Stories

This story is in response to the prompt challenging writers to write a story without using >> I << in it: Write a short story (at least 500 words) in first person without using the pronoun “I”.

I hope you enjoy this!

A young boy and his dog build a bond that takes them through life experiences.

Noah's plan for a cinematic Parisian romance goes spreadsheets-up when the city proves to be a nightmare. Resigned to a week of corporate training hell, he meets Matteo, an Italian who finds Paris just as disappointing. Together, they wage a sarcastic war on tourist traps and clichés. But in their quest to prove the City of Love is a scam, they find the one thing they weren't looking for: a genuine connection more real than any fantasy.

When Evan discovers an old photograph of two young men standing shoulder to shoulder in 1920s Newhaven, he uncovers the hidden story of Kit Merrick and Rowan Hale—dockworkers who dared to love each other in a world that offered them no words for it. What began as a ten-cent fairground portrait became their proof: tucked into a cap, stitched into a coat pocket, guarded through storms, family burdens, and the long work of becoming men. Decades later, as Evan frames the picture and gives it light, he realizes that their secret has outlasted silence—a fragile inch of closeness captured on film, carrying a love strong enough to endure across time.

A man finds a finds a letter written to his father. What the letter reveals causes him to rethink what he believes about his father.

PT #300 Two friends flop onto their backs to watch the sky. What sort of whimsical narrative does the cloud shapes inspire?

A story about a high school boy—a free spirit and an outgoing soul—who is forced into tutoring sessions with someone he’s never met. At first, he’s completely against the idea, but then Cupid strikes, and an arrow pierces straight through his heart. He falls in love instantly and is determined to do whatever it takes to win over the charming college kid everyone’s been talking about.

To survive the wedding of their ex-partners (who are marrying each other!), chaotic Dylan and obsessive perfectionist Jonas agree to the perfect plan: they'll pretend to be boyfriends. Jonas has it all figured out, complete with a color-coded binder of their entire fake history. The goal is simple: show everyone they're not just fine, they're thriving. But between chaotic rehearsals, one structurally unsound bookshelf, and a perfectly timed kiss that feels way too real, the line between their fake romance and forever starts to blur.

A family curse, befriending a magebreaker, some magical theory, a cursed teddybear... Just an ordinary day, right?

Sam, a young man fascinated by knighthood, is astounded when a knight-errant rides into his rural village of Reabury. Cloaked in mystery, the knight reveals little, but before Sam can discover his secrets, tragedy strikes. A child from the village is kidnapped by ruthless bandits and held for ransom. Upon hearing the news, the knight prepares to confront them, but he cannot do it alone. Only Sam knows the way, and thus begins a journey that will test his courage and define the true meaning of heroism. The outcome, however, leads to a tragic consequence that will change his life forever.