forum Short Story Writing Competition #1
Started by @LittleBear group
tune

people_alt 7 followers

@Masterkey

When this is over, there's another competition that's starting and the person who started it would like to know if more people would like to join before they make a deadline, if any of you are interested. :)

Deleted user

Yeah, that person is me! I didn't know you were in this contest, Masterkey, but yeah! If you guys wanna join, it's also in general chat. I'm just waiting to gather more folks.

Deleted user

Shoot, looks like I gotta crank something out by tuesday lol. Good look to all of the competitors, by the way!

@LittleBear group

Hey, y'all! I have literally six different projects/papers/tests this week, so I will not be as active until the results deadline and will only be checking around 10 PM Eastern for questions. But! I am so exited to read what y'all have!

@AmmyPajammy

Sheesh, no one posted yet and already competition is getting stiff lol. I need to stop procrastinating. I made my coffee so let's go!

Deleted user

I started something, I'm just hoping that the readers will be able to understand it.

@LittleBear group

@writelikeyourerunningoutoftime Your punishment is banishment to the dungeons! Lol jk, that's totally fine. The cap is more to make sure the judges don't get flooded with really long works!

@WriteOutofTime

Okay good! Another thing, I have to include some translations for a few terms I use (I'm not Spanish/Hispanic but i'm learning and the characters are).

@AmmyPajammy

Since I don't wanna forget, I'll post what I have now. For your consideration, capping at 1,044 words, I present to you, Anniversary:

“Mommy, aren’t you gonna open your letter?”

It was unusually pleasant for a mid-summer morning. The children had been begging and pleading to be let outside, so Conarith finally caved in and allowed it. The tutor would not be around for another hour, so it seemed harmless enough. Bokoba, forever the little homemaker, decided to stay behind and help her mother clean around the house.

The morning was going smoothly enough. With Bokoba’s help, Conarith was able to clear the breakfast table and put away the dishes nearly twice as quickly as she normally would have been able to. Deciding to keep the momentum going, she started to gather the household laundry, her third eldest daughter trailing happily behind her with an armful of her sisters’ dirty clothes.

Conarith was arm deep in underwear when Bokoba asked her question, and the shock of it almost caused her to spill the soap.

“It’s from daddy, isn’t it?” Bokoba asked as she stared innocently up at her mother. “Why don’t you open it?”

At the mention of her husband, Conarith’s good eye instantly moistened. She tried to smile at her child, but her lips would not stop trembling. Bokoba’s eyes widened in alarm.

“I’m sorry!” the young girl said quickly. She once again busied herself with her chore. “Forget I said anything!”

But it was too late. The tears had already begun to fall.

“It could be from anyone,” Conarith said quietly.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Bokoba agreed. She offered her mother a reassuring smile. “I don’t know. Shall we go to the river, now?” She stood up with her laundry basket and headed towards the door.

Conarith did not move.

“Mommy? Are you coming?” Bokoba called.

Conarith said nothing and only stared at the floor, her hands quivering as she tried with all her might to keep it together.

Bokoba came back inside and hugged her mother as tightly as she could manage. “It’s ok, Mommy. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

At her daughter’s gesture, the dam broke.

“I know you miss him,” said Bokoba as she comforted her mother. “Should I go get Zela?”

“No, don’t do that to your sister,” Conarith spit out between sobs. “I’m sorry. Please go out and play.”

Bokoba held on to her mother. “Not until you’re ok.”

Conarith gently pushed her child out of her arms and wiped her eye. “Please, go be with your sisters. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m just being silly.”

“Mommy, I–” Bokoba began, but Conarith suddenly stood to her feet.

“I’m going to go lay down,” she said. “Go play with your sisters. We can finish the clothes later.” She did not give her daughter time to protest before heading upstairs to her bedroom. She laid down on the cold side of the bed and cried once again, desperately clinging to the covers as if it would change her fate.
After what felt like hours, the teary-eyed woman rolled over and spied the envelope on the nightstand. It was a standard, off-white letter envelope with a non-descript paper seal. As always, there was no return address. Conarith had wondered how her husband was able to get away with that. C.A.P.S. was very strict about how they handled the mail, especially after the fireworks mishap had killed one of their own and sent the land into a moment of panic.

Conarith sighed; she was just delaying the inevitable. Even though she had been dreading this day, there was no use in stalling any longer, so she sat up and grabbed the envelope. She slipped her bony finger underneath the flap, and with one swift motion, easily cut open the seal.

She slowly unfolded the letter, and after a silent prayer for strength, she began to read:

My dearest wife,

I hope that this letter has found you in good health. If all has gone well (the Divine know that I’ve paid those feathered bastards plenty to be on time), today should be the 20th of Dinra.

If you still claim me, Merry Anniversary, my love. Although I am not there to share in this monumental occasion, please know that I have done nothing but keep you and my love for you in my cold, black heart. I pray everyday that you are well in my absence, and I hope you remember that my love for you is true.

It has been 10 years now since we have been married. It should have been 13, and I regret everyday that it took me so long to claim you. I was a fool back then. I always loved you, but I was too blinded by my own pride and foolishness to admit it. In my heart, our union is as old as our first daughters.

After Dinah was born, I realized that I almost lost you two times too many. I pray that the Divine have forgiven me for so blatantly ignoring the gift that They were trying to give me. I don’t deserve you, Conarith. I never deserved you, and yet, there you were.

Do you still love me, dearest? After everything that I have put you through, how could you? Only you, a woman whose heart is bigger than the earth, could have ever loved a wretched soul like me. I know that I do not deserve your love or your forgiveness, but I beg that you know how much I love you, even now. I want nothing more than to hold you, to kiss you, to tell you how much you mean to me. But my bed is as cold and as empty as my hollow heart.

As the woman who bore and raised my children, and devoted her whole self to me, I pray that the same is not true for you. You deserve so much more than I have ever been able to give you. If you were waiting for my permission to move on this entire time, I freely give it. On this day, our 10th anniversary, nothing would please me more than for you to find happiness for yourself, and for our darling girls.

With love,
Your devoted husband.

By the letter’s end, it took everything that Conarith had not to completely shatter.

Deleted user

I'm not gonna have time to write it, but I'll be able to judge! Sorry