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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

150+ Fiction Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. If you’re looking for the best fiction short stories to read online, we’ve got you covered. Wide-ranging and ever-curious, these free short stories will meet your reading needs.

Fiction Short Stories – Page 9 of 10

The Falling Man

Weekly Contest #344

CW: Terrorist attack, mass casualty event, suicide, trauma. Today was like every other dayI headed to work through the crowds of work consumed zombiesOrientation started at 8 AM and I was determined to be on timeNew York was different from BaltimoreSame rats, trash and recurring hobos on the cornerThe city bustled with the noise of passing cars possessed by road rage driversAfter a delightful ride in the urine scented subway , I made it to my destinationThe Twin TowersI craned my neck so far back, I almost staggered backwardsThe clear blue s...

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The Offer

Adam Berlin

Weekly Contest #344

#Coarse language, grief# She liked it when he lifted her in the air. It made her giggle, but she didn’t like to do it all the time, just every morning and evening, at least twice each time. He didn’t mind, he would have driven to her pre-school and lifted her on his lunch break, if she would have wanted.His wife felt he indulged her every wish, but she didn’t blame him, she did too.-Everything looked so different. Where once was a house was now a hole, a big empty thing with pipes and wires twisted at funny angles.Natural gas gets trapped, s...

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Burnt Toast Theory

VJ Hamilton

Weekly Contest #344

Recently furloughed, Jacinta was reinventing herself as host of a new podcast called Bees in Our Bonnet. “It’s received positive notice in the New York Times,” she humble-bragged to her friends, “so I need your help to keep it afloat.” She had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances whom she unapologetically dragged into amateur focus groups, testing the waters for a variety of topics, everything from the Big Leap principle to Emotional Intelligence models. Tonight, Jacinta had invited Kenneth and Leland, guys she had known since first-ye...

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Deja Vu

ヘンリーブーグル

Weekly Contest #344

On weekends she got up before me. Perhaps she knew I was awake, but she rose with barely a sound and began to move about in near silence. I caught glimpses of her bare feet and ankles as she crossed to the desk and slipped into the clothes she’d hung over the chair the night before. By that time I was awake, and before she went out, we always exchanged the same words. ‘See you in a bit.’ ‘You too.’ We lived in the city, so the apartment was quite small, perfect for the two of us. To make space, we slept on a futon beside the settee, an...

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Z19

Weekly Contest #345

Z19 left the ship and fell into the atmosphere. It is quite a way down, according to the radar altimeter. The flight down was routine. Atmospheric analysis, particulates, toxins. The base temperature was currently that of interstellar space. An infrared scan indicates a surface temperature exceeding 80°F. Which means animal life could be present. Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels indicate abundant plant life. Z19 passed through the Exosphere, and its temperature changed from absolute zero to 3,000°F in a very short time. The Thermosphere was ...

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Belinda Brightstar

Weekly Contest #345

‘Belinda Brightstar’s for sale,’ Bernie said. He’d just returned from his morning walk and entered the kitchen. Frodo, his recently acquired pet dog, waddled in beside his master, looking somewhat aloof as if he had other options but was sticking around to see if things improved.‘What?’ Marg yelled from the laundry. She’d started the washing machine, a noisy old thing on its last legs.‘We should go look for a new machine, Bernie.’‘Belinda Brightstar is for sale.’‘Okay?’ Marg said, but looked perplexed. ‘Is she a Jack Russell too?’‘I’m talkin...

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The Hangin' Tree

Zack Herman

Weekly Contest #344

1/1/79Moved into the new house today. I don’t have to share a room with Petey, so that’s good. My room is down here in the basement. Petey is on the second floor, across the hall from Mom and Dad. Since he’s little, four years old, they want him close to them.After dinner, while Petey and me were watching TV and I heard Dad telling Mom, “No, Robert, really doesn’t need to know about that.”I wonder what it was that I really don’t need to know about. 1/3/79Had a nightmare last night. A bunch of men were standing around outdoors. They had torch...

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The Color of Saffron

Weekly Contest #344

A walk in the park. Ben's Journal - August 17th, 10:30 PM I need to write this down while it's still fresh. While I can still remember exactly what I saw.The evening was perfect. 75 degrees, a few clouds catching the last of the sunlight. Not too hot, not too humid. The kind of summer night that makes you forget everything else for a while. The kind that made me forget about Zoe.I took Saffie out around 8:30. The path by the house was recently paved and she still sneezes from the asphalt smell. She misses the old dirt trail with the pine ne...

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Glamour of Tangled Limbs

Aya Golde

Weekly Contest #344

Note: Glamour of Tangled Limbs is inspired by the Dancing Plague of 1518, France. Human lives meant nothing. Not to them anyway. Tonight was marked by the birth of the beloved Prince Alandore, second son of the High King. Faeries adored all things grand, and the Princelings' feast would be the epitome of grandeur. A rich occasion fit for royalty: gowns of lace and chiffon, corsets made using bone or silver, jewels, and centuries-old drink. Celebrations of this kind were held to a high standard, and the best amusement would be expected. Men s...

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The Wrong Head Tumbled

Catherine McKenzie

Weekly Contest #344

As she kneeled there, the image of the Red Queen shouting “Off with her head!” flashed through her mind. She was mildly disappointed that her life didn’t flash in front of her eyes, but considering the circumstances, she didn’t feel right being too disappointed. It started a couple weeks ago when Marta got into an argument with her best friend over the most idioctic reason. Her parents expressed their disappointment to her for changing her major from pre-med to art in her senior year of college. Jackie had always been her biggest supporter ...

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Samuel And Me

Weekly Contest #344

Samuel And MeA JournalHere is the ongoing record of my experience of living in an underground survival bunker for the first ninety days.April 1, 2028 My first day in the bunker has gone better than I could have expected. Starting all the seeds for food and getting used to my new surroundings took up most of the day. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the freeze-dried meals that I had for lunch and dinner. With that being said, I am still looking forward to when I will be able to enjoy food from the garden. If all goes according to plan, I...

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What Hides In The Darkess

Mahtan Runya

Weekly Contest #345

I know I shouldn’t have. The temptation, the need, it overwhelmed every lesson I had been taught.“Young One, dark power flows through your veins. One day you shall be its master, like me, but for now you must show caution.” Mother had warned me.“You must be careful what you say.” She had been so clear.“You must be careful what you do.” She had spelled it out, and at the time, I had paid attention, as much as any young girl did.“And you must NEVER-” So why didn’t-“-EVER-” -I just-“-speak to the darkness.” -LISTEN?!Fear gripped my heart.I had ...

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Moons or Melons

Corey Grant

Weekly Contest #344

Astronaut CrewCC: Capsule Communicator (“Houston”), Bruce McCandlessCDR: Mission Commander, Neil ArmstrongLMP: Lunar Module Pilot, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Man in the MoonLG: Lunar Gardener (Below is a portion of the transcript from the the 1969 moon landing) CDR: The hatch is coming openCDR: Okay. Houston, I’m on the porchCC: We’re getting a picture on the TVCC: Okay. Neil, we can see you coming down the ladder now.CDR: I’m going to step off the LM now.CDR: That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.CDR: Yes, the surface is fin...

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The Time Traveling Lawn Mower and the Dangers of eBay

Emma Tiffan

Weekly Contest #344

February 4, 2026Dear Mom and Dad,Don’t worry, I’m not writing to tell you I flunked philosophy. We’re way past that. I’m dropping out. I’m not just dropping out of school; I’m dropping out of life. This world has gotten too much for me. Every time I read the news my anxiety flares up, and I can’t handle it anymore. I’m going to a better place, don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. It’s all of you I’m leaving behind I feel sorry for. This isn’t your fault; you both have been the best parents. The fault lies in the times we live in, so I’m going...

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Grow A Spine

Bettina Karpathian

Weekly Contest #344

Dear Diary, May 19I swear every year that I will never, ever volunteer again to help at the church fete, and every year I get suckered into it. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just say no? I managed to avoid Mrs. Hornsby and her sign-up sheet at church, but she cornered us in the pet food aisle of the supermarket. Jim vanished, of course. For a big man, he’s remarkably good at making himself scarce at the most inconvenient moments. Before I knew it, I was signed up to make cookies and do the morning shift at the bake stall. Jim caught up ...

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