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Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Posted in Valentine's Day on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 57 stories

Listen the ears of my heart

Submitted to Contest #119

Listen!!! I say to you, the ears of my heart; deciphering the loud sweet whispers of hope and faith from the many screams of troubles. Like a sieve filter from the screams of negativity the positivity and sound of victory.Amid the turbulent tides, raging storm, fierce battles ,confusing echoes and cries of despair just listen to the smoothing note that says you are loved, blessed and perfect. Be deaf to the other disturbing sounds and the many distractions to shift you from the right way. Shun that voice that ceases to try, and suggests...

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1 A.M.

Shortlisted for Contest #119 ⭐️

Content warning: sensitive content“Listen, this isn’t a long story,” Tom said, nursing his sixth beer while the rest of us had yet to finish our second. He lifted his drink, polished it off, gestured to the bartender. A bottle clinked open behind me. When Tom returned to our table, fresh drink cradled in both hands, he looked first at Chet, then Vick, then me. Slurring, he said, “But it isn’t a happy one either, this story.”Tom was usually reserved, a speak-when-spoken-to kind of guy, but when he drank his voice got this wild, belligerent to...

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No Roses In the Garden

Submitted to Contest #119

"Listen, you must remember, in her world, he's still alive. For her, time stands still." Dianna barely heard Dr. Sedah as she watched her younger sister, Lydie, walking on the garden path, chatting away to someone who wasn't really there. She was still striking in her middle age - long, red hair streaked with white, long, purple dress draping her curvy figure - but a glaze of madness caused by grief clouded her once bright blue eyes so they appeared almost navy, fine lines creasing her brow and the side of her mouth. Dianna choked back a ...

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Which Witch Is Which Witch?

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, guys, I think someone’s gotten the wrong idea about this whole ‘witch’ thing.” I’m zip tied to a metal chair in an abandoned building surrounded by four very large, very demanding, and very ugly men. The fading sunlight slants through the high-set broken windows, painting distorted shadows on the dusty, debris covered cement floor. “I know everybody thinks its all point-your-wand and say ‘Vera Verto’ or ‘Wingardiam Leviosa’ and all that good stuff. I mean, all props to my girl JK and all. At least there aren’t as many fundamentalist...

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The Celebration

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen!” Gawain said and motioned for Valda to stop walking as he placed a finger on his lips to silence her.She stopped and turned her head slightly, away from the howling wind. She even lifted an earmuff. After a couple of seconds, her eyes widened.“Holy crap.” She whispered and looked at him. Gawain had his head tilted too, with his back to the blustery wind. He was looking around, but the only person in sight was Valda. They were the only two who have braved the blizzard like weather so far.The blistering frigid air cut through them, bu...

20 likes 8 comments 8
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Legacy

Shortlisted for Contest #119 ⭐️

“Listen,” urged Fiona. “Don’t you hear it?”Brian’s brow furrowed as he concentrated. “Sorry, no, I don’t hear anything.”Disharmony reigned, rare in Brian and Fiona Berriman’s year-old marriage. Whenever they disagreed, it always seemed to be about the damned phonograph. Apart from that, they were the perfect couple, insanely in love, lapping up every minute of each other’s company, filling the gnawing emptiness when they had to be apart by keeping busy and video calling whenever they could.The phonograph had been an impulse buy. On the secon...

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The Legend of the Canair Bells

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen… I’ve discerned a pattern.” A small group stood in the shadow of the church, at Canair, listening to James, the caretaker. “I first heard the bird’s call the morning of the baby Aiden’s christening.” The widow, called Mad Agnes, spoke. “The bird didn’t bring the Christening.” Several moaned, “Oh, I pray not an omen…” “Of course not. Father Ambrose says a healthy baby is from God. No one disputes that. After many difficult months, that bright faced baby, truly is a gift. The bird heralded that.” That calmed them. “But I didn’t heed it...

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Butterflies Broken Wings (Trigger warning)

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, I don't want to be there.” Rubbing his face as he washes off the dirt, Aaron stares himself on the mirror. Small bags under his eyes, skin flushed from the heat, he disgustingly walks out of the small bathroom. Watching his men work putting the pipes in place, making sure that the tenants has hot water for the night, Aaron continues to keep himself busy. “Yo! My brother, I think you should go.” “Nah, man. I'm needed here.” Raphael looks down at Aaron, while he continues to avoid his look. Pats Aaron on his shoulder and pulls...

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The House

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, I need you to walk back there and get your hat,” she said firmly. Not fully understanding why she was pushing so hard. ”No. Mom. I can’t. I’m scared,” Kaden stuttered through his tears, looking downward, feeling ashamed.“You have nothing to be afraid of,” she replied, a little louder, all the while trembling from fear herself.“Do it. Now!” She said harshly.Kaden rushed down the dark hallway, returning quickly with the hat gripped tightly in his hand. “Get in the car,” she said feeling annoyed by the delay. Both reliev...

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The Kid is Alright

Submitted to Contest #119

"Listen. Listen..." You're always telling me to listen.I. Hear. You.Yesterday, when I was experimenting with the bang of my milk glass against the walls and cabinets; I heard you. I understand you have strong feelings when your precious glasses break all over, but I quite like the way one thing can become many smaller things. And the way glass makes that high pitch sound and just shatters in that way it does… It brings me joy.And, I should mention that when I broke the glass yesterday, I was, in-fact, attempting the learn more about sound be...

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The Sweetest Step

Submitted to Contest #119

Listen, he thought. Just listen. It was beautiful, this late afternoon. He could hear the birds and he loved this time of year. Just the beginning of what was going to be another hot summer. It was still nice though. Not too hot yet.He went to the flower shop and bought a bouquet of spring flowers. He liked these best. They reminded him of her happy personality. Bright, overflowing with color, ready to be loved, they were perfect for her. He drove to their place to set everything up by the big tree. It cast such wonderful shade. He knew she ...

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The Forest is Alive

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen Davey, Ya hear that?” Davey looked at his Pa, and stood silently tuning his ears to their surroundings, they were three days away from home, with nothing but the forest on all sides, Pa was standing stock still, the only indication that he was a living being, the breath of fog escaping his lips, on the brisk morning air. “I don’t hear anything Pa, ‘cept the leaves crunchin’ under our feet” Davey looked up at his Pa expectantly “what d’you hear?” Davey’s Pa smiled and bent down beside his five year old son “Everything, the forest ...

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Trust

Submitted to Contest #119

"Listen, can you hear them? There they are whispering about her again." I turned towards the vent in the wall, ears open, but my mind still closed. This man had saved me, saved a lot of us over the years. He had always been one of the few approachable ones here, despite being Adam's left hand. Adam's right hand was a soldier, he fought and commanded those in the field for the cause, but his left, the crazed-eyed gentleman before me, had always been the backbone, the voice of reason and fortitude. If the right was the physic...

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Those Days On The Island

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, could I just…walk around the community for a few minutes?” She gestured toward the gated community they stood in front of. The security guard turned down the music emanating from his booth and looked at her, brow furrowing in some combination of confusion and skepticism. She couldn’t blame him—anyone who wanted to actually live here would’ve called the leasing office. And she wasn’t trying to live here. She already had.Twenty years had gone by since she’d last seen it, and the place looked exactly the same. At least, she thought so....

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Lost and found

Submitted to Contest #119

LOST AND FOUND  Jim Cowles - October 2021 2,500 words      Listen! What was that! It sounded like someone trying to get in my window, but I don't see a soul outside. It sure makes me wonder if someone came in that way to steal it, then got scared I'd catch them. I tell you what, now that I've found it, I've got to know who did it. I mean,.maybe it was there all the time, I guess, huh (?), but if it was, how could I miss it? I must have walked passed it a thousand times, so if it was there, I just missed it? Ha! ...

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