Write a short story in which the last line is the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve.

Posted in Winter on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 97 stories

““Sorry.” “Happy New Year!”” by Bella Llanes

Submitted to Contest #22

“10… 9… 8…” “I just don’t get you anymore.” “What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” “7… 6… 5... “ “Oh, come on Alyssa. Don’t act like you don’t understand,” “4… 3… 2…” “I can’t believe you right now, Katie.” “Sorry.” “Happy New Year!” It wasn’t really my idea to have a new year’s eve party, that was all Alyssa’s work. Though I suppose I can’t say I didn’t support her, I’ve always had a bad habit of bending under the slightest pressure, whether from my girlfriend or anyone else. “Come on Katie, keep up, we need to finish cooking by se...

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“Come Out” by Maimuna Lewis

Submitted to Contest #22

It was clear what I had to do. I mean, it was my job and what I was getting paid for. I could do this. For the money, I could do this.I reached for the doorknob but stopped myself, my hands trembling.....Or could I? Could I really? Risk public embarrassment- no, complete social humiliation for this? ....but two hundred dollars is a lot. Well, to me it was. They were paying me to do this because they knew I was poor. And why should a poor guy have this big of an ego? Money was money. And I needed it."Mason! Yo, what's up, man!"It was the gree...

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“Forever's Child” by Jasmine Fire

Submitted to Contest #22

A piercing sound startled her awake. Bellanova glanced at her clock and saw it was an hour before midnight. Up the stairs, sleep walked with her cautiously. She heard her mother’s soft sobs before she got to the double glass doors. She was at eye level with the low slit in the door. A vase lay shattered on their oak floor. The stargazers were strewn wildly about. She inhaled sharply as fear snatched sleep away. Her father’s hands were squeezing her mother’s neck. “My love,” his voice was sound wrapped in velvet.&nbsp...

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“Nectar” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #22

I hate New Years Eve. I hate the crowds and the noise and the pretending everything will be different next year just because one number has changed in the date my laptop displays at me every day. It’s a lie. Nothing is going to miraculously transform me between now and midnight that will suddenly make next year worth living. And here I am, in the worst place I can imagine on the busiest day of the year: London. People are yelling and jostling as I try to push through the throngs. Such proximity and effort is stifling and I can feel the sweat...

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“The Window” by M. Youngblood

Submitted to Contest #22

It was cold. Far below freezing. It was much colder this year than last, and although most people were unaware, it was colder than it had ever been in the city of Marion, Massachusetts. Known only to a handful of individuals, there was a place in Washburn park right in between two spindly branches of a grey birch where the spiders loved to make their homes. This time of year, after the first few rushes of heavy rains and snows had fallen on the town, the spider’s webs were decorated with frozen dewdrops. Perfect miniature ornamentation that ...

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“I'll be gone at Midnight” by Emily Cannon

Submitted to Contest #22

There was some drinking, of course, but Carlotta wasn’t interested in the drinks. If she had been a younger, prettier woman she might have found the prospect of free drinks more likable. But she was mostly here for the books, wasn’t she? Her long-time friend had invited Carlotta to her work party. It was just like Carlotta to have a librarian as a friend. It was also just like Carlotta to have gotten banned from the very library where Zeala worked. It had been an accident. Well, mostly. But apparently, the ban did...

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“New Year's Eve Chaos ” by Ash P

Submitted to Contest #22

Tobias rushed around quickly trying to help his daughter get ready for the babysitter's place, his new boyfriend, Stephen, was struggling to help him he'd never dealt with children before. They piled into, Stephen's car and rush down the road the radio droning on, the get little Mozella to the babysitter's and Stephen drops him off at his first job the bookstore. Charlie the clerk and manger greets him coldly she's been doing that since him and Stephen got together almost a year ago. He puts his coat and hat in the break room and helps out t...

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“A Chef's Story” by M. Ariani

Submitted to Contest #22

“Fuck you! I quit!” I said, after slapping him on the cheek with my soapy hands.“You can’t quit, we’re in the middle of a dinner! Have you gone completely insane?” He replied, clutching his left cheek, that has began to show a visible red mark left my by hand.“Try me! I’m done with you!”I walked hurried past Peter Meier, bumping his shoulder on my way to the backroom. I needed to get out of here, out of this fucking restaurant that I worked so hard for nothing.“What the fuck are you all staring at? Get back to your fucking work!” I heard Pet...

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“Going out with a bang ” by Ash Stacy

Submitted to Contest #22

New year's eve. "Wow another year gone but,this one this one if gonna go out with a bang." He thought laughing to himself. "Go out with a bang. Ha if only they knew." Setting his mind back to work mode he meticulously grabs wires making sure each one is absolutely correct. There were thousands of wires like an endless sea of reds,blues and greens all across the parking lot of what soon would be the biggest new years party of the century. Hours later once he finished rechecking the wires for what must be the millionth time he signals to the c...

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“Escape” by Cody Ell

Submitted to Contest #22

The lights were almost blinding as I made my way into the ballroom. I squinted past them, and let out a soft gasp. It was beautiful. The lights sparkled off the glassware and tinsel streamers that were strung between the stone pillars. A warm light suffused the room bouncing off of small silver stars had been hung from the ceiling and slowly spun on their almost invisible strings, giving them the illusion of simply hanging in mid-air. Almost like magic, but not quite, I thought to myself. The people too were everything I had imagined. The ot...

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“Let's be in the Spirit” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

Okay. Why did I come here? I don’t even celebrate on New Year’s Eve. It’s all just a bunch of people telling each other how they’re promising themselves they’ll go to the gym, and trust me, it’s not gonna go well. I mean, can you guess what they’re doing now? A woman shoves a chocolate-iced donut into her mouth. She swallows without barely bothering to chew. “Oh I’m just stocking up,” she tells her (presumably) friend who knows just as well as I do how well her “new-year's-resolution” is gonna go. “You know, I won’t be able to have this for ...

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“The New Year's Eve Party” by Lou Marie

Submitted to Contest #22

House parties were always a drag, but Jackson always got forced into going to one. It was December 31, New Year’s Eve, the day that Jackson hated the most out of every year. To him, New Year’s Eve was just an excuse for everyone to get blackout drunk, makeout excessively, and set goals that would probably never happen. There was no real point to New Year’s Eve, yet he always found himself in the same situation every year. At a house party sitting on the couch with a glass full of wine, watching sweaty bodies dance like their life depend...

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“A midnight conversation ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #22

A midnight conversation It was almost midnight when the call came. Like many others on this particular evening, Frank was still awake. Unlike most people however, it was not a view of Times Square that captivated his attention. Instead, he sat gazing intently at his cellphone, as though he could will it into making a sound. When it finally did, he pressed the accept button before it had finished it’s first ring. “It’s done?” he inquired by way of greeting. “What do you think? You know I don’t make mistakes.” The wo...

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“Me Time ” by Meryem Biyikli

Submitted to Contest #22

Reading my favorite book for probably the twentieth time, stopping once in a while to think about it while also taking a sip of my huge cup of hot chocolate. Just the way I want to spend the night of my 28th birthday. Fun fact: Tonight also just happens to be New Year’s Eve. What a great birthday to have, I guess. The only problem is that it can get kind of loud, with all the parties and fireworks and stuff. And if there is one thing people know about me, it is that I absolutely adore and need my alone and quiet time. That is why on my birt...

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“Fireworks and Wine” by Jeanne Lejeune

Submitted to Contest #22

“Alright, looking at the evidence, this street should be the next target.” Muffled bass thumps down the street from the two parties sparked by the prospect of New Year’s Eve. Outside, a small compact Fiat 500 is parked on the sidewalk, inside it sit two men tensely enjoying cups of coffee; police detective John Taylor and private investigator Shawn Walsh. “Yeah, I know. Every four weeks the Blue Man hits a house a mile down that magic line of yours.” Taylor rolls down the window a crack. “Are you sure this is the right street though? I don’t...

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Write a short story in which the last line is the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 97 stories

““Sorry.” “Happy New Year!”” by Bella Llanes

“Come Out” by Maimuna Lewis

“Forever's Child” by Jasmine Fire

“Nectar” by Jess Wood

“The Window” by M. Youngblood

“I'll be gone at Midnight” by Emily Cannon

“New Year's Eve Chaos ” by Ash P

“A Chef's Story” by M. Ariani

“Going out with a bang ” by Ash Stacy

“Escape” by Cody Ell

“Let's be in the Spirit” by Unknown User

“The New Year's Eve Party” by Lou Marie

“A midnight conversation ” by Tessa Gray

“Me Time ” by Meryem Biyikli

“Fireworks and Wine” by Jeanne Lejeune

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about a person who goes to bed on Valentine's Day and wakes up in 1920.

Write a short story about someone with unconventional New Year's traditions.

Two strangers meet at a New Year's Eve party. They spend the party together, and then never see each other again.

Write a short story about someone who does not spend December 31st celebrating New Year's Eve.

Contest #22

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

338

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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