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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

150+ Contemporary Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. All the newest modern day stories to thrill and inspire, all in one place.

Contemporary Short Stories – Page 6 of 10

A Jaded Hope

Submitted to Contest #315

This story contains content associated with grief.This distorted point of view still satiated my burning hunger for her, my woman. But even now, I wished my feet were big enough to fill the shoes of the men she permitted inside of her. I envied the therapist that would never hear her story. Her thoughts shimmered behind the display of her stoic face begging me to commit my first crime. The cups of my binoculars uncomfortably pressed against the brim of my eyes, but I was unwilling to sacrifice this view. The lenses were broken, but finally I...

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The Birth of Leon

Submitted to Contest #315

Just before Leon was born, Janice and Mike had a New Year’s Eve party. Mike loved his friends, he was social, had so many friends. They laughed, drank, embraced at midnight, danced to disco music. Janice danced too but she was not feeling well at eight months pregnant. As the party ended, and the guests paraded out into the post-Christmas winter night, Mike said to each guest, “Come over tomorrow morning. We can have breakfast, brunch, keep celebrating.” When the house was finally empty of revelers, Jani...

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In the Hour Between

Submitted to Contest #315

The call comes at 3:12 a.m. The voice is careful, practiced. “You should come now.” I thank her—because that’s what you do—and hang up before my voice cracks. My hand’s already reaching for the pack. The kitchen light buzzes overhead, casting the table in that jaundiced glow you only notice when the rest of the apartment is dark. The ashtray in front of me is a thrifted glass bowl, too shallow for what I’ve been asking it to hold. It’s past full, the butts packed in at odd angles, some leaning on others like they’re too tired to stand alone....

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Still Born, Still Birthday

Submitted to Contest #315

Content warning: This story includes themes of grief and the death of a child. Still Born, Still Birthday Karli never thought a single day could hold both the brightest light and the deepest shadow.The twins came on a rainy Thursday in March. Rain clung to the hospital windows, streaking the glass until the world outside blurred into a watercolor of gray and blue.Rayner arrived first—his cry sharp and strong, filling the room with life. His tiny fists flailed against the nurse’s hands, lungs declaring his presence to the world.Karli’s heart ...

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Last Call

Submitted to Contest #315

LAST CALL For Dave Stevens it had been a long shift as a 999 Call Handler in Ambulance Red Base.The last one of the run of three always seemed to last forever. It had its usual mix of genuine calls, the old dears not wanting to be a bother even though they were in pain and in genuine need of assistance. They were Dave’s favourite callers; he always stayed on the line with them until the crew arrived. He wasn’t necessarily meant to, but he did.And, the time wasters. “The cat licked my face.” “I’ve broken up with my girlfriend and punched the ...

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Aliens, Insects and other Inexplicable Critters

Submitted to Contest #314

Aliens, Insects and other Inexplicable Critters It was the hottest day of the year, only to be exceeded by the following day's temperature predictions. New York was suffering from the most unrelenting heatwave on record. Water restrictions only added fuel to the figurative fire. The simple task of walking barefoot to the mailbox was sufficient preparation for ritualistic firewalking. Jack’s wife was packing for a well-deserved girls’ weekend away, while Jack would care for their 5-year-old, twin sons in Jess's absence. His beautiful wife was...

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Hectic Heat But At Least There's Hotdogs

Submitted to Contest #314

It was the hottest day of the year yesterday, but folks, we were wrong, today temperatures are expected to surpass that….Thiago turning to the television picks up the remote and raises the volume to hear the rest of the weather report for the day’s projections. “Dot! – Dottie!!” He exclaims. “You hearing this?” “What?!” Dottie squawks back from the kitchen, her hands holding a glass bowl, her shirt bathing in all the backsplash from doing the dishes. Their dog, Bagel, being exactly that, a blonde ball that resembles a plain bagel, resting at...

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Too Hot to Compute

Submitted to Contest #314

San Francisco. July 2025. Current Weather: Gerald (Heatwave) – Persistent. Obnoxious. Moist.Miles Harding had resorted to sleeping on the tiled kitchen floor.“I can’t sleep,” he grumbled, voice muffled by the dishtowel over his face. “My bones are sweating.”From the RGB-glowing corner of the apartment, Edgar—six monitors wide and sarcasm-enabled—sighed theatrically through the speakers.You think you’ve got problems? I’m running 96 degrees Celsius and I’m basically a glorified brain in a box. My fan’s spinning faster than a K-pop conspiracy t...

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Summer Nights

Submitted to Contest #314

I can’t sleep. I can’t relax. I can’t seem to stop my muscles from tightening and locking into an uncomfortable position. It’s too hot. I should bring the fan in from the garage, but I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to disturb anyone else. I wonder if she’s even asleep yet. She said she was struggling to sleep as well…. It’s too hot and I feel anxious, restless, tired, and sad. I can’t seem to gather my thoughts or feelings around anything long enough to change things or make it better.I wish he were here. I wish he were sleeping with me...

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The Gathering

Shortlisted for Contest #314 ⭐️

Eddy runs out to the parking lot, ahead of the others. It’s flat and hot, like Grandma’s frying pan when she turns the burner on high. Letting it warm up just before her butterknife slices off a waxy square of yellow butter and chases it around the pan. Round and round the butter goes, the square losing its sharp corners and the butter slip-sliding in a greasy puddle, getting smaller and smaller until it vanishes and there is only hot brown grease in the pan.Eddy always ducks his head near the pan to smell the browned butter. And Grandma, la...

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Recognizing the Truth

Submitted to Contest #315

The day I walked through the doors of the Log Cabin in Beverly Hills; My second chance on life began. The moment I stopped pretending that I could do it "ALONE". In submitting I was powerless and in surrendering I found my freedom. I had to admit that I was brutally broken and addicted to drugs and alcohol. I was obsessed with my crazy criminal boyfriend from South Los Angeles.No one could tell me to leave him. No one! I was so broken that I thought abuse to be a normal part in a relationship. He thought that abusing a female was normal beca...

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Nothin' but beer.

Submitted to Contest #314

Content Warning: This story contains frequent use of profanity, body weight insensitivity, and substance abuse. It was the hottest day of the year, and Jerry was freezing his ass off.“Damn, I hate working the cooler,” Jerry said while rubbing his arms quickly to generate some heat. “Is it just me, or is it always us unloading the truck?” Jerry asked Darrell.“I dunno, guess I never thought much of it,” Darrell replied. “I don’t care, anyway. It beats sweatin’ to death in the hot kitchen.”“Gotta disagree there, bud,” Jerry said. “Why are you a...

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The Final Game at Truman Hall

Submitted to Contest #314

The college’s auxiliary gymnasium cast long shadows on the serpentine cement sidewalks connecting the various dark buildings. The steps of a sleepless walker echoed between the historical brick facades on the old campus. The forgotten lampposts only illuminated small sections of the winding walkway leading to the worn, moss covered stairs and a partially erected banner. It mockingly announced the upcoming national high school basketball championship game. The hunched over pedestrian shrugged at the banner and lumbered up the steps to a dum...

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A Dog's Walk

Submitted to Contest #314

In loving memory of Sofie (2010–2025) A Dog’s Walk “Hey Sofie, do you want to take a walk?” Ben asks with excitement. Do treats taste better than dry food? Do bunnies smell AMAZING? Of course! Of course! “Ruff, ruff!” My tail is wagging like a windmill in a hurricane, and I scamper to the front door. I run in circles to limber up, stopping with my nose facing outside, tail in full wag. I sniff the breeze coming through a crack under the entryway, lilac and lavender aromas sing to me. Spring is in the air. Ben and I both know the routin...

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A Dog Tags Journey

Submitted to Contest #314

A sharp, deafening crack, and a jolt came hard and heavy. I had been a cold comfort against your warm olive skin, a whisper of your name and a solemn promise that in the vastness of this barren wasteland, you would (and could) not be forgotten. My purpose was simple: to keep who you are alive, a constant thrum against the rhythm of your heart. I remember that rhythm, as you ran. The cadence of your feet against the hard ground was a pounding drum that made my metal frame clang. My weight bounced on your chest, a familiar steady rhythm to you...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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