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

Posted in Valentine's Day on Feb 9, 2024

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✍️ 101 stories

“The Valentine Dress” by Tammie Williams

Submitted to Contest #237

“HEAVENLY GATES NURSING HOME” Normally just hearing the words brought a sense of peace, but today the tightening in my chest did not subside. I knew what was waiting for me beyond the white wooden doors that held a wreath with the words WELCOME in the center. Rocking chair porches lined the front of every entrance of the large brick building, where an assortment of elderly people sat with warm fuzzy blankets across their laps. They would usually wave at me as I crossed the parking lot for my weekly visit. &...

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“Rock & Roll Is Dead: Goodbye Nancy” by Stephen Laviera

Submitted to Contest #237

To readers this story is centered around the death of a beloved matriarch. Stepping outside of myself to splash water on my face. Standing in front of the nearby hand washing sink. I won’t go back into myself. The voice of doubt sings ever so gently. Causing my nerves to dance to its melody. Its voice echoes through my body. The vibration bouncing off my aura. Making the hair on my back do the wave. My roadie hands me a joint. I rip it to calm my nerves. The stage manager asks if I’m ready. “Vince, are you ready? It’s time.” “VINCENT!...

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“More Than Just Four Letters” by Melanie Yorke

Submitted to Contest #237

“I understand” he says and the worst part, the part that hurts the most, is that he does. He knows without me saying a single word about how important this is to me. How I have to go, have to do this, have to leave. All that is left now is to find out how to say goodbye.“It’s not forever” I say as I lean into his embrace, my cheek pressing against his chest. I close my eyes comforted by the warmth of his body radiating through the soft wool of his jumper, hearing his heart beat steadily and reassuringly. He kisses me on the top of my head. “...

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“That One Thing” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #237

Daytime commenced on the faraway planet of Thars 74T. On this particular day, a Tharsian named Rugvart was set to be coupled with another. They were in the company of a Tharsian civil official and some family, but all that was missing was the one with whom they would couple. The other Tharsian needed that day was Bolorov, who was instead jetting fretfully towards planet Earth. Bolorov always had a renegade streak about them, constantly bucking the laws and rituals of Thars 74T to venture to other planets and galaxies more than they s...

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“Ted Everlasting” by Jeff Stone

Submitted to Contest #237

Ted Everlasting Sanchez Gas N Go I’ve got tendencies that have always been there. I didn’t realize how much she kept them at bay, until now. My wife, that is. Her name was Gail. I guess you could say she kept me in line. If you’re very lucky, a great gal will do that for you, Sanchez. You have a girlfriend? How old are you, anyway? Oh wow, now that’s a good age! I had a girlfriend at 14…Betty Lou Granger, the best ya-yas in six counties, I tell ya. I can see by the look on your face I’ve brought up Betty Lou before, but boy, does she bear ...

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“Farewell” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #237

FAREWELL Standing at the crossroads, the looming specter of separation hung heavy in the air, enveloping them in a suffocating embrace of almost tangible tension. Each step forward felt like a reluctant concession to fate, an acknowledgment of the irreversible divergence of their paths. Yet, they walked together, their strides hesitant, as if defying the relentless march of time. How they wished for time to halt, to immortalize this fleeting moment of togetherness. But reality beckoned, pulling them apart with an unyielding force. His pa...

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“Some Place Just South of the Moon” by Todd Crickmer

Submitted to Contest #237

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Alan kept repeating as he gazed across Biscayne Bay from his twentieth-floor balcony. The shadows of the high-rise condominiums that line the Miami shoreline began stretching out across the bay as the sun slowly settled behind him. He took another sip of his gin and tonic and winced as it was much more bitter than he expected. The clouds out over the ocean were slowly turning from white to a soft tangerine as the last rays of the setting sun slowly settled on the opposite horizon. Alan’s l...

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“Letting Go” by Peyton Fleek

Submitted to Contest #237

Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go. I have found this quote to become somewhat of a life motto for me. I discovered it during a breakup, but now as I ride this wave I realize it is helpful even in these moments. My hands must release their grip on my surfboard. I am afraid to let go, I am afraid my legs won’t hold me steady. It is good to let go. I stand up cautiously, keeping a generous bend in my knees, my stomach muscles squeezing. In letting go I find new strength. I bring my board back to t...

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“A Mother's Sacrifice” by Brittany Jung

Submitted to Contest #237

A wretched thing he was. But he gave me my daughter, I can thank him for that. Listen to those people cheering. His soft smile and blonde side-swept hair swooned over the peasants. Clarissa stands in front of him, in front of her father, his non-waving hand on her shoulder.Her soft curls were gently placed down her back, she looked so innocent. One day she would be Queen. This kingdom has not seen a Queen as the sole ruler in a thousand years.I couldn't give him the son he desired, and we could not have any more children. So, these common fo...

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“Since Judas.” by Lance Correnti

Submitted to Contest #237

Since the beginning, Elio had been the perfect son. He had been born in the town, he wasn't able to see things on the outside progress. He was told what he was told and he listened. He didn't leave the border, he got good grades, he didn't drink or smoke or cause trouble. His mother told him the Sugar Rush Virus had started in the sugar- that's why nothing was sweet the way it used to be, not that he would know. He was glad he hadn't seen a live one- an infected- never in person. Projectors in school showed them clear as day, but it wasn'...

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“Bite” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #237

JUNE 1666 LONDON He had taken a room at the ‘The Town of Ramsgate’ inn, sitting quietly as a commotion raged following the discovery of a young woman’s body in the Thames, mere hours since her arrival from Rotterdam. He’d disembarked the ‘Gilded Lion,’ a Dutch three masted Fluyte. It had been squalid and uncomfortable, but the young woman he’d made the acquaintance of during the short voyage provided a singularly pleasant distraction. Reading by candlelight, Carsten kept an...

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“Dear Vera” by Grace Sortland

Submitted to Contest #237

To: veraisverycool@gmail.com From: mabelsyrup@gmail.com Topic: I miss you. Dear Vera, I don’t even know if you still use this email anymore, but I wanted to try. After having a depressing fit of depression and nostalgia, I want to see you again. But I know I can’t. So, I’m emailing you. Here goes nothing. I remember when we were young. We first met at our sixth-grade camp, when we were stuck in the same cabin. We were both really awkward, but afte...

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“Caged Birds” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #237

CONTENT WARNING: This piece includes mentions and descriptions of physical and sexual violence towards children. It deals with trauma. If you are uncomfortable with the aforementioned topics, please do not proceed. Reader direction is advised. This will be your only warning. One night, I wanted a bird. I wanted to buy a shiny silver cage so it couldn’t escape. I wanted it all to myself. Several nights later, I gazed blankly at the shafts of moonlight that filtered through a grimy, broken window, its glass scattered on the rotting wooden flo...

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“Center” by Konstantinos Kontopoulos

Submitted to Contest #237

It was almost sundown and everything was pink and gold when the man awoke to find himself on the roof terrace of the abandoned shopping mall. He was sitting on one of several plastic chairs scattered under weather-worn umbrellas in what looked like an outdoors café. It seemed to him that his rise from slumber happened to coincide with the exact time the street lights came on, their tops being visible just beyond a concrete ledge at the edge of the terrace a few feet away from where he was sitting. The automated bulbs came to life with an imp...

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“Actions Speak Louder” by Spryte Magnus

Submitted to Contest #237

Jessalyn’s “time of the month” was not the same as that of others, and there was a great deal more danger involved. It had something to do with a dragon who’d taken a humanoid shape and one of Jessalyn’s ancestors who’d begat the bloodline that eventually bore her. Valora had said she’d known someone once who had similar issues and took a great deal of care making sure she was there for Jessalyn. Even though they both had their own adve...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“The Valentine Dress” by Tammie Williams

“Rock & Roll Is Dead: Goodbye Nancy” by Stephen Laviera

“More Than Just Four Letters” by Melanie Yorke

“That One Thing” by Katharine Johns

“Ted Everlasting” by Jeff Stone

“Farewell” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Some Place Just South of the Moon” by Todd Crickmer

“Letting Go” by Peyton Fleek

“A Mother's Sacrifice” by Brittany Jung

“Since Judas.” by Lance Correnti

“Bite” by Paul Littler

“Dear Vera” by Grace Sortland

“Caged Birds” by Fern Everton

“Center” by Konstantinos Kontopoulos

“Actions Speak Louder” by Spryte Magnus

🌟 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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