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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 671 of 741

WHEN WORDS FAIL

Submitted to Contest #76

Shortening his name resulted in his being commonly known as Nero. He was about 45, was dark, but had a smiling face. He was a businessman and was quite prosperous. He had set apart a portion of his profits to be given to charity. Unlike others of his ilk, he did not live a cloistered life. He was available to all. He was concerned about welfare of people. Take for instance the case of his milk delivery man. He had met with an accident while on his way doing his job and was injured. Hearing about it Nero visited his home and helped his wife a...

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Understanding Us

Submitted to Contest #76

“I get the child. End of discussion,” Calista says, folding a lavender top and putting it in her luggage. “I don’t understand how you can just decide that, without even asking me,” Julian says. He sits right in front of the luggage, forcing Calista to look at him. “I am her mother. Therefore, I get more rights on Lydia. Is that so hard to get through your thick skull?” she says, manoeuvring around him to place the next item in the luggage. “Yeah, maybe it is. Maybe I imagined it, but did you just say you had more rights on Lydia?...

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Take it or Leave it

Submitted to Contest #76

"Sir, Mr. Yami is ready for you," said the receptionist amidst the loud slurping sounds of chewing gum as she led him towards a narrow corridor to the left. She opened a blue wooden door to the right of the corridor and held it until he walked in, then slowly closed the door behind him."Mr. Yami, nice to meet you. My name is Robin Shama," he said extending his hand to greet the short, pot bellied man. Mr. Yami was just biting off the last grains of maize from the cob before he opened the window behind him to throw the cob outside. Shama had ...

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Insect Contestation: The Impact of Deforestation on the Stability of the Mauve Tree Ecosystem

Submitted to Contest #76

You wouldn't know just by looking at me that I did a Masters at university. I don't think it's particularly on-brand for a Master’s Graduate to spend all her time on Instagram and pop a mini bottle of champagne at eleven o'clock in the morning. Whatever, it's a Sunday, and I know how loud Sundays are in this house. There's a small National Park about two hours away from where I live. It's not a popular destination for hikers because the path is narrow and rocky and in summer, bugs fly into your collar and spiders trap you in their webs....

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Pinocchio

Submitted to Contest #76

“Make it quick.” Sunbeams seemed to print railway tracks across her skin and her lips were crunched into a trainwreck of half-truths. She was facing away from me, but I knew her lashes were curling into ferns and viridescent eyeshadow covered her lids in a collage of leaves and sea glass. “Tell Clark to come to the funeral,” I told her. Sage tilted her head as if she could set the world offbeat with her eyes. “Why should I tell him?” “Because he’s your brother.” “He’s your friend,” she countered.My fists clenched into camera shutters, openin...

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The Chicano girl

Submitted to Contest #76

I thought everything was going very well… until Camila had another surprise for me in the second half of January. “Can I talk to you about something?” she said one evening after we sat down to eat the burritos she made the previous night. “Of course,” I replied but then I started having a bad feeling when I saw her staring down into her plate too long without saying anything. “We won’t be able to make love for a while,” she said finally, still not looking at me. I could see that she was struggling to find the right words to continue. “Do you...

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End Of The Day

Submitted to Contest #76

“Hurry up, it’s cold!” “I’m coming, I’m coming.” “Get your ass in here and shut the door, I’m wasting all the heat. Damn, it’s cold!” “I feel fine.” “I would too if I was sitting there with those on my lap. What’s that smell?” “Pepperoni and onion. I’m the pep, dad’s the onion.” “One topping on each?” “No, both on both.” “Not my favorite combination, but I wouldn’t complain.” “What would you add to balance out the flavors for your taste buds? Turn right on Elm.” “I would if this idiot in front of me would move. C’mon, Jac...

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Dirty Secrets

Submitted to Contest #76

“You did WHAT?” “It’s not that bad.” “No, it's even worse!” “I mean, it just sorta happened-” “Just happened? Are you serious?” “Oh, don’t be so dramatic! Like it could never happen to you if you were in my place.” “Of course it couldn’t! Are you even hearing yourself? This is crazy, you’re crazy!” “Uh, why did I even tell you…” “Yeah, why did you? You shouldn’t! You should never speak of things like that - you should forget all about it and bury it in the deepest part of your mind where you cannot find it so you don’t ever bring it up!...

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If Only They Would Listen

Submitted to Contest #76

Isabel was a quiet girl. It was not uncommon to find her sitting alone under a tree in the park, reading a good book, or watching people from afar. Watching people really was her favorite hobby. She could catch a glimpse of their lives without actually being a part of it, a silent observer. She had tried before to do the unthinkable, to talk to someone up close, but her words were always absorbed, lost in the words of others. Some said she didn’t talk loud enough, that it was her own fault. But if only they would listen, she could be heard.&...

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The Next Time

Submitted to Contest #76

“The next time she says that, I’m going to…” How many times have I said that? And then what? Usually nothing. I’m a coward, not because I want to be, but because I have been taught to be. Not just by my parents, but teachers, telephone solicitors, nearly anyone in authority. I am afraid of being embarrassed, humiliated, made to feel as though being ineffectual, is what I should emulate. I was encouraged to be no more, no less, than that opaque color on the wall that refuses to make people wither, blush, or prete...

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You Don't Say

Submitted to Contest #76

“What I am attempting to tell you, is that when it comes to right and wrong, you are wrong. You can be both right, and wrong. That is the measure of any word, its meaning. And who gives it meaning?” “Oh contraire, my friend. Right and wrong, although opposites, are the same in one respect. One can’t exist without the other. It is the same principle as good and evil. The words and therefore the concept only have meaning if they exist in conjunction with one another.” “I see your point, but that does not eras...

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Milk

Submitted to Contest #76

“Like this?”  “Just like that. That’s really excellent.”  “That’s a first. No one’s ever said that before. Do you think she’s comfortable?” “I should think so. Now, just gently, bring her towards you. That’s it. Like that.” “Hold on. Let me just get my t-shirt out of the way.” “Don’t worry about that, just, that’s it. There we go. Can you see? She’s opening her mouth.” “She’s never done that before.” “That’s great. Now, just give it a few seconds. There we are and...ooooh, Evie.”  “She’s crying.” “That’s ok.”  “She opened...

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Interview

Submitted to Contest #76

   "Who is going to be next?" Artemus thinks. "Make sure the file is complete. The furniture is clean. All the organized files are here. All right..., onto my next client. He's at the door right...now."    "You may now come in," he says.    "Sorry. I know I'm late," a man says.    "Don't worry. Please close the door."    "Should've gotten early, kid?"    "It's not your fault. Please have a seat. Shall we start the interview?"&nb...

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The Doorman

Submitted to Contest #76

-Please tell me you ate the pavlova. There’s now some discourse on it. I think it’s disgusting and [redacted] is adding fuel to the fire by trying to get the person who bought it to own up.  October 30th, 5:00pm. You are dating the Olympic swimmer?  -Yes. I actually met her during my break and- Occupation?  -Doorman of-  Quarter Moon Hotel?  -No that’s really far away. I work at The Orville.  That’s a very grand hotel, wouldn’t you think?  -Yeah it is. Very busy as well.  Do you like working there?&nbs...

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Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect

Submitted to Contest #76

Cautiously, Hanna picked her way through the crowded hallways of her high school. Keeping her head down and her eyes trained firmly on the floor, she mumbled barely audible excuses to her peers as she crept past. None of them seemed to notice her, but at least with her head bowed she couldn’t see how they stared at her with their haughty expressions.  Above her head, the school speakers crackled to life with the overly-enthusiastic voice of Carol Reems. “Fellow Lincoln High students! Remember that the cast list for the spring musical ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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