As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 213 stories

“Lily’s Letter” by Alex Pilgrim

Submitted to Contest #47

“Impossible”, you mumble, and you look over your shoulder towards the kitchen where Vivian is still working on that sauce before you tuck the letter in your back pocket. It’s a Saturday, and Saturday means relaxing date night, that’s what you’re there for anyway, so you walk back to the kitchen with a lovely little smile plastered on your face. “Coupons”, you exclaim, and Vivian looks up, absentmindedness in her brows giving you a temporary halt, and then you smile and wave the coupons in front of her face. She lights up. She smiles to you...

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“You” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #47

“You hummed as you retrieved the mail. Part of a normal day’s routine. Or not. You shuffled through the junk and an odd envelope caught your eye. A letter. No one writes anymore. Except me. “Caught you! “Think of me as that song you can’t get out of your head. Can you remember a time when I wasn’t there, simmering in the background? I’m always with you. Even in your sleep. How long has it been? “You didn’t expect to get this. You thought I couldn’t find you. You thought I forgot. “How could I forget? Not you! “Yet you weren’t really ...

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“It was too late” by Thistle Arellano

Submitted to Contest #47

It was too late. The worst sentence in the English language, in your opinion of course. It could mean several things, but for you, it means the worst day of your life. Sobbing alone in the empty waiting room. Staring at the closed door, wishing it would open again. Those four words, the four simple words are enough to stab through your heart. And to think, it all started two days ago. It started out as a normal day, 30 degrees and cloudy. You woke up, refreshed, and cheerily made yourself a cup of coffee and got to work. As you che...

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“Where's My Stimulus Check?” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #47

The economy is in a rut right now and many Americans are feeling the true effect of the Corona virus. Shhh…we’re not allowed to talk about it among ourselves as average citizens, like it’s just going to cure and heal us on its own. We’ll just allow the media to control our minds, especially what we need or don’t need to know. You know, you know, you know without communication your relationship with your spouse, lover, children, grandparents, co-workers, “mailman”, accountant and in some cases your pet. I gather by now you know what I’m...

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“IT'S NOT POSSIBLE” by Liya Mariyam

Submitted to Contest #47

It was another lazy Monday. Nothing unusual, there were no birds singing just delicious smells of toast and eggs wafting through the windows. every other person here might at least have one happy moment today but me i'll probably struggle through the office day with a load of other strangers who i have never made an effort to get to know and then i'll come home and watch movies alone while having pizza for dinner well pizza now that's a happy thought . i get up unwillingly from the peaceful comfort of my bed. I stumble to the bathroom to fre...

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“Land of Dancing Lights” by Leya Newi

Submitted to Contest #47

You walk out to your car. You neighbors -specifically nosy Mrs. Gilber- stare as usual while you hop in and start it, since it was lime-green and electric. You drive to the post office, singing a slightly off-key to the radio. You get out of your car. You walk into the post office, still humming to the song just playing on the radio. You smile at everyone, especially the grumps. You wave at acquaintances. You stand in line, tapping your foot. You’re trying to be patient, but it’s taking sooo long. You move forward an inch, inwardly groaning...

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“Eye of the Beholder” by Kira Krieger

Submitted to Contest #47

The sun barely hung above the neighboring house. The light shafts lite the side of your face, glinting off the knife in your hand. You repeatedly slashed it clearly through the scallions. The chittering chopping was the only sound in the whole house. A toot of a horn makes you jump, zagging your cut. Outside the window you're standing in front of, Kelly, your normal mail person, was waving from the sidewalk. Even yards away, you can see sweet potato stains on her blue uniform shorts from her newly walking 10-month-old. Between h...

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“The day I looked back” by Mrudula Mohan

Submitted to Contest #47

When Auriel completed her studies she was bemused at her life, she never expected her days would be even better than her expectations. Auriel stepped into a new world after her college life, a field where neither had any godfather nor anyone to guide. If anything it was a constant reminder from her relatives, reminding her that she took the wrong career, that she is just like her father. When a boy clears his college life he will be expected to find a job, maintain his family, advance in his career. But when the time comes for a woman, ...

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“The Benefit of the Doubt” by Kristine Murdock

Submitted to Contest #47

You glanced out the window, your eyes following the tips of the trees. The sun was just rising, and the sky was filled with streaks of electric coral and fuchsia. Readily, but still a little tiredly, you rise from your seat on the couch, set your mug of cold brew down, and stumble to where the keys hang on the wall. Finally, you think to yourself. The sun had taken long enough, and right here in the middle of November you were up at 7:30, your traditional cold brew and book just set down. But who even drinks cold brew in November? You shrugg...

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“A Black Memory” by Jessica X

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. You dig out a compact, folded square of paper with your name written on one side. You notice that it’s not sealed in an envelope, so you assume that one of your friends put the note in your mailbox since only a few of your friends know your address. But as you start to unopen it and catch a glimpse of the handwriting in the letter, you realize that the handwriting is unrecognizable and so messy you almost can’t make out some of the letters. This is not from any o...

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“Letter of Salvation” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #47

You sit at the kitchen table of your little house, rifling through your mail. It’s the usual monthly bills: credit card, phone, electricity, mortgage, you name it. They are all there, waiting for you to pay them. At the bottom of the stack, though, you find something else. It is a creme coloured envelope without a stamp. You realize someone must have hand delivered it. You open it. It is an invitation to dinner, at the local pastor’s home, no less. You have to chuckle at that. Of course they would invite you. It’s a small town, you m...

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“Bushington’s Escape ” by James Offenha

Submitted to Contest #47

You got out of the car after our joyous ride to drop Mommy off at the dentist. Mommy pets you. We were gone for five minutes, but you love goin’ out’a the house, me rolling down the window, your nozzle and tongue outside. We get home, I shut the ignition, you get out’a the car, and I take you, Bushington, to the mailbox and say: “Bill, junk mail, junk mail, bill, greeting card, advertisement, and . . . What the . . . Som...

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“Until We meet Again” by Cathy Deal

Submitted to Contest #47

You awoke this morning with a heavy heart. It was a year ago today you lost your beloved Aunt Susie. You were awfully close to her and you missed her every day. She was like a second mother to you. You lost your biological mother as a child. It had just been you, dad, and sweet Aunt Susie. You were thinking about the impact and joy she bought into your life. Not only is this the day you lost Aunt Susie, it is also both your birthday and Aunt Susie’s.&nb...

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“I Found You” by Frances Colson

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. Written on the front of the envelope is your full name with a heart around it. You slide your finger under the seal and rip open the envelope. You pull out the card inside and your breath stops in your throat. Written in cursive on the front it reads, “I FOUND YOU”. Your head jolts up and your eyes dart from left to right, looking for movement. Before you can even open the card, you sprint back to your house and lock the door. You press your back up against the d...

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“Counterfeit” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. Somehow I just know that even though it’s on a screen, you’ll still refer to it as a letter. That’s part of your “old-fashioned charm” I suppose. Still, even I did a double take when a radio channel referred to an “old-fashioned email”! I hope you do notice the letter, but I’m pretty sure you will. It’s safely crafted, even the subject heading, Old-fashioned Girl Seeks Gentleman. That will appeal t...

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As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 213 stories

“Lily’s Letter” by Alex Pilgrim

“You” by John K Adams

“It was too late” by Thistle Arellano

“Where's My Stimulus Check?” by Blane Britt

“IT'S NOT POSSIBLE” by Liya Mariyam

“Land of Dancing Lights” by Leya Newi

“Eye of the Beholder” by Kira Krieger

“The day I looked back” by Mrudula Mohan

“The Benefit of the Doubt” by Kristine Murdock

“A Black Memory” by Jessica X

“Letter of Salvation” by Keri Dyck

“Bushington’s Escape ” by James Offenha

“Until We meet Again” by Cathy Deal

“I Found You” by Frances Colson

“Counterfeit” by Deborah Mercer

🌟 Similar prompts

"Just say it," you silently reminded yourself. You knew you'd regret it if you didn't.

You looked out the window and, not for the first time, thought about how wrong the weather forecast had been.

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station.

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late.

Contest #47

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

881

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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