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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

11110+ Sad Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Do you ever need to break your own heart? We see you. Grab a tub of ice cream or a box of tissues and settle down with some of the best, really sad short stories to make you cry.

Sad Short Stories – Page 674 of 741

Learn to Live With It

Submitted to Contest #70

Theresa wished she’d gone to jail. At the time of the trial she hadn’t, but when the dust settled and life was supposed to go back to normal, her mind left survival mode and turned on her. Raised Catholic, she’d felt guilty her entire life for nothing in particular, so her mind knew how to use guilt against her. This guilt wasn’t about some lustful thought she’d had or how she had sworn too much—this guilt was deserved. On the bus, she hitched her shoulders up around her ears and stared at the ground. The bus jerked forward and slammed to...

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Inside The Room With The Grey Walls: Part 2

Submitted to Contest #70

Before you read:This is a part 2 of my original story “Inside The Room With The Grey Walls”, which I submitted a few months ago. You need to read that beforehand so you know what’s going on in this part!Enjoy!Recap:I open the door, and my eyes land on the woman sitting behind what was once Mr. Ayton’s desk. She’s typing on a computer, but that’s not the first thing I notice. No, it’s her deep red hair that catches my attention. She looks up from the computer and stares at me with piercing, sea-green eyes.Her lips part slightly in surprise. “...

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Brown Bottles

Submitted to Contest #70

“It’s been two weeks Hugh, have you decided on burial or cremation?” She asked quietly, with tenderness, and I hated her for that.“I dunno, but I really have to go mom.”“You can’t avoid it, she was your wife Hugh, you have to let her rest in peace. I can help-”“She is still my wife. Listen, I’ll decide later, I really have to go. I love you.”“I love you too, listen you should come over later.” I hung up, and made an attempt to swipe the incessant tears that ran down.Two weeks ago I didn’t mind a call from my mom, but two weeks ago I cou...

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The choice

Submitted to Contest #70

Chapter one  It was the first week of October my friend Kelly and I were walking down the hallway together. When the head cheerleader Megan came up to us with a smile on her face. "Hey guy’s so me and a bunch of other people are going on out for a drive in the country.  Want to come?” Megan asked. "We'll think about it" I say hesitantly. "Okay well let me know your answer. Hope you guys decide to come" she says joyfully. She then flips her long brown curly hair and walks back down the long ha...

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This Oak, These Skulls

Submitted to Contest #70

I thought, when I first saw him, that he must be a statue. His skin was the kind of gray you might see Michelangelo bent over- tooth chisel in his concentrated hand. His eyes, his hair, though -they gave him away. Both were dark, almost black. He sat on a bench by the side of the road I strode to school each day. I didn’t know how I could have missed him before; I reasoned that must have been his first day.There was a book in his hands. He was bent over it like it was the source of all truth, the fountain of youth, life blood- I suppose it m...

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Leaving without Loving by: Rachel:)

Submitted to Contest #70

When Mom died, I made a goal, and that was to leave this world without ever loving anyone. To achieve that, I promised to trust no one and never let people in. Mom was the only person I ever trusted. I loved her with every fibre in my being, and I cared about her so deeply because she was my best friend and my only friend for the longest time. I wasn't always a loner, but you know how kids are. No one wants to hang out with the kid whose dad killed himself after everyone found out he abused his wife and son. So, yeah, I had no friends from ...

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A Dream Blown Away

Submitted to Contest #70

Gasping in mock surprise, staged tears brimming her eyes, Anna clutched at the silver heart necklace adorning her pale throat. “Logan, are you sure?” The ring held out before her was gorgeous: not a huge diamond, barely the quarter size of a penny, but one any girl would still feel lucky to wear on her finger, flashing in the sun for all to admire.  Yes, she’d be the envy of all of her friends. And not only for the ring. Logan was the type of man girls dreamed of ending up with, the kind of guy you notice across the bar and instantly ...

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Without Ruth

Submitted to Contest #70

I can't leave the house anymore. I got rid of my phone last week. I couldn't handle the incessant gossip about me. My house has become a safe haven. The only place that I am free to exist without constant scrutiny. It's been a year since Ruth was killed. A year since my baby girl was stolen from this world by a man who will suffer none of the consequences. Instead, I am doomed to spend eternity locked up in this house, in utter silence. Her music will never blast at a volume that I will have to tell her to turn down again, and the kitchen...

7 likes 1 comment 1
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Evergreen -- Cavetown

Submitted to Contest #70

It was nearing midnight, and I knew it was going to be another sleepless night. I was wide awake staring at my blank, white ceiling, a Panic! song blaring through my headphones. I stood up on my bed and traced my fingers across the ceiling. Smooth. It would make a great canvas. I put on my art playlist, a mixture of some of my songs and an assortment of my favourite songs and artists. I let a few songs pass, letting myself be absorbed into the music. Polaroid came on, and my lips curled into a smile. I felt my heart sync with the beat. I squ...

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Holy Dip

Submitted to Contest #70

Trigger warning: rape   River Ganga was flowing beautifully and making that spring evening cool and calm. People after taking the holy dip in the auspicious water of Ganga were ready with earthen Deepak (a lamp Indian use to offer prayer) to worship. But Nanda was sitting still at the bank of the river since morning staring the water asking to herself how all those sins can be washed away in the river Ganga? Nanda heard from her elders that whatever wrongdoings you do every bit of that flow away in the holy water of Ganga. But she was c...

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Sasha

Submitted to Contest #70

Light scattered. It calls for us. Sound of sadness. Vanished in that place" He put his pencil down and closed his eyes tightly. The words stormed inside of his head "Use me! Use me" that sounds of the flying words. How could one write a song with so many words? Emotions cried out "what about me?" Yes, emotions are critical for writing great songs. Song without real and sincere emotions is just a lie, a fraud. Songs should be left in deep core, making the heart, mind; bone and even gut go crazy. Jay hit his forehead on the table and a deep "A...

6 likes 1 comment 1
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A Hopeless Step Forward

Submitted to Contest #70

“No! I can’t- I won’t let you do this to yourself!” She stared at him, some part of her brain vaguely wondering why he was so upset. They’d worked toward a cure their whole lives, hours spent in school, then university, then their lab. Every waking hour had been dedicated to finding a solution to a problem that could not be solved, and here he was, stopping her from taking the last little step. It was something so small, so insignificant, but Alec looked afraid. Terrified, even. But why? Death himself was knocking on her door, coming to r...

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Obliterating the status quo

Submitted to Contest #70

I was convinced that I could make amends for what I had done. I spent all my days and nights fixated on how to correct this. When I was five years old I remember being seated in the passenger seat of the car with my father on the long drive through the mountains. Meandering routes climbing uphill into the dark green hills. The mist came down early one afternoon and it was as if we were surrounded by white clouds. I could not see the way forward but my father kept going through the mist. He looked straight ahead with such focus I had never se...

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You Can't Atone

Submitted to Contest #70

“I said no. Don’t you understand that no means no!” David looked down, crestfallen. He hadn’t expected her rejection to come out in such a tone. He had known, of course, that she would reject his offer of friendship, because Kara had been doing the same thing since they met. Two months ago, they had been assigned as lab partners by Professor Strand and for two months he had been trying to befriend her. David knew that the best course of action was to give up, but he had what many would call an annoyingly persistent personality. He was hi...

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LOVELESS MARRIAGE

Submitted to Contest #70

It's really no fun, when the one you love makes promises they don't keep. It's not right, it's not fair, when they act like you're not there, even though you're in the same room.I should have known right from the start that you were playing with my heart, but I thought I'd give us a chance. Now I wish I never had, but at least it's something that can be fixed.Yes, you said you're a gamer, I didn't realize you're addicted, never realized you're obsessed. They call it a gaming disorder and it greatly affects your mental health.You won't get he...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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