Write a love story without using the word “love.”

Posted in Valentine's Day on Feb 9, 2024

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✍️ 101 stories

“Butterfly Memory ” by Michelle Oliver

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #237

Leonard paused at the door, taking a deep, steadying breath. His hand holding the bouquet of daisies trembled, causing the delicate white and blue petals to flutter like butterflies. He knocked and waited. A gentleman always waited to be invited in, but no invitation was forthcoming, so he cracked open the door a little to peer in. Maybe she was sleeping.Martha was sitting in her chair staring out the window, looking beyond the walled garden, examining an image that was visible only inside her head.“May I come in?” Leonard asked softly, not ...

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“The Lottery” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #237

Steve says, “My wife married the wrong man.” He says it matter-of-factly and chuckles. I take a long drink and wait for them to take their seats. “I’m no good at pleasing her anymore.” He winks at Alli when he says it and pulls the chair out for her.Jane, his wife, says to my wife, Alli, “He really wanted it then. A charity case. I had to take him in. Like the way you take in a stray.” They are a good couple. They are friends. But this act is well rehearsed.My wife married the right man, and I married the right woman. We became the wrong peo...

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“Ring Me Up ” by Alexis Araneta

Submitted to Contest #237

Missed Connections London Facebook Group15 February 2024Post Number 1984:To the blue-eyed man in the lilac shirt at Rhodri's on the night of 10 February:Hello!Look, I’m not usually the type to do this. Before you walked into my life and changed the flow of my days with just a radiant smile, I would have looked at this page, sighed at all the syrupy confessions of deep longing and affection, and started being concerned for the safety of all who yearn to connect with a stranger, to all who dare shout into, well, a void. Now, look at me prattl...

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“If Life Gives You Plastic” by Kimberly Espeland

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #237

Kimberly Espeland A love story without using the word “love” If Life Gives You Plastic The day Brayden and his family left the Biodome, easing their boat down the ramp, through the airlock and into the water, it occurred to me: this was permanent. The small crowd seeing them off dispersed quickly, as if business could go on as usual. Mom patted Dad’s arm. Softly, she said, “It’s all for the best, and we really need to keep settling higher ground. We have to keep trying.” Dad pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, then looked a...

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“Hearts Aflutter” by Kailani B.

Submitted to Contest #237

Crumbs fall at my feet. I peck at them, searching for the softer bits. It doesn’t taste right and I briskly wipe my beak on the ground. I strut off in search of other offerings, but so far only stale crumbs and rancid seeds litter the stony ground.Leaving the open area, I wander over the uneven grass, pecking at any potential spot. I only find seed shells and things that might have satisfied me, but are now covered in ants. I raise my beak at the uncivilized spectacle of the ants and take flight, landing on a cold, damp twig. I ruffle my fea...

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“Can't Help Falling in Mud” by Tom Skye

Submitted to Contest #237

This is Melissa; I'm out right now; please leave me a message… Beep.Hi there, Melissa. This is Daniel. You probably wouldn't believe it if you saw me, but I am walking down the street covered in mud. Let me explain. I had such a wonderful time with you this afternoon. I've not gelled with someone like that so quickly in forever. I guess you could say I've never been very lucky in finding a suitable partner. But the moment I laid eyes on you at the fitness club, it really was like being struck by lightning. I have never believed in falling fo...

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“Serendipity Calls ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #237

On two different coasts, the warp and weft of the loom of destiny drew two threads together. A fortunate stroke of serendipity began to weave them into one fabric. Two lives, thousands of miles apart, became intertwined.In 1898, on the East Coast, Maryanne sat reading by kerosene lantern light in a house near the harbor. Three-masted schooners and steamships rested on the sheltered waters of her Atlantic Ocean seafaring community.The streets and busy shops were quiet in the evening's twilight. Horses pulling carriages passed occasionall...

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“Hello, Venus!” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #237

Author’s note: the word “love” doesn’t appear in this tale, but there are several instances of the letters l-o-v-e in the tale, either within a word or within a combination of two words. The day began normally, but ended with three deaths, a minor rant, and a married couple reposing in a field of clover.Here’s how it all happened. &nbsp...

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“Amigurumi” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #237

The spindly shop reached up through the Lego block office buildings and crawling freeway ramps as if reaching for the sun, to escape from the street below. The plate glass front looked out with sad eyes on what had become of its home, doing all it could to grip the ground, to hang on and not be sucked up by the great maw of progress. This little building, a colorful grandma, held tight, though the rest of its neighboring shops had left, away from the dark shadows, and detritus of the street below.When it had been planted into this ferti...

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“Pillow Talk - Hot Legs Sandwich” by John Rutherford

Submitted to Contest #237

(Sexual content) “Move your leg slightly.” “Huh?” “Move your leg slightly, so I can put my feet between your legs, open them slightly, that’s it. Great!” “Huh?” “I need the warm bit, there. It’s like a hot legs sandwich, your legs are the bread, and my feet are the tasty filling inside. Much better than a hot water bottle. More cozy.” “Huh!” “You should be pleased that my sexy feet want to be in your leg sandwich, be grateful.” “Huh!” “Do you remember coming to bed? You were blotto, absolutely blotto last night!” “You sno...

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“Words Left Unsaid” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #237

“Boss, we got a shipment of gowns!” The orderly approached me holding a box. “Gowns? That can’t be right. Let me see.” The young man handed me the box clearly labeled, but I knew the contents were not the rare surgical gowns as we hadn’t even attempted to order them in a while. Our small supply was washed and rewashed to the point of becoming tattered. The usable ones the patients wore, the others ripped into strips for bandages.Must be the personal order from my transport guy, I realized. What a dumba...

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“Short Line” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #237

Maggie made sure to go to the fancy grocery store since a storm was coming. The weather had been unusually warm for a few days, and that’s how you knew you were going to get a blizzard. Everything in New England came with a cost. You paid for sun with snow the same way you paid for decent radishes with half a paycheck. She wasn’t going to be one of those people who complained about the price of this or that, but she still cringed when the final item was rung out. The cashier had a note of apology in her sixteen-year-old voice when she quot...

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“We won” by Yuliya Borodina

Submitted to Contest #237

Sir? Sir!” Plete’s voice, “Please, sir, wake up! Please!”Even half-asleep, Warrian could tell that the boy sounded panicked. All but weeping.“Wake up, sir! Please, get up! We are under attack.” Plete was shaking him now.Go, said another voice, this one steady and calm, a remnant of the quickly disintegrating dream, Stay on the left side of the lake. We’ll push through.The voice cut off, a memory that shimmered, whirled, and vanished, as Plete’s words finally sank in. Warrian bolted upright.“How many?” He was already moving, pulling on his bo...

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“Season of The Ring” by Mack Crotwell

Submitted to Contest #237

I sat idly as Iritha, our handmaiden, braided my hair back. I’d become fairly excellent at twiddling my thumbs and looking as though not a single thought pierced my brain. It is what is expected of me, of course. I am the eldest of my sisters, merely eighteen and unwed. What an unglamorous picture to be seen. I cannot and will not listen to my sister's chatter in my ear for a second more about the list of unsuspecting, eligible bachelors, who would sooner marry in their own cousins than to someone with such high opinions. No, opinions...

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“A thing for you” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #237

2000I first heard about Chris from my then boyfriend Luke. Luke and his college friends enjoyed affectionally berating each other and so I heard plenty of stories about Chris and his awkward loss of virginity with a girl who subsequently followed him around college as well as lots of other unsuccessful attempts with the ladies.After graduating with a 1st and commendations for his biology degree from Christ Church college, Oxford, Chris had ‘fucked off to Africa’. I think Luke was incredibly envious that Chris had escaped the ‘real world’ and...

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Write a love story without using the word “love.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“Butterfly Memory ” by Michelle Oliver

“The Lottery” by Jonathan Page

“Ring Me Up ” by Alexis Araneta

“If Life Gives You Plastic” by Kimberly Espeland

“Hearts Aflutter” by Kailani B.

“Can't Help Falling in Mud” by Tom Skye

“Serendipity Calls ” by Kristi Gott

“Hello, Venus!” by Delbert Griffith

“Amigurumi” by Marty B

“Pillow Talk - Hot Legs Sandwich” by John Rutherford

“Words Left Unsaid” by Hannah Lynn

“Short Line” by Story Time

“We won” by Yuliya Borodina

“Season of The Ring” by Mack Crotwell

“A thing for you” by Rebecca Detti

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a successful marriage proposal, or one that goes horribly wrong.

Write about a cynical character who somehow ends up on a blind date.

Write a story about a first or last kiss.

Write a story about two people falling in love via email.

Contest #237

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

324

Contest entries

133

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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