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

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 213 stories

“Retributive Fun.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #47

You told me many times about the Q and Errol Flynn. Jesus, anybody who’s been into old films knows this. If history is correct about him, did you also wear the letter Q on pyjamas long enough to have more than a passing glimpse of it? Did you also have running hot and cold women throughout your place all the time? Apparently, the Q was just a bit of associative nonsense for you about the Q establishment owned by a well-known Dominatrix, which was no doubt influenced by the above E.F. For your latest ruse, you gave yourself the name of...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Fate of the World Rests With You” by Adam Wright

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. Your armor jingles slightly as you move toward the table, the links clattering together. Looking down you notice that the parchment on the tray is fresh and it appears to be written in the script of the King’s handwriting. His intricate seal holds the contents in place. It has been months since you were home and now, already, you are called to serve again. You know that you must answer this call. It could be anything from an invitation to dine with him, to an o...

13 comments 13

Read story

“The Postcard” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #47

It’s a dreary Monday morning when you walk down the driveway to fetch the mail. You sigh since there are a million things you’d rather be doing. You could be going to the mall. You could be down at the FBI building. You could be reading a book. You could be watching a movie, but you’re stuck at home, taking care of your mom because your stupid brother forgot to inform you that he had “other plans”. Well, it isn’t all bad. It’s been a while since you’ve seen her anyway. Sighing, you reach into the mailbox and pull out the papers...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Secret Invitation” by Emilie Conroy

Submitted to Contest #47

You have been wondering how to bring up the subject with your lover. Now is the time for all truth and a few answers. "I cannot help but be curious," you say. "You have had many women before me." Arion laughs softly, awkwardly. "Dordei, have we not just been married? I do not wish to discuss such things right now. It does not matter who I have had before you." "If you do not want to talk about it, I understand. But I do wonder. I want to know everything about you." "Then know that I am embarrassed that you were not my first a...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Letter” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #47

You've had a rough six months. Hell, it's been a rough six years. Ever Since cancer took Doris. If there's a silver lining there, and you don't really believe there is, it has to be how fast it took her. She didn't have to go through any prolonged pain, suffering, treatment, wondering how long she had left. That was a mercy. Maybe the lack of kids, too. It was hard on Doris, and hard on you. But she didn't leave any grieving kids behind.The silver lining, if there was one, or maybe two, was heavily tarnished. Days, weeks, months, years passe...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Graduation vacation” by N C

Submitted to Contest #47

I watched as Mom wrote something in her journal. This is what I saw. 2016,5,10 You were a senior that year. You asked me to pack your suitcase for your graduation vacation and told me the options so I knew what to pack for you. Your choices were Hawaii...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Letter from the End of the World” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #47

A Letter from the End of the World I When Pepper Baiij returned home after her eventful night at work in the Trinity Gardens Retirement Community, she heated a frozen roast beef dinner in the microwave and turned on her computer. Shivering in the cold room, she brought the meal to the bed and covered her legs. She looked at pictures of Gerry Clifford while she ate. “My adorable eyelet morq,” she said wistfully, followed by a shudder. She placed the empty container at the end of the bed for the cats to enjoy. “I have no idea what that means,...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Negative” by Theo W.

Submitted to Contest #47

You step outside and take a breath of the fresh air. The sun was out and white fluffy clouds sat all throughout the sky, they looked like a Bob Ross painting. Today was a good day, you could feel it. You always knew this day would come. You and your husband, Josh, have waited for it since forever. You slowly walk toward your faded pink mailbox that stands at the end of your driveway and pull out the stack of mail waiting to be looked at. The cool breeze picks up through your hair and the smell of new paper hits your nose. You skip through co...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Lawful Murder” by Joanne X

Submitted to Contest #47

It’s your first day at a law firm since you moved here and surprisingly enough, you’re not nervous at all. In fact, you’ve been longing for this day to come ever since you’ve moved here. You left your old life behind ⁠— your friends, house, and that job that you loved so much ⁠— but it was more than that. Everyone thought you had moved because you wanted to get out of the small town you lived in and experience life at a real law firm in the city. You told them it was because even as a little girl, you’ve always wanted to know what it felt li...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Mail that Changed My Life” by Ayra Rafiq

Submitted to Contest #47

"Sonya!!!"11 year old Sonya Grey (A very light sleeper mind you) shot out of bed at the sound of her mother's voice, her short black hair ruffled in every direction, her bright blue eyes aching for sleep. She glanced at her balack alarm clock, which, as if on cue rang, for a 7am alarm. An alarm she didn't set. She clenched her teeth."¡Mamá! ¿Estabas en mi habitación?(Mommy! Were you in my room?!)" she screamed at her mother in Spanish, her family's mother tongueSilence"It's 7 in the morning! On a Saturday! During the summer!!!"Silence"Why ca...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Long Wait” by Ilona Thomas

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. You knew it was coming, of course you do, you’ve spent thousands of pounds and a great number of hours of your life dedicated to its creation. You’ve completed every checklist, every box ticked and form filled, now all that was left was for it to arrive. So here you are, crouched over in your porch way, pulling stuck letters from the letter box in your front door. The stairs too far for a perch, for fear that the seconds lost in the movement to sit or stand would...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Letter from the Future” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #47

I never expected to get a letter from myself. From the future. But there I was, walking up the street to the mailbox like every other day, enjoying the evening breeze and the silhouette of trees against the sunset. “Hey, George!” I waved to my neighbor, mowing his lawn. “Hi!” There was my favorite house with the lilac bush, the house with the annoyingly loud dogs, and the house with the yellow door that marked the end of the street. I crossed the road to the mailbox, fumbling for the keys in my pocket. As I flipped throu...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Lessons” by Evalina Williams

Submitted to Contest #47

Another toilet scrubbed, another bed made, you are beyond thankful that this is your final room. After punching the clock, you walk on aching feet down the street, passing barred windows and blowing trash along the way. The corner bus stop, finally, you slump onto the battered wooden bench and wait for the bus to arrive. Each day you wake thinking today would be the day I will get use to this, each day you are wrong. It has been three months now, three months of flat broke. Three months of bologna and mustard on day old bread. Three months...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Secret Admirer” by Amy DeMatt

Submitted to Contest #47

The birds bickered with one another as you drove home from work today. Late summer, windows down, you could even hear them over your station. You know the one. Used to be cool. Now your music is featured on Adult Rock or Oldies. Even the rap music the kids refer to as "Old School." It's "Love in an Elevator," by Aerosmith. Your mind wanders for a moment. You are transported briefly to the time that you and your sister and your brother and your sister's friend went to the concert. You had a jean jacket, a Calvin Klein, that you spent all you...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A Cliched Dalliance” by Steve Uppendahl

Submitted to Contest #47

Your grandma used to say, “Most people are like most days, ordinary and average. But, once in a while, there are exceptions that alter your world and you’re never quite the same after.” As you close your mailbox, then stoop to pick up the mail you dropped after seeing the manila envelope, you’re reminded once again of your grandma’s wisdom. Picking up your scattered mail, you notice that again, most of your mail can be recycled without even opening them. But, today has an exception and it’s not a bill, though you instantly wish it was.&nbsp...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

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

Nonfiction – 218 stories

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

Nonfiction – 146 stories

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station.

Adventure – 188 stories

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

Funny – 116 stories

Contest #47

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Second Person

$50

Prize money

881

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 26, 2020 EST

Won by Miranda Carter 🏆

Title: My Mother's Sky

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 213 stories

“Retributive Fun.” by Len Mooring

“The Fate of the World Rests With You” by Adam Wright

“The Postcard” by D. Alfonso

“The Secret Invitation” by Emilie Conroy

“The Letter” by Ken Coomes

“Graduation vacation” by N C

“A Letter from the End of the World” by Cara H

“Negative” by Theo W.

“Lawful Murder” by Joanne X

“The Mail that Changed My Life” by Ayra Rafiq

“The Long Wait” by Ilona Thomas

“The Letter from the Future” by Lizzy Burt

“Lessons” by Evalina Williams

“Secret Admirer” by Amy DeMatt

“A Cliched Dalliance” by Steve Uppendahl

🌟 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 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: