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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

6090+ Inspirational Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From tales of the miraculous to stories of extraordinary people overcoming incredible odds, you’ll always find something uplifting in our collection of inspirational short stories.

Inspirational Short Stories – Page 360 of 406

The New Memories of Tom Ford

Submitted to Contest #75

In a dream…in a dream that’s where most dreamers want to be. In the sea…in the sea, that’s where my memories need to be. Washed away…washed away, to never remind me of my previous days. In a small room located at South General Hospital on the third floor, lies a man in a bed. On the counter next to the faucet and the paper towel dispenser are some get well cards and some balloons with “Get Well Soon” written on them. The room numbered, 316 is quiet except for the beeping sound of the heart monitor, that has it’s own rhythm dance going on. ...

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The Ultimate Chess Player's Guide to Happiness

Submitted to Contest #75

Disclaimer: I don't actually play chess, so sorry if I got some of the details wrong. With that being said, enjoy!Chess strategies lined up in my head as soon as I glanced at the chessboard, waiting for me to pick and apply one. The board was made up of exactly 64 squares, 32 white and 32 black. It was a perfect mixture, one that I loved. “Next up, Varsha Vimal playing white, and Zelene Gilbert playing black!” The announcer declared. This was the biggest chess tournament of my life, it was the state tournament and it was being broadcast...

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Carpe Noctem

Submitted to Contest #75

I’ve been called many things over the years: the Spirit, the Guide, Fate… all paint me in a way that portray clarity and endless wisdom. I suppose by definition that is mostly true. I am the clarity that arrives to enlighten those that stray from the path of which they are destined. It is a gratifying position. Time moves forward and the lives I touch will either embrace my visions or turn against me and face a future of sorrow. Either way, I move forward. Time never ceases and thus neither will I. To say that I live is only a half trut...

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Take My Hand

Submitted to Contest #75

Spirit Number: 815  Gender: Male   Age: 92 years old  Name: Clarence  “Take my hand,” I say.  A tiny man named Clarence gives me the uncertain look I see every day. His eyes furrow, mouth hangs open as though he wants to say something.  “Don’t try to speak yet. It takes a few minutes, but it’ll come back to you.”  He stares at my hand for a second, then takes it. An inaudible sigh escapes his lips as his shoulders slump down into a noticeable curve.  “It can be a bit jarring at first, b...

18 likes 1 comment 1
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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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Debt-ends

Submitted to Contest #75

“The dwarfs can turn lead into gold… (…)‘You can’t turn something into something else,’ said Corporal Nobbs. ‘The Alchemists have been trying it for years.’‘They can gen’rally turn a house into a hole in the ground,’ said Sergeant Colon.‘That’s what I’m talking about,’ said Corporal Nobbs.” (”The Truth”, Terry Pratchett)***Neal suffered from severe neurosis for several years ever since his father had been mugged and beaten to death by some complete strangers. Yet in his mind maybe for a couple of last months everything seemed okayish. T...

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Be a Better Me

Submitted to Contest #75

My mother had incurable brain cancer. I clung to the one line I heard the doctor say: “It wasn’t an immediate death sentence.” She lived for three years with it.  I felt she would live for decades. After all, who would sit by me on New Year’s Eve and examine our resolutions from that year and share in the excitement of what is ahead? Who would help me define my resolutions for the following year? And, laugh or admonish me for not meeting the goals of the past year? Who would impart upon me words of wisdom that I ignored?  Since I...

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Hidden Voice

Submitted to Contest #76

𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞I stare at the abstract painting hung on my wall. It looks very rectangular, and the frame looks expensive. I want to say to myself, "Wow Cassie, you are an amazing artist." But I can't.I can't say anything to anyone.Not even to my mom.✵✵✵I continue marveling at my talent. My abstract painting looks very nice, I guess. I stare closely at all the colors I used. A hint of lime green on top of some royal blue in the top left corner. It made a weird and sloppy whirl. The imperfection is what I love about my art.In retrospec...

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Akhtem Kurbanov

Submitted to Contest #75

There was something about the night that the dead loved. Something about the cold and dark that got them excited and made them come out of their hiding places to play. Akhtem didn't know what it was, but all he knew was that he liked it too. Wearing his coat over his waistcoat and walking in the dark with his walking stick in hand gave him more pleasure than any orgasm could. To most people, it was just a chilling night in November, but to Akhtem, it was a night to work. There was one more thing about the dark he loved; the dead. Around hi...

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A new path

Submitted to Contest #75

On the night of New Year’s Eve Simone sat alone at the London city airport. The next flight was scheduled for the next morning, but everything was better than being in the house she grew up in. It felt like a new beginning, and she vowed to herself that she would never come back to England.The airport was empty, and no shops were opened. She had never seen an airport like that and found it calming. After all she went through it felt good to have a bit of time to reflect on what happened during the last year. She was sitting right next to a b...

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The Soft Drink of 1886

Submitted to Contest #75

I had many new year’s resolution in the past. Most of them did not last too long. I was too scared, lacked motivation, was too lazy, procrastinated, wanted to stay in my comfort zone or simply, I did not care after some weeks into the new year. I just wanted to get back into my old habits. As a kid, almost all of us, we get acquainted to candies, snacks, pastries, cookies, gum, etc. All the sugary stuff. It starts young. Halloween and trick or treat do not help. Holidays likes Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas does not help the cause eith...

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Lemon Drizzle

Submitted to Contest #75

“Mum, I promise I'll pay attention to the taste of every food that goes in my mouth from now on” Amy said as she picked up the spoon her mum gave her. “I'm so happy you are getting better honey” she said stroking her daughter's hair. “I missed tasting things so much. I missed smelling too but eating cake was not the same when I couldn't taste it” Amy said, as she licked the cake batter from the spoon with a trance like stare. Susan smiled looking at her daughter. She had never seen her eating and appreciating something so much. It had ...

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One Sugar Cube, Please!

Submitted to Contest #75

Smita was restless, quietly gazing at the silent city, which otherwise bustles with people and machines, tightly clenching the file in her lap. As Jay drove the car through the empty streets, he noticed his mom’s silence and decided to break the ice; “Have you decided anything on what to answer if asked for this year’s resolution?” Smita sighed and nodded a no and the two went silent again. They reached the radio station at 6 AM on the “Good Morning Mumbai” show, Smita was going to be interviewed today, on 1st January 2021. Slowly, people ...

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The Moon on a Stick

Submitted to Contest #75

When I saw this Reedsy prompt, I decided I would tell the tale of how I became a writer.I was seven years old when my father, Tom, got a promotion and my mother, Debbie, told my sister and me that we would be moving to Hamley Court. Kelly took the news typically stoically, her only concern being whether that would mean her having to change schools. After Debbie reassured her, my mother began describing the house. Interior decorating plans were of no interest to me, but my ears pricked up at the mention of a garden. I had questions.“Does this...

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Someone given a second chance, is someone given a chance to be reborn

Submitted to Contest #75

I cannot recall what was happening in my head when I decided to sell my pastry goods caravan so that I can have enough money to build an NGO Center. All I know is that the day she walked up to buy at my caravan, my life changed. I walked up to her as the waitress was taking her order, my eyes explored her and were welcomed by new bruises, newer than the ones from last Thursday when she had sprinted up to me for the third time as I was locking up. A black Audi SUV had pulled up and a man silhouette emerged. She had hid behind the caravan. He ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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