Write a story about somebody trying to rationalize giving into temptation, even though they know they shouldn’t.

Posted in Thanksgiving on Nov 24, 2023

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✍️ 42 stories

“Mrs. Jackson's Pumpkin Pie” by Hannah Lynn

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #226

“Come on, we’re going to be late,” she pulled his arm, dragging him along. Yanking his arm away from his sister’s grip, he scowled. “Don’t touch me.” “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, her typical reaction. Luke hated it when people touched him, especially his arms or wrists, always commenting on how skinny he was. “You’re all skin and bones,” they said, making him feel less of a person, even smaller than he actually was if that were even possible. The school nurse had said not to worry, he would grow out of it, would...

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“The Pumpkin Man” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #226

This never would have happened had there been pizza in the fridge.I could have sworn there was one slice remaining from two nights ago when I placed an order (along with pesto bread), but when I got home, the box was still in the fridge, but there was nothing in it. At some point in the last forty-eight hours, I must have eaten the last piece and not even remembered it. Maybe it was wishful thinking that kept me believing I had something to look forward to when I got home since pizza would be the only thing that qualifies.I pulled the empty ...

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“Holy Man” by Mallory Jones

Submitted to Contest #226

“I don’t know what to do, Nicolas. I’m so overwhelmed.” The Reverend was practically hissing as he confided in his friend in the otherwise empty church,“I mean, how did you even know?” he continued with frantic desperation, “And if you found out, what if others do too? I’ll be ruined!” With practiced concealment of any emotion— whether of concern, support, or condemnation— the friend of the Reverend said evenly,“You know what you have to do. You must confess this sin or face God’s wrath in Hell. I know a good priest; you should go see h...

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“Little Red Wishes on Wild Things” by AnneMarie Miles

Submitted to Contest #226

Beneath a hooded cloak, I gaze up at all the things on fire in the sky, searching for shooting stars. The sky is as vast and deep as the ocean, as dark and sinister as the forest; it upholds all of its chaos, displaying its trauma, as if to say: “You should know better than to trust in me.” I distract myself, looking for constellations while I wait for morning, hopeful that a glowing streak of light might seize my wish and free me of this burden.Release me of those devil’s eyes, my heart yearns.When a cloud emerges from my lips, I pull my cl...

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“Led Into Temptation” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #226

Led Into Temptation Aaron waited. Waited and waited. Still no sign of his younger brother. How much longer should he wait? Aaron worried. Worried and worried. How much longer would he have to worry? It was driving him to distraction. Maybe that's what he needed... a distraction. That crazy kid brother. Well, not so much a kid anymore. But even when he was younger he always had his head in the clouds. Like he was following some divine intuition. Boy, the things that kid had talked him into helping him out with, especially recently. It all c...

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“Nectar of the Gods” by Karen Corr

Submitted to Contest #226

Gideon stood before the back door of the restored Victorian home, then entered the kitchen where steam rose from several pots on the stove, and a youthful stranger stirred the cranberries. He'd never been here before."Gideon," he said as he smiled for the introduction, extending his hand for the shake."Naomi," smiled the young woman, but she bypassed the hand and embraced him instead. "Uncle Gideon, you mean. Don has told me all about you." She sounded tipsy. There was a little slur in her words. "I think he said you drank mead.""Well, ...

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“The Tin Horse” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #226

Archie Button desired just two things in life; having what he wanted then wanting what he had. It was the latter bothering him outside the filthy window of a rundown junk shop, draped in dust coated cobwebs and stuffed with piles of faded newspapers, battered furniture and sad looking, worn-out toys. “You already have too much junk” Linda, his wife, reminded him. If he wanted more, he’d have to make space by getting rid of some of the tat littering what he referred to as his ‘workshop’. Archie loved hi...

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“What My Therapist Doesn't Know” by Needs Chocolate

Submitted to Contest #226

It's a freezing day in December, almost Christmas. My breath puffs out like clouds of cigarette smoke in the clear night air of the motel parking lot. At the moment, I wish it was cigarette smoke because I can't remember being this nervous in a very long time. Maybe the Christmas Eve service twenty years ago, when a pushy grandmother shoved her mini-skirted teen granddaughter up to the piano in our little Baptist Church and plopped an unfamiliar piece of music before me, stating, "Missy is going to sing. Play this." This wasn't our Baptist...

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“Dear Son,” by Zach Emory

Submitted to Contest #226

Trigger Warning: Multiple raw scenes related to drug abuse, murder, and suicide. Strong language contained within.The following is a recording from mother to son. It has been transcribed to maintain the original diction.Back before I met Jesus and when ya daddy walked out, I told myself back then I ain’t need no goddamn man. Fuck 'em. We’d be alright. But we wasn’t. We sure wasn’t alright.Them food stamps ain’t cover nothin’, and we was both hungry. And boy, you cried. Day and night, you cried. There was somethin’ wrong with you, but I could...

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“Late or Latte?” by Max Reeh

Submitted to Contest #226

A single adult man wakes up, grunts, looks at the clock, "Ugh. . . why didn't my alarm go off?" He says out loud, "whatever, I'm usually early for work anyway." He really has to go to the bathroom, but it's cold outside, and he is comfortable under his blankets, but he knows he really needs to get moving. He tries to talk himself into just stripping off the blankets, bracing himself as if he's about to jump into freezing cold water. He says aloud, "One, Two, Three" and strips the blankets off, immediately getting a chill and getting out of...

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“The Itch” by Diana Bishara

Submitted to Contest #226

I wish I was addicted to something else. Anything else. Eating too much McDonald’s chicken nuggets? Nah. Drinking too much booze? I’m good. Smoking? No thanks. No. Me? I have to be addicted to being treated like - well, let’s just say, dirt, to keep it polite. I don’t like it, but I am. I’m sitting here, talking to you - well, talking to myself, I guess, staring at my scuffed up iPhone. He texted me. He Who Shall Not Be Named, let’s say. And yes, he reminds me of Voldemort in every way, except he actually has a nose. And ju...

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“Twisted Indulgence” by J. I. MumfoRD

Submitted to Contest #226

The holidays always brought out the worst in people. In the previous shift, some festive do-gooder had put seasonal bunting on each of the desks. His crumpled orange and black bunting was round-filed before he sat down. Jackson wasn’t the only officer offended by the reminder that the precinct was open 24/7, holidays included. The station was subdued, almost gloomy. Something had shifted in the last few months, an unspoken tension that lingered beneath the surface. Internal Affairs was still sniffing around. Several officers, usually the one...

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“Duhghlaserex, Dread of the Seven Peaks, and King of the Black Waters” by James Lane

Submitted to Contest #226

Deep in a cave in the Crow Mountains lived a dragon named Doug. Well, his full name was Duhghlaserex, Dread of the Seven Peaks, and King of the Black Waters, but only his mother called him that - when she was angry. Doug, like any respectable dragon, had a territory to manage. He reigned over the Crow Mountains and Blue Boulder valley for many centuries, scaring away anyone that came into his domain. But it was a desolate place, and over time, he got lonely, so he relented and let a few creatures settle his lands.First the faeries came....

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“Spiral” by Kyla Tavares

Submitted to Contest #226

She didn’t know when she first noticed the ring inside the mansion on 3rd Street. Her job was to clean the mansion weekly. In the beginning, she only gave the ring a glance. She’d walk into the room to clean it and she’d clean around the ring. But she never touched it. She’d never thought about it much either. Yes it was beautiful, with its gold band dotted with diamonds that led to the biggest gem she’d ever seen sitting on top. It was a curse that came with her job. She was forced to clean things that she’d never get to own. She lived...

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“Temptation With Someone Else” by Leahcim Ejibat

Submitted to Contest #226

*This story contains sexual themes*Jen and Erick. Erick was a dick. Jen was a beautiful angel, Mike declared. He was still a virgin and a senior in high school. He also felt the pressure to “do it” before he graduated.For a teenager, your universe is very small. Who knew if all those stories of “doing it” were bullshit or if they were true? He heard enough stories around school to make it his goal to get it done. He didn’t want to feel left out. Teenage hormones trumps all.Mike, Erick, and Jen all worked part time after school at the sa...

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Write a story about somebody trying to rationalize giving into temptation, even though they know they shouldn’t.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 42 stories

“Mrs. Jackson's Pumpkin Pie” by Hannah Lynn

“The Pumpkin Man” by Story Time

“Holy Man” by Mallory Jones

“Little Red Wishes on Wild Things” by AnneMarie Miles

“Led Into Temptation” by Mary Bendickson

“Nectar of the Gods” by Karen Corr

“The Tin Horse” by Paul Littler

“What My Therapist Doesn't Know” by Needs Chocolate

“Dear Son,” by Zach Emory

“Late or Latte?” by Max Reeh

“The Itch” by Diana Bishara

“Twisted Indulgence” by J. I. MumfoRD

“Duhghlaserex, Dread of the Seven Peaks, and King of the Black Waters” by James Lane

“Spiral” by Kyla Tavares

“Temptation With Someone Else” by Leahcim Ejibat

🌟 Similar prompts

Your family’s holiday dinners always end with everyone at each other’s throats. This year you’re determined to keep a low profile, but your patience is being put to the test.

At some point in your story, a character says “You’re better than this…”.

Your character finally gives into a temptation they've been avoiding, and becomes better because of it.

Black Friday is the one day of the year where the Devil makes selling your soul a good thing, although there are some bizarre T’s & C’s.

Contest #226

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

189

Contest entries

87

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: