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

11120+ 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 687 of 742

My friend Jolene

Submitted to Contest #68

It felt like just yesterday we were watching the sun cautiously emerge from its sleep. The sun’s soft lambent light reflected flecks of coral on the face of the lake in front of us and the birds started to sing with their mellifluous voices. A pleasant chill clung to the air around us and wispy cirrus clouds floated along lazily. The grass we were sitting on was threaded with beads of water. This made them mellow and they drooped over, forming makeshift arches for the tiny insects going about their busy day.  These were the last memor...

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Him

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. Sarah, a withered and depressed, woman, had seen too much sadness in her life to believe she could ever be brought down by a simple decaying abandoned building. And yet, here she was. Her will crumbling. Her faith washing away with the rain, standing before this brick and stone. Clothing, tattered and worn, provided no protection from the rain. Although her skin was wrinkled and soaked, she did not feel the cold. The rain poured down as if God hi...

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A Time To Go

Submitted to Contest #68

In all the years had I come here, had I seen the sun rise so spectacularly like this. It’s as if the rays of golden light themselves would shine happiness on us. She was sitting beside me, holding me tight as we were high up in the sky, on the summit where we could see the land below us for miles and miles.     “Don’t you ever get fed-up of coming up here?” Asked Rachelle.     “Not really because this is the only place where I can find true meaning and enlightenment,” I replied. She gave me a little smile and t...

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Missing More Than Her

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. At least, that’s what Christina thought, based on how her sister had described it.  The manor was an elegant, yet greying, umber color. It had tall, fortifying green front shrubs, and inside of those shrubs was a courtyard worthy of a duke or duchess. Bronze benches decorated the edges of the inside, with meticulous designs engraved.  Holding her sister’s ashes, Christina’s mouth fell open. Her fingers trembled against the cold pewter urn...

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You.

Submitted to Contest #68

“911, what’s your emergency?” You stand there; mocking me, your face the very definition of disgust. I end the call, tears stinging the back of my eyes. “What are you going to say?” Your voice drips with sarcasm, but in the light of the rising sun, you are beautiful. “That you ran out of pills?” I don’t answer and you scoff. Typical. But it is true, I ran out of pills this very morning. “Everyone is looking for you, you know that, right?” “And who is looking for you?” I snap back, and the sunrise is no longer beautiful, the rays are hurting ...

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Justin's Jacket

Submitted to Contest #68

“Why did you have to drag me out here?” I complained. “I was just fine sleeping.” “Wait for it,” Justin said.  I turned away from him and wrapped my coat closer around me. Noticing that I was cold, Justin gave me his jacket. The one that I got him when we were an item for three months. I looked back toward the lake as the sun began to rise.  “Oh, wow.”  “Told you it would be beautiful. Just like you.”  I felt my face flush. “Stop it,” I said, swatting his arm playfully.  “I mean it,” said Justin.  ...

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Was it possible for someone to hate their own mother?

Submitted to Contest #68

   “I hated my mother” whispered Frank, trying to keep his voice low. There were people around him, and the last thing he’d want was to be heard by the crowd gathered to honour his mother’s death. It was a funeral.        His aunt was talking, saying some untruthful things about how virtuous and good his mother was; “All of these are lies!” whispered again. Indeed, nobody in that room was aware of his mother’s torments and hate against his own son.        “I...

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Heart Talks

Submitted to Contest #68

“Am I going to die” asked Josh. Pointing to his hand, he could see his tubes digging in; wincing in pain his hand ached. “No” replied Penelope “I won’t let that happen”. Staring deeply into his eyes she put her hand on top of his. Feeling the tubes she realised how much pain he’s actually in. Taking his shoulder she rested her head on it; wishing that none of this was happening. The fear travelled in Penelope’s veins but never made it to her facial muscles or skin. Her complexion remained pale and matt, her eyes as steady as if she were s...

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Joyous Day Dead

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. It was the day when we would welcome the little one home. The one we’d talked so long about in the car rides, picking names for hours, daydreaming about the hue of the eyes or the color of the eyes. Whether they would need braces, or glasses, or a brace. What was this little life that we awaited so eagerly? Who would they be?                Irene sat up in the bed, her right-hand slapped Andy’s head. “She’s coming...

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The Memories We Leave

Submitted to Contest #68

"What exactly are we doing out here Dad?" Cass whined pitifully sleepy at her father as they stumbled along in the near dark. "You'll see", her father, Sam, had teased her not unkindly. In a swift motion he gathered the young Cass up in his arms with a grunt of effort. "Trust me it'll be worth it." Cass laid her head sleeply on his shoulder. "Tell me when we get there." He chuckled as little snorts of slumber rose to his ears. She was not much of a morning person but she was going to love this; if he could get them there in time. He quic...

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Tragic Love

Submitted to Contest #68

The sun was shining on the lake, Scarlet was sitting on the cliff while watching the sunrise. When Bandit came and sat down next to Scarlet. “It’s beautiful isn’t beasty?” Bandit asked.“It truly is” Scarlet answered.The two have been secretly dating for two years now Scarlets pack doesn’t know that she was sneaking out or that she was soon going to have a canid pup. Scarlet’s pack was running through the woods to find her they believed that one of the other packs had taken her. The pack had split up so they could find her, she was one o...

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Not Here Tomorrow

Submitted to Contest #68

Kimberly crossed her legs and sat down beside Alex, as they both watched the splendid sunrise. The golden and the orange blended perfectly to form a majestic scenery, the young sunlight reflecting from the dewy grass blades kindling the very essence of beauty.  "I thought you would be over me by now." Alex murmured gently, squeezing her hand.  "I... don't think I'll ever be able to do that." Kimberly replied, nostalgic and remorseful.  "But you promised me," his voice was even as he tilted his head to look her in the eye, pi...

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Thank you, Mrs. Donaldson

Submitted to Contest #68

It'd been twenty-four years since she'd last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The massive building was constructed of an array of red and brown brick, contrasted by white, that lined the gleaming rectangular windows. The edges of the structure weren't sharp; instead, they were etched in like little staircases. It reminded her of the pin art she used to play with as a child. Her brother would make a contorted face and stick it into the pins, then chase her around with the horrifying 3D image.The entrance, a pointed archway, was...

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Paul's plan

Submitted to Contest #68

“Janice,” Paul’s voice had taken on that extra degree of sharpness that he presented only before his wife, only during his most vulnerable moments. “Do you remember that time we went camping, sometime soon after our marriage?” Janice looked up from her book, her merry face masking her annoyance at the interruption. She waited for him to go on, widening her pretty doe eyes to encourage him. “You remember surely, that old camping site where I used to go with dad… “Willow Creek” it was called, right?” She gifted him a pleasant smile before repl...

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Ties and heartbreaks

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. At least so far. “My little watchful mage” Bor whispered as he was waking up slowly next to Beon. The large Minotaur was hugging the half-orc who was still asleep. His rhythmic breathing was subtle, if not careful, one could hardly tell if he was even alive. Bor ever so slightly tightened his embrace, careful not to wake Beon, but also bringing them closer, and closing the small gap between their bodies. It was warm between them, a sharp contrast to the chill outside. He could hear t...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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