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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.

11100+ 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 659 of 741

Heat

Submitted to Contest #77

She was swimming in sweat. She was standing under a large shaded tree, wearing navy light cotton shorts with a white tank top, and fanning herself furiously with a discarded paper plate. And yet, she was damp from the roots of her red hair to the little cracks between her toes. She hated the way they slipped around in her sandals any time her weight shifted. She was barely aware of her jaw jutting out, the way Peter said it did when she was less-than-amused, but she was acutely aware of the pain in her lower back. It was miserable standing f...

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Successfully! Started her career.

Submitted to Contest #78

“A question asked from every child: what do you want to be in your future?” My elder sister every time happily answers that she wants to be a doctor. And people used to appreciate her, she kept on working hard to score good grades in her school and college life, MashaAllah she was successful in her every task. Once she cleared her FSc in pre-medicial, her mind changed she desperately wanted to be a fashion designer nor a doctor. Every child faces this problem, she came to me and said; “I don't want to be a doctor, but the fear of anger is no...

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White desert

Submitted to Contest #77

We had been driving for hours. The blue skies clashed with the the white, flat landscape. The further we drove, the emptier it seemed. - Well, this isn't good, - I said, looking at the sun setting for the final time in many, many days. The wind was getting colder, signaling that the Polar night was about to set in.  I glanced sideways to my companion, who had the same look of quiet desperation and helplessness that I had. There was no way we could get through the night without shelter. While during the day it was quite warm, at nigh...

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Stuck at Work

Submitted to Contest #77

It was finally 5:00. Rebecca sighed of relief as she took off her chef’s hat and gloves and headed for the exit. She couldn’t wait to go home to eat some more of that kugel. “Bye, guys,” she called out to her friends. She grabbed her coat from the rack. “Becca, wait!” Will called out as he and Martyn rushed from the kitchen. She huffed as she faced them, her arms already in the coat’s sleeves. “Listen to the news.” Will pointed to the television which showed a weatherman explaining what is going on with the town’s whether. “That’s right folk...

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There is More than Glass between the Snow and the Huge Roses. Louis MacNeice

Submitted to Contest #77

When she was at primary school, Carmel learned about the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Her teacher, Mrs Bennett was a creative sprite and she used to get the children to draw pictures of each season and Carmel enjoyed these lessons. She came from a local farm, in South Derry and from an early age she was aware in the spring, the fields were ploughed, the seeds were planted, and in the autumn the crops were harvested.  When she went to Queen’s University, in 1975, she stayed in Aquinas Hall which was student accommod...

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Tiny Fires

Submitted to Contest #77

Deep in the pine forest and over the foothills of the mountains, a log cabin persisted. It appeared quaint beneath the towering trees, but, upon closer inspection, it possessed a weathered dignity. Half a dozen chimneys protruded from the steeply slanted roof, and they held a certain prestige despite their crookedness. The wood walls were dark with lingering moisture from a century of rain and snow, and dripping icicles adorned the eaves. It didn’t have electricity or internet service or any of the modern conveniences people rely on, but tho...

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Caresoul

Submitted to Contest #77

Max was only three weeks into his new job at Caresoul, but had already seen and heard enough to know he did not want to stay. The irony that working for an organisation dedicated to helping people manage their mental health was causing such a detrimental effect to his own was not lost on him.“Goodbye Max! Have a careful evening!”Max jumped in his seat and quickly tried to convert the motion to an enthusiastic farewell salute to Alyssa, who flashed him a toothpaste ad smile while securing her bike helmet. Of all the staff he had been introduc...

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Ciao Ciao Ciao

Submitted to Contest #77

Growl! Antoine stood up, clutching his tummy. If his stomach had woken him up, then this certainly wasn’t craving for comfort food. Antoine took out the mobile from his pocket. It was 2 am. Another 4 hours before the morning shift guy would arrive. Antoine dragged his sleepy ass to the elevator landing. He pressed the Up button and waited. The button wouldn’t light up. Antoine moved to the next elevator. No response. It was then that he noticed the emergency lights were on. He thought of complaining to the systems admin; abandoned the thou...

6 likes 1 comment 1
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Going to Lake Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #77

In 2027, everyone was preparing for a skiing trip to Lake Tahoe and even the Kolesnikovs were no exception. After all, Nastya and her husband named Konstantin had already packed their bags and they were also helping Elizabeth and Matt pack theirs too. “Are you kids ready for your upcoming skiing lessons?” Nastya asked. “We sure are, Mommy!” Elizabeth chirped. “But all of the instructors speak English!” Matt complained. “And I still don’t speak good English yet!” “Don’t worry, tiger,” Konstantin mused, “I’m sure your sister will trans...

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Five Acres

Submitted to Contest #77

Five Acres The storm had been wild and vicious. Pine trees in the West Virginia mountains whipped back and forth, scattering snow piled on their laden branches into the wind while deciduous trees stood like naked saints holding up their bare arms to the sky; losing some to the wind, tossed into crackling piles soon covered by snow until only dark fingers remained, poking skyward from white graves. In his old family cabin, Gabe Hawkins woke to a faint; almost inaudible tinkling sound. Imagination? He imagined things a lot these days. He w...

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Winter, My Friend

Submitted to Contest #77

“Gonna go outside, where it’s freaking cold,” Jacob sang to himself, as he’d gotten into the habit of doing lately, “Gotta wear these crappy boots, gotta get some firewood.” Having put on every layer at his disposal, including the throw from the back of the couch, he trudged from the mud room to the front of the cabin. One brisk breath, and his snot froze in place. He smiled, as he did each time, amused in a juvenile way about rapidly chilled boogers. Squinting in the glare of winter sun on endless snow he made his way careful...

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The Great Ice Storm of '98

Submitted to Contest #77

I never wondered what it’d be like to die in a wooden box—but thanks to a historic ice storm, I almost found out.  The sparse log cabin belonged to my cousin, Onyehte, who lived in Kanesatake, on Cree Road. Built tucked away on the edge of a modest forest, the cabin bordered a field that stretched on for what seemed like forever in the January snow.    “I’m always at my girlfriend’s in the village anyway, Skylar. Come. You can use my cabin,” he said when he heard I needed a quiet place to finish writing my manuscript. My unem...

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Escaping Convenience

Submitted to Contest #77

Watching the lower right corner of the computer monitor like a hawk eyeing a field mouse, it seemed to take forever for 5 p.m. to roll around. With a mere 8 minutes left, I started packing my laptop messenger bag when Marti craned her neck around and piped up, “John, what are you doing? You can’t start shutting down now.”“It’s almost time to head out. I have to pick up my wife and head to the airport,” I said.“It’s not fair to the taxpayers. You can wait a few more minutes,” Marti said.Oh, how I loathed my clock-watching boss. If it wasn’t b...

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Abel

Submitted to Contest #77

Carmella pulled up to the house and cut the engine of her small red car. With the car’s rhythmic thrumming gone, the serene silence felt light and refreshing. Lucia, her little sister, gasped slightly beside her. The two stared up at the house through the windshield in awe.In actuality, it was more of a house than a cabin. It was tall, multiple floors, and seemed almost crooked. It looked almost as though it had been abandoned for a couple of months, except that the driveway was shoveled and the extra snow was piled in heaps on the weed...

36 likes 45 comments 45
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Snowfall

Submitted to Contest #77

Silvia stands at her bedroom window, peering through the blinds. She is mesmerised by the falling snow, silently enveloping the world as it slept.  The light dusting on the bare branches of the trees in the park opposite reminds her of icing sugar on the sweets of her childhood - the crostini and the cruciddati. Traditional sweets, made in the home, by her mother, and later by herself. When she was a child, no one would have ever dreamt of buying these kind of sweets from a shop. Nowadays you could find them in some cafes - the Ba...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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