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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of bedtime short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

1110+ Bedtime Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Everybody loves a story before bed, and our collection of bedtime short stories has got you covered.

Bedtime Short Stories – Page 72 of 74

A Autumn Day

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. And I don’t mean literally as some may assume by reading this. I mean fire only Mother Nature herself could create. The reds and oranges swirled together against the autumn sky making the trees seem ablaze. As I stepped, wrapped in my soft fleece throw, onto my porch, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, allowing the smells to center me in that perfect moment. I opened my eyes and sighed softly, a small smile playing on my lips as I gazed across my lawn littered with the leaves from my...

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Making Friends with Monsters can be Possible

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Now, this is my story. I am Marnie. The autumn season has just arrived, and all the pink blossom flowers were withered, and the sweet flavoring green leaves had changed into red or orange. The leaves were having haircuts. All people around squashed the leaves on the ground. They made a crispy sound, like the crunch of some chips. I was just in the cafeteria, and I was eating cake. Mmm, Yum. I just finished my cake, and was going out of the shop, when everything was on fire....

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Upside-Down

Submitted to Contest #63

Two people sat at a bar table in an old barn that was nicely transformed into a restaurant. Their feet were perched lazily on the two empty seats next to them and they were debating the menu. This was a challenge because they were at the Jones Apple Farm, where the orchards were arranged with diagonal lines that lead to the horizon in a way that made them dizzy. Therefore, everything on the menu was apple-themed and neither of them felt like devouring four to five apple cinnamon buns. “I know it sounds crazy,” Oscar said, gesturing with...

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Waiting For Twilight

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I step outside, the leaves are on fire. Well, they might as well be. The wind comes alive and sends swirls of crimsons, oranges, yellows and golds dancing through the air like flames. A fitting description—for me, the cool, crisp autumn days are nothing short of hell.Suddenly, a thick, cool grey mass obscures my vision. I glare in frustration, trying to break through its dense, watery coat with a beam of warmth, but to no avail. My rays become faint and diluted, powerless against the heavy clumps that have built a seemingly everl...

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Something in the Air

Submitted to Contest #63

Marlow and Mommy were busy. Fall was in the air, Mommy said, and they had lots to do to get ready. They’d picked all the apples off their only tree. Daddy had to hold Marlow on his shoulders to reach the highest ones. Marlow stood on the stool in the kitchen and washed them. Then Mommy had peeled them and cut the core out with all the tiny, brown seeds. Then she even let him use the sharp knife to cut them. They had divided them up into bags and put them in the freezer. Now Marlow and Mommy were cutting leaves out of construction paper to ...

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A Special Brew

Submitted to Contest #63

A Special Brew             Nat awoke feeling the chill.  After a warm September, he had yet to begin to heat his apartment, but now there was a coolness in the air and a definite harbinger of the coming winter.  In mid-October, fall had definitely arrived—not only on the calendar, but also in Nat’s aching muscles.  After arising and getting his morning shower he descended to the street and heard the sound of rakes and even, at an early hour, the sme...

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The Den.

Submitted to Contest #63

Jack and Daniel ran to the Woods behind Daniel`s house along the well-trodden path between the whispering trees that led to their favorite place, their den. Their feet crunched and cracked the lifeless branches which punctuated the silence then crumbled beneath him. The sky vanished completely underneath the rich overhanging canopy of the interwoven branches. The occasional scrabble of insects burrowing beneath the leafy carpet of tangled vegetation contrasted with the stillness of the woods.The den came into view, Daniel`s dad had...

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What could have been? An autumn of memories and remorse

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I stepped out of the coffee shop with my usual half white chocolate mocha / half pumpkin spice latte. I took a brief moment to savor the blended flavors of my favorite fall drink and the scent of the fiery red and golden yellow leaves that filled the fall air. Although I am running errands downtown today, the streets are dead on this early Sunday morning. There was a feeling that the city is just waking up. This is my favorite time of the week to run errands and let my thoughts wander. ...

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The Cloud Friend, Snow

Submitted to Contest #63

Molly looked around. The smell of nature filled around, and sounds of birds singing lullabies chirped. Sitting on a tree house and looking down below you where the flowers was a tiny red dot was scary. But the breezes and winds of gushing air that passes through you is a beauty. Molly slowly closed her eyes, feeling the beauty of silence and nature. She started to feel relaxed when, she was disturbed. ' Molly! Hello Molly! Excuse me, are you awake?' Molly snapped her eyes open, and also jumped up. Hmm. A boy was on a ladder, slowly climb...

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Trace of memory

Submitted to Contest #62

Its not a regular day for Eric since he encountered something bizarre,something that made him feel the bliss of life. He was so touched by the random gesture of a guy called Jason. Jason started to share Eric's story to his son.Once Eric was a great and famous musician , he had everything in his life like a beautiful and gorgeous wife, two sons, a private island, private jet, multiple bank accounts and what not. He lead a peaceful life. One fine morning Eric was enjoying his own company lying on the hammock in his beach house. Maid...

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life

Submitted to Contest #62

THE STORY OF LIFE Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger) but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, pain...

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A dreamy girl

Submitted to Contest #62

Alarm ring around 7:00 am.I woke up and brushed my teeth and took bath. I came out from bathroom and started to dress up. I wore my favourite salwar and went out of the room to take up my breakfast.When I stepped out I found a new girl named Shyama from Kerala. I gave a smile and introduced myself with that Malayala kutty.I am Advika, a twenty years old girl from Tamil Nadu. I am pursuing my graduation in Arts in Christ College Bangalore. I am studying in the Central Campus on the Hosur Road. I stayed as a PG(paying guest) in Grand Paradise ...

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Davie's Locker

Submitted to Contest #62

"Lay your head here my, boy."This was it. A cold unwarranted fear washed over him as he lay to rest upon the body shaped casket. It was white and soft to the touch. As he looked up all he could see was the remainder of the old guard."Will it hurt, grandpa?""Not at all," He turned to Ida at his side. His weapons instructor. She fetched a needle and some gauze. "Now I'm going to inject you with amoxsophine. Do know what that is?""Yes, it is a muscle relaxant and dehydrant. This is to prevent any injury during the cryophase of my homeostasis." ...

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James and a Witch

Submitted to Contest #62

Once upon a time, there was a couple named Albert and Alexa who lived in a town in a very small house. Albert was an ironsmith and Alexa was a housewife and expecting a baby. She was satisfied with everything they had but not Albert. He wanted more money to give his wife and their to be born child a big home and a luxurious life. In order to do so he spends most of his time on work. Sometimes he used to stay late to earn more.On a fine Sunday morning, weather was deliciously mild and soothing. They always wake up before sunrise. Alexa asked ...

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"My Subsequent Life" By Juliana Cooper

Submitted to Contest #62

When I turned 12, in a small town in New York, I knew my future. I knew it from the beginning of my life but I didn't accept my future thoughts until I turned 12. I thought that everyone had their own set path. I guess I was erroneous."What do you wish for?" My mother asked me on my twelfth birthday."What's there to wish for? I already know my future outcome. You got me a makeup set and a diary with a purple pen that you got from A.C. Moore," I said without any form of hesitation.My mother cocked her head and stared at me with such confusion...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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