Welcome to the final week of the Spring Writing Challenge!
It’s the final week! This has been such a fun challenge. You’ve all done so well with your stories. There are so many interesting and unique ways you have taken the prompt. It’s now time for the final week, so let’s do this one last time! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your final prompt!
Week Six Prompt – The Character Prompt
Write a story about a character that experiences a rebirth
Wait…what’s a character prompt?
A character prompt is a prompt that’s about a specific character. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place or what’s said. What matters is that your story must be about a character who experiences a rebirth.
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
We’re so glad that you participated Juli! 🙂
THE LAST TIME by Ben Avery
team 1 – reepicheep
I opened the door to my sister’s room, knowing it could be the last time. As Eden’s health grew worse over the last months and weeks and days, each time I visited her I feared she’d be gone.
And I’d be alone.
Inside, a man sat next to her bed. Holding her hand.
Ryan Jones.
“What are you doing here?”
He lifted his eyes to me. Frowned. Ryan was a handsome man, in a plain sort of way. In different circumstances, he and Eden might have developed a relationship. Maybe. And maybe I wouldn’t have hated him too much. Maybe.
But ever since she got sick, he had been a thorn in my side. I appreciated their friendship in the early days. But lately, as she deteriorated, he just kept coming around.
No one was supposed to be in the room. No one had permission to be in there outside of visiting hours. Certainly not him.
“Hi, Lonnie.”
“How did you get in here? You–”
Ryan stood up and reached out his right hand. “Please, take my hand. Just for a second.”
I eyed his hand like it was a snake. “Why?”
“To prove I’m really here.”
I put my hand in his, and he pulled my hand to his chest, where I could feel his heart beating. Slow. Calm. Steady.
Nothing like my own.
I pulled my hand back abruptly. “I don’t want you here. I have made that known.”
He nodded. “And I have gone against your wishes. Repeatedly. I’ve been visiting her at night. And I wait for you to leave during the day and stay with her while you’re gone.”
“I can’t stay 24/7! I have–”
He put up his hands to stop my tirade. “Lonnie. We may not get along, but I see everything you have done for your sister. You have sacrificed so much. You have done so much. Eden drew a lucky straw when she got you as her family.”
I felt my own heart slow a bit.
“But now I can help you. Eden has told you I am a scientist, right?”
“Sure. That’s how you met.”
“My field of study is time. Time travel, to be specific.” He took a folded-up piece of paper from his pocket and dropped it on the bed, near Eden’s feet.
“Time travel is fantasy. You’re insane. You need to leave. Now.”
He motioned to the piece of paper. “Pick that up.”
I did. I opened it. Read it. There, scrawled in pencil: “Time travel is fantasy. You’re insane. You need to leave. Now.”
“How . . .”
“I’m standing outside that door right now. Listening.” There was a faint whoosh sound outside the door. “I just left to write that sentence down. And then ‘past me’ will come to this room and wait for you while sitting by Eden’s side.”
He touched his belt. “I’ve been to the future. And in the year 2034, they have a cure for Eden’s cancer.”
“You–you brought back a cure?”
A slow shake of his head. “No. That could affect the timeline. Change the past. I’d never be allowed to do that. I’m taking Eden with me to 2034.”
“And after they cure her–”
“She will need to stay in 2034. That’s the agreement I made with the powers that be. She goes to the future, she stays in the future. I’m, uh, relocating to 2034 myself. I know too much future knowledge to reside in the present.”
“No! You can’t take her!”
He sighed. “I’m not here to ask you for permission.”
Never have I felt hate burn so hot. I launched myself at him. He stepped back, surprised. He put his hands up between us, then grabbed my shoulders. Held me back while I battered his chest with my fists.
“Lons. Please.” The voice was familiar. Strong. Feminine.
Ryan’s eyes darted to someone behind me. “Oh, good grief. What are you doing here?”
“Sorry, pal,” the voice said. “I know my sister and I knew you were going to need help. Or, you needed my help. English verb tenses just don’t work for us here, right? You, present version, need my, future version, help.”
Eden.
I spun around. There she was. A second her. On the bed, behind me, my sister was about to die. Her body sketetal. Frail. Weak.
In front of me, she stood. She hadn’t been able to stand in weeks. Her cheeks were round and red. Her eyes bright and full of life. Her hair short, but full. She reached out her hand, just as Ryan had. She placed my hand over her heart.
“He . . . he’s not lying?”
“No, Lons. He’s not lying.” She pulled me into tight hug. “You gotta let me go, sis.”
“But will I see you again?”
“Ten years. In ten years, Ryan – looking almost exactly the same as he does right now – is going to find you and bring you to me. I’ll still be sick, but after three months . . .” She stepped back from me, spreading her arms, gesturing to her body. “Rebirth, babe.” She smirked and pointed with her thumb over her shoulder. “It was this dork’s idea.”
What kind of choice was this? Lose my sister for ten years, but get her back, healthier than ever?
“How do I explian your disappearance?”
Now the healthy Eden sighed. “Sorry, Lons. You’re gonna have to deal with Ryan just a little bit longer. I can’t tell you everything, but he’s got a plan that involves someone who looks a lot like me who died a long time ago . . .”
“You should go,” Ryan said.
Eden nodded. Gave me another quick hug. “See you in ten years.” She touched her belt. “It’s his. I stole it. I think he knows.”
“I do now.”
And she disappeared.
“Sorry,” Ryan said. He took my sick sister’s hand in his, then touched his belt. “See you in ten minutes.”
And they were gone.
I was left alone in her room.
For the last time.
When the new prompt arrive, my first thought is, Oh no! What am I going to write to make that work? But the Holy Spirit ALWAYS shows up and I get an idea every time. It amazes me. Thanks for a thought provoking six weeks.