Love. It’s a word we use so often, yet it carries a thousand different meanings. For some, it’s warmth and safety. For others, it’s passion, obsession, or even heartbreak. But there’s one truth that runs through all of love’s many faces: real love always comes at a cost.

We often imagine love as something we gain — the joy of being with someone, the comfort of having someone by our side. Yet, the deepest and most selfless form of love is not about what we get. It’s about what we’re willing to give up. Sometimes, the purest act of love is a sacrifice.

Think about it: parents give up their own dreams for their children. Friends step aside so the other can shine. Lovers walk away, not because they don’t care, but because staying would cause harm. A soldier leaves behind home and family for the love of country. Even in myths and legends, heroes surrender power, freedom, or even their lives for the ones they love.

That’s the kind of love this contest is about.

For this challenge, your task is to write a story where a character must sacrifice something important for the sake of their love. It could be romantic love, a deep friendship, the bond between siblings, or even devotion to a cause greater than themselves. The sacrifice doesn’t have to be death or tragedy — sometimes letting go, walking away, or giving up a part of yourself is sacrifice enough. What matters is the choice, the emotional weight, and the consequences that follow.

Here are a few sparks to ignite your creativity (you don’t have to use these, they’re just to get you thinking):

• A man in love with his best friend’s fiancée realizes the only way to preserve their happiness is to walk away forever.

• A girl with magical powers gives them up so the one she loves can live a normal, safe life.

• A soldier deserts the battlefield to save his family — or stays to fight, knowing he may never see them again.

• A mother chooses to stay silent about her own suffering so her children can grow up in peace.

• A king abdicates his throne because his love would never be accepted in the palace.

Your story should make the reader feel the sacrifice — the pain of giving up, but also the beauty of love strong enough to demand it.

📌 Contest Details

• Form: Story (any genre, any style — but it must tell a complete tale)

• Theme: A character makes a sacrifice for their love

• Word Limit: None — write freely, as long as it’s a complete story

• Judging Method: Like Count (the entry with the most likes wins)

• Duration: 7 days only — a one-week challenge, so don’t wait too long!

🎯 Tips for Writers

• Make the sacrifice meaningful. Show us what’s at stake.

• Build up the emotional tension — let us feel the weight of the decision.

• Endings don’t need to be tragic; bittersweet or hopeful endings can be just as powerful.

• Surprise the reader — maybe the sacrifice isn’t what we expect.

⚡ One week. One sacrifice. One truth: love always comes at a price.