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Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 27, 2024

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✍️ 80 stories

FLEX THESE MUSCLES

Submitted to Contest #283

The end of a long, chilly day, with two hands in the thick of it; one to help me, the other to help them, brought a huge sigh of relief. This new job, just a few months in, had given me the hours to ramp up my game. Not a computer geek by a long shot, but the one to do stuff the average person knows a whole lot of nothing about; vehicle maintenance.Cars and trucks were always a thing growing up ‘in the sticks’. Us kids had to make do with whatever version we had of toys. Our uncles had more junk around their houses, and we were happy to make...

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The Highest Price of Memory

Submitted to Contest #283

Emily had always savored the December atmosphere in her hometown. Twinkling lights illuminated every storefront, and the faint ring of sleigh bells drifted from the old speaker system on Main Street. More than anything, she looked forward to the aromas pouring out of the local bakery: cinnamon, caramel, fresh ginger—each holiday season she found herself pausing at the large display window just to inhale. This year, however, felt different. There was no clear reason for the restlessness in her chest, no immediate explanation for her uneasy mo...

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The Black Rose A Christmas Sea Tale

Submitted to Contest #283

This happened to me when I was a little one and I only knew the whole story when I met an old sea captain who explained how it came about. And this is how he told it to me. It was like he was there. I know I was. The storm had slowed its pace and finally broke into easy winds and slowly mounting swells. The skies were streaked with grey clouds over grey seas and all around under that was deep blue with white crests breaking but with little force. The sea was becoming a kitten once more and it was just in the nick of time. The crew were exhau...

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Christmas: The Snowstorm of Family and Truth

Submitted to Contest #283

I looked up ahead, my feet aching, my chest heaving, and a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. Still, I summoned every ounce of strength to push onward. This was my golden ticket—a matter of life or death. If they caught me, it would all end.THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS“Almost there,” I whispered as I delicately cut and shaped my beautiful clay reindeer. I carved and scooped, made delts and smoothed the coarse spots. Using my precise tools and soft hands, I was almost finished with creating the head of the animal when suddenly, thunderous ...

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The Last Message

Submitted to Contest #283

Sarah sat at the desk in her dimly lit apartment, her fingers trembling as they hovered above the keyboard. It had been weeks since she'd last heard from him—weeks since the mysterious disappearance of David, her fiancé. The police were no help. Of course, they'd filed a report, but they didn't seem particularly invested in finding him. The case was quickly labeled "cold," and the authorities had moved on. But Sarah couldn't. She knew something wasn't right in her heart, and she couldn't let go.It all started when David had gone on a busines...

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When The Ball Drops

Submitted to Contest #283

Tick. Tick. Tick.  If the clock took any longer to change hours, Liam was going to throw it from his thirty-seventh-floor window. Besides, who had to work on New Year’s Eve anyway? It was completely ridiculous. He peeked over his cubicle to see who else was stuck in the office for the evening. From the looks of it, it was only him and three other unlucky souls.  Tick. Tick. Tick. He groaned and shoved his keyboard aside, staring up at the clock again. It felt like he was back in high school waiting for the last class of the day to ...

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The Capsule

Submitted to Contest #283

Luther watched the eight women and four men shuffle quickly into the jury box. They pointedly did not look at him, finding something interesting to stare at on the floor. The windows forming most of the wall behind the jurors rattled as a summer storm blustered fussily outside.His orange polyester jumpsuit was stifling. Sweat beaded along his scalp line and dripped down his back. “Why can’t they make these out of cotton, or some fabric that breathes?” he whispered to his attorney.Without turning her large head, almost without moving her lips...

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Highway Murder

Submitted to Contest #283

Content warning: References to physical and sexual abuse"You should be kissed often and by someone who knows how." - Gone With the Wind by Margaret MitchelTwenty-year-old me shudders inside the soft cotton blanket while reading arguably the most romantic novel of the twentieth century. White lamplight illuminates the pages while I lay on my stomach, swallowed by the covers. My right-hand slides lower to cater to the throbbing between my legs. There's another bed on my left with covers folded. My roommate left for the Halloween par...

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All the Time in the World

Submitted to Contest #283

By Patti A. Pierucci (Author’s Note: The protagonist of this story, Dr. Anton Mellick, also appears in the author’s full-length book The Hand of Maud.) “There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space,and a fourth, Time.” H.G. Wells, The Time Machine Mrs. Russell gave three quick taps on the door, then opened it and stuck her head in. “I’m leaving now, doctor. I left a pot of soup on the stove for you,” she said with a slight wave of her hand. “Good night; see you on Monday.”“Alright, then. See you in the morn...

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A Lively Souvenir

Submitted to Contest #283

A Lively Souvenir               We were on very good terms with our neighbors of about 4 years in our San Diego, California neighborhood. We invite each other over for barbecues and Joe and I frequently sit in front of a tv somewhere on Sundays to watch a football game or two.               Our wives Annette and Ellie are in a book club together, workout at LA Fitness, and enjoy poetry reading event...

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Wigilia

Submitted to Contest #283

Wigilia In the 1950’s and 60’s, Christmas for us was not focused on Santa Claus.  Every ethnicity had their own particular traditions, as well as their own languages.  Our family celebrated in revered Polish customs and traditions. We did hang red felt stockings on a fake cardboard fireplace and exchange presents on Christmas morning, but there was more of a focus on the aspects of gathering and sharing with family.   The Christmas Eve meal was the most significant part of the season.  Bread baking started days befor...

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INVASION

Submitted to Contest #283

“How long have we been working together as a team, Val?”“Twelve years, five months, two weeks and three days. Do you want me to break it down into hours and minutes?”Paul Jones turned to his partner, an incredulous look upon his face.“Are you actually, frigging serious?’Val Thorens broke into a broad smile, his eyes never leaving the giant screen in front of him.“No, you muppet. I’m pulling your leg”.Paul, standing, strode across the small room to a filing cabinet and yanked open a drawer. Retrieving a brown, cardboard file, h...

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Condemned

Submitted to Contest #283

Four hours until midnight. Then it’ll all be over. Thank God. Death Watch officially begins seven days before the execution. That’s a long week. It’s been forever since I’ve seen my family. Once this is done, we’ll make up for lost time. The decision to schedule the first execution of the year at precisely 12:01 a.m.—midnight leaves a nagging doubt as to what day it actually is—puts quite the crimp on the holiday plans. Hard to enjoy eggnog around the tree with the fam when you know what’s about to go down. One minute aft...

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It Will Never Happen

Submitted to Contest #283

Anyone who says they like getting tours of other people's homes is a liar. Either they’ve been unwillingly forced to participate or, like me, were forced to willfully participate. So here I am, following my overly eager new coworker as she proudly showcases her kitschy souvenirs from forgettable trips and amateur DIY renovations. Unless there’s a stack of gold bars in the basement or an Elvis Presley clone lounging in the living room, I’m not interested. We flit from room to room until we end up at her office, her “pièce de résistance” as sh...

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Sentient

Submitted to Contest #283

Ben was a stay at home father who loved his life. He spent his days with the children he loved so dearly as his wife Sarah was the bread winner. He loved being the “soccer dad”, as he was jokingly called by his male friends. Life was good and Ben felt fulfilled. He often thought he couldn’t have wished for anything more.Sarah loved the freedom that came with being the breadwinner. She had a wonderful loving husband and he was committed to her and the children. She was a junior executive at a local law firm whose emphasis was tax law. Numbers...

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