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Congratulations to the Short Story Contest Winners!!!
Here are the first, second, and third place short story endings for you to read. Congratulations to the authors of these stories, and thanks to all who entered the Teen Advisory Board's short story contest.
Second Place
story continued by Carolyn Rehbein
Laura looked at her reflection in the mirror, admiring the long, white, wedding gown that flowed from her body flawlessly. She always imagined this day somewhat differently. Indeed, she did have the flowers and her handsome groom; there was only one thing that put a damper on this fairy tale wedding. The note. It came in a small square envelope earlier that morning, written where the return address should have been were three little words, “Your true love.” Inside
was a beautifully handwritten note that read, “To my true love, I have learned that you’re to be married. My entire life I have waited for you to pass even a glance in my direction, but instead, you marry another man. Know this. If I can’t have you, no one will. Your servant always”
Laura quickly looked out the window and gasped in horror at the site of Christopher, her fiancée! Christopher was dangling from a noose that was knotted to the old oak tree outside the church! Choked with fear, Laura couldn’t even breathe. Finally after what seemed like years, Laura lunged towards the window and pulled her beloved groom inside. She gently placed him on the floor, sobbing “Christopher! Christopher! Wake up, wake up!” Suddenly, as Laura was trying to revive him, she noticed a small handmade note tucked into the pocket of the groom’s tuxedo. She pulled it out with limp fingers, and stared at it in disbelief. In small cursive writing, the outside of the note said, “Your True Love.”
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Hysterically, the bride ran downstairs screaming. Where there should have been bustling crowds of wedding guests, there was only empty silence. No one was there! Terrified, Laura ran outside the church, down the street and to her apartment. As she ran through her door, she tripped on the hem of her dazzling dress and sprawled across the floor. She scrambled to the door and dead-bolted it shut.
Laura stumbled over to her phone and dialed the only digits she could think of: 864-2371. It was the bridesmaid’s number, her best friend, Jenny. Jenny answered the phone and blurted “Hello?!” At the sound of her friend’s voice, Laura sat down, weeping. “Jenny! You have to help me! Christopher’s dead, and there was another note, and NOBODY was inside the church!”
Firmly, as if she was irritated, Jenny commanded, “Laura, calm down! You know I hate tricks like this. Nobody was in the church because the wedding was cancelled. Get a hold of yourself!”
Laura shook her head in disbelief. She stammered, “No. NO!” Exasperated, Laura flung the phone across the room and cried herself to sleep. When Laura woke up, she wondered why she was in her home. When the harsh reality hit her, she burst into tears. When she was crying, the doorbell rang loudly. Laura stumbled over and opened the door. She cried, “Oh, Earl!” and collapsed into her groom’s twin’s embrace.
Earl muttered, “Why, true love, you didn’t read the note!” |
