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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 673 of 741

Unsaid Threats

Submitted to Contest #76

Triggering for those who are emetophobic I sit down on the worn-out chair, the leather squeaking underneath me. Debating on whether to cross my legs or keep them straight, I decide against crossing them, my clothes feeling particularly uncomfortable today. She sits opposite me, her eyes furtively glancing at me, waiting for me to start talking. Her body has little to no curves, her face is lined with wrinkles and her yellow skirt is the same colour as her skin.Yes, she is ugly and highly unattractive.Then what did Roy possibly see in her?I p...

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Pure Blood

Submitted to Contest #76

"My blood is pure, and so are my words." The girl twisted her lips. "So you can't lie?" The faerie shook his blonde head, the strands as golden as sunlight. "Not even a half-truth could slip my silver tongue," he replied, almost smug. "How old are you?" the girl merely asked, sitting before him as if it were story time. She pulled her small backpack onto her lap and hugged it. "The trees are younger than I, small Elain. My age is uncounted as the blades of grass beneath our feet." A wind stirred their hair, the loose robes of the fae...

28 likes 10 comments 10
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Realistic Resolutions 2.021

Submitted to Contest #75

So, this is my attempt at a realistic resolution list (based on a true story built by a millennial in 2020)  Here I have made a compilation of my top things I need to change or improve on this year. I try to stray from being like everyone else (you know, making a list of realistic resolutions ala ‘new year new you’ deal, ima juice and work out all day everyday sort of thing.  it never works) anywho, here’s what I came up with   Building up that CONFIDENCE    Consisting of getting back in the socia...

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The Early Bird

Submitted to Contest #75

Two days into the New Year:  “Don’t forget!” Valerie texted her friend, her head propped on a pillow. She wiggled her toes, feeling snug in her warm bed. She waited. Speech bubbles appeared then disappeared. Typing, the little caption read at the top of the WhatsApp chat with her friend Tanya. What was taking Tanya so long to type the simple words OK. or even a thumbs up emoji? As she waited for the speech bubbles to form into whatever it was Tanya was still typing (and probably retyping), Valerie switched from her WhatsApp to her In...

10 likes 3 comments 3
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The Violinist

Winner of Contest #75 🏆

The first time Alin walks by the woman in the corner, she barely notices her. There are too many distractions, detractions, voices in her ear — the harried man waving down a taxicab, the aging street vendor hawking his wares — to separate any one sound from another. It’s all noise, and Alin is used to noise. She doesn’t notice her the second time, either. It’s only luck that she ends up doubling back, returning to the bookshop to process an order she’d forgotten. The bustle of rush hour is still going strong when she politely elbows her...

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Agents of Death

Submitted to Contest #75

The spartan room seemed to shrink the longer I sat in the cheap, plastic seat.  I shifted uncomfortably, a futile attempt to unstick my thighs from the slatted plastic.  I made a mental note to adjust my skirt as soon as I stood up.  I reminded myself training would be over soon.  I would be able to design my own office - or at least choose where to meet with my clients.  For some reason, the experience employee to whom I was assigned, Agent J., kept his room spartan.  And sweltering.   The balding ma...

3 likes 1 comment 1
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Stand Still

Submitted to Contest #76

“They’re beautiful, the stars.” “I don’t know.” “Why not?” “They’re just. They would kill us if we could get close enough.” “We couldn’t anyways, even if we wanted to.” “If we could.” “Anything could.” “Could what?” “Kill us.” “Why do you sound amazed by that?” “If an asteroid came down from the sky right now and hit us head on there’d be nothing left of us. I think, at least.” “Yeah, that sounds terrifying.” “No one would even know we were dead. They’d think we were missing, but would never be able to find us. We would end up being claimed ...

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To The Old and New

Submitted to Contest #75

Chapter 1:  December 30. I read the date from my phone as I solemnly lie on my bed. Year-round, no matter how hard I tried, I never forgot this date. Instead of getting up and making myself breakfast as per usual, I curled back into my sheets, wet from tears shed not hours ago. I looked at my balcony window, blurred from the rain pouring down as if the world had been crying with me. I had a job to get to, people to meet, responsibilities to fulfill, but none of that mattered today. A tear rolled down my face, soon accompanied by m...

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Death Meets A Life(Coach)

Submitted to Contest #75

“It is time for you to go.” The shrouded figure leant heavily on their scythe and peered out from the depths of their hood. An outsider might’ve suggested that the hump in its back was old age, and the pressure of the millennia of work that it had endured. In truth, it was boredom. “But I wasn’t ready!” the obese woman cried. “I was going to the Bahamas next month!” The figure looked at what was left of the woman in the corporeal world. The bag from her takeaway chips was still perched on the arm of the sofa next to her, with half a do...

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What is Your Job?

Submitted to Contest #75

I am here to help you leave your old life behind.  That is my job. My important job. The other one, the institution where I work, is just to earn enough to pay the bills. My real job is sometimes risky, and it can make enemies for me. I have to keep that in mind. Still, I do the work because it matters. We all need to figure out what matters in life. That’s my belief, anyway. *** My name is Pilar, Pilar Landín. You may know me as Lavinia Rivers’ friend if you’ve read any of the other stories that are set in Santiago de Compostel...

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Born Yesterday

Submitted to Contest #75

Born Yesterday By Heather Ann Martinez If you are reading this, it is because the doctor at St. Edna’s medical center asked me to write about my experiences. Some would tell you they were not born yesterday. I am here to tell you, I was born yesterday. Actually, three days ago. I woke up in a hospital bed at St. Edna’s with no memory of who I was or how I got there. The doctors gathered that I must be in my mid-thirties based on some blood work. They asked me if I could recall any smells, sights, or anything I heard befo...

4 likes 1 comment 1
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The traceless existence of NN

Submitted to Contest #75

In the empty compartment, NN put her bag on a seat across. The train ride was to take three hours. It was raining outside; stripping the featureless station of any remaining uniqueness. The train was scheduled to depart in three minutes. NN glimpsed at her ticket. Destination: Hechingen. That did not tell her anything. She received it and the booking information per post, as always. The envelope contained only printouts, no note from Sitora this time. A ticket to 'Hechingen' and two booking confirmations for hotels, one for three d...

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The Story of Ralph Biggins

Submitted to Contest #76

Warning: This story contains themes about suicide. Ralph Biggins woke in a cold sweat, convulsing uncontrollably, gasping for air, petrified he was about to choke. Not here, not like this, he begged the universe, struggling to breathe. In a few short hours, morning would come and steal another part of his life away. He would have to confront his corporate prison. And he would have to confront Her. ****** She was menacing, condescending and deplorable. She never said a nice word about anyone, unless it profited her situation. She wanted...

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Changing someone's past and future all at once

Submitted to Contest #75

 Sandy has been helping people for many years, she loves to help others out of hardship. Others in relationships where they are in serious danger. In situation they are not able to get out of on their own with out putting their family in jeopardy. She has safe homes she brings her clients to arranges their stay as well as their travel to where they may re-establish themselves. She really loves her job although she is very secretive about her life. Not only does she help people but she has a small shop down town coffee and pastries. Sand...

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The Client

Submitted to Contest #75

“You have ten minutes to collect five possessions you want to bring.” I said, glancing at the brassy pocket watch in my hand. The man nodded, smiling softly.“I’ve been preparing for this for quite some time. It’s just down the hall, one moment.” The middle aged man walked around the corner before returning with a backpack. He slipped on a hooded sweater, slung the backpack over his shoulder and nodded. “Ready.”I arched an eyebrow, snapping the watch shut and shoving it into my pocket. “That was quick. Most people are usually packing, unpacki...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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