaze that makes people flinch away, trying to cover the barren truth from her inquisition. Above, a raven cawed its war...

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“Glancing ever starward” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #39

1914 - JuneA cloudless sky, the blanket above twinkled. Annie cast her sea green eyes above and thought how lucky she was to be spending this perfect night with her best friend. She had caught Herbert’s eye during their collage years and they had been close friends ever since.“Annie, darling,” coughed Herb, drawing those sea green eyes back to his own and away from those twinkling specks.Annie gasped as she discovered the young man was on his knee, a tiny box in his hands opened and thrust towards her. The diamond set upon the ring within wa...

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“JOVA” by Justice Akagbulem

Submitted to Contest #39

Solar Year, 4264Location: Great Jovian Desert              The view of the stars from the plains of Jupiter's desert looked immensely beautiful in the dim light of the dusk. As comets streaked across the sky and the warm light of dusk turned to an enveloping darkness, Arya could see the colorful mosaic of stars splattering the evening sky with shades of fifty shades of purple, blue, white and red. It was her last day on Jupiter and it would have been a most memorable one i...

3 comments 3
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