10 Best Short Story in English That You’ll Regret Not Reading

Short Story in English: Short stories hold the power to transport readers into different worlds, evoking emotions and sparking deep thoughts. This collection brings together ten unforgettable tales filled with mystery, suspense, and moments that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Each story unfolds in unexpected ways, exploring hidden secrets, life-altering choices, and encounters that change everything. From eerie whispers of the past to decisions that reshape destinies, these stories promise excitement and reflection in equal measure.

Prepare for an unforgettable reading experience as you turn the pages of 10 Best Short Stories in English That You’ll Regret Not Reading.

Short Story in English

The Last Letter from Nowhere

Ava lived in a small town, waiting for a letter that never came. Her brother, Liam, had gone to war five years ago, promising to write. But as time passed, no letters arrived, and the family feared the worst.

One evening, Ava checked the mailbox as she had done every day. To her shock, there was an old, yellowed envelope with Liam’s handwriting.

Her hands trembled as she opened it.

“Dear Ava, if you’re reading this, I may not have made it home. But know that I thought of you every day. Life is strange; it doesn’t always give us what we want. But we must go on, carrying love in our hearts. Don’t wait for me. Live your life, and be happy.”

Tears filled Ava’s eyes. The letter had no date, no return address. She rushed inside to show her mother, but the mailbox was empty—no signs of any delivery.

Had the letter traveled through time? Had Liam found a way to send it from nowhere?

Ava never found the answer. But she finally let go of her sorrow, feeling Liam’s love in every word.

Moral: Sometimes, closure comes in unexpected ways.

Whispers of the Forgotten

Ethan moved into an old house by the lake, eager for a fresh start. But every night, he heard whispers. Faint voices echoed through the walls, speaking names he didn’t recognize.

One stormy evening, he found an old diary in the attic. It belonged to a woman named Margaret, who lived in the house a century ago. Her last entry read:

“They want me to forget, but I won’t. I will whisper my story until someone listens.”

Ethan flipped through the pages, uncovering the truth—Margaret had been wrongfully accused of a crime and had vanished without a trace.

Determined to honor her memory, Ethan researched the town’s history. He found old records proving her innocence. He published her story, ensuring she was no longer forgotten.

That night, the whispers stopped. But Ethan felt a warm presence, as if someone had whispered, “Thank you.”

Moral: The past never truly disappears.

The Clock That Stopped at Midnight

Sarah inherited an antique clock from her grandmother. It was beautiful but always stopped working at exactly midnight. No matter how many times she fixed it, the hands refused to move past twelve.

Curious, she researched the clock’s history. It had belonged to a family who lived in the house decades ago. One fateful night, tragedy struck—a fire broke out at midnight, claiming their lives.

Shaken, Sarah wondered if the clock had stopped at the moment of their last breath.

One night, she stayed up, watching the clock strike twelve. Just as it stopped, she felt a sudden chill. Then, the minute hand twitched forward—one small movement.

The next morning, Sarah checked the town records and discovered something incredible. One child from that family had survived but was never found.

Was the clock trying to tell her something? She continued her search and finally located the missing descendant—an elderly man who had always wondered about his lost family.

For the first time in decades, the clock ticked past midnight, as if its purpose had been fulfilled.

Moral: Some moments change everything.

Buried Secrets of Maple Street

When Lily’s family moved to Maple Street, she felt uneasy. Something about the house felt… wrong.

One day, while digging in the backyard, she uncovered a rusted metal box. Inside were old photographs, letters, and a silver locket.

The letters spoke of a girl named Anna, who lived there long ago. She wrote about her fears, her dreams, and how she wished to escape. The last letter ended abruptly:

“If you find this, please don’t forget me.”

Lily was determined to find out what had happened. She asked the neighbors, but they only shook their heads, avoiding the topic.

Finally, an old woman at the end of the street revealed the truth—Anna had vanished one night, and no one had ever found her. The town had buried the story, pretending she never existed.

Lily shared Anna’s story with the world, ensuring her name was remembered. That night, as she placed the locket back into the box, she felt a soft breeze, as if someone had sighed in relief.

Moral: The truth finds its way out.

5. A Stranger at My Window

Mia lived alone in a small apartment on the tenth floor. Every night, before sleeping, she made sure her windows were locked.

But one evening, as she drew the curtains, she froze. A figure stood outside her window.

On the tenth floor.

Heart pounding, she stepped back. The figure was a man, staring at her with sad eyes. Before she could scream, he whispered, “Help her.”

The next day, Mia searched the building’s history and found something shocking. Years ago, a man had lived in her apartment. One night, he saw a woman being kidnapped outside but was too afraid to act. She was never found, and guilt consumed him.

Mia followed the old clues and discovered that the missing woman’s family still searched for her. With the help of records and interviews, the truth finally surfaced.

That night, Mia looked at her window again. The stranger was gone.

And she knew he never would return.

Moral: Sometimes, strangers aren’t what they seem.

The Night the Stars Vanished

Aiden lived in a world where the night sky was always filled with stars. He never thought much about them—until the night they vanished.

It started with a strange stillness. The wind stopped blowing, the crickets went silent, and then, one by one, the stars flickered out. Within minutes, the sky was empty—just a vast, endless darkness.

Panic spread through the town. Scientists had no answers. Some believed it was the end of the world; others thought it was a punishment.

Aiden, who had ignored the beauty of the night sky his whole life, now realized what he had lost. He missed the constellations, the soft glow of moonlight, and the way the stars made him feel less alone.

Days turned into weeks, and the sky remained empty. People lost hope—until one night, a single star reappeared. Then another. And another.

The stars returned slowly, as if reminding humanity to appreciate them. Aiden never looked at the night sky the same way again.

Moral: What we take for granted can disappear in an instant.

Echoes from the Other Side

Emma had always been skeptical about ghosts—until she moved into her grandmother’s old house.

At first, it was little things: whispers in the hallway, a rocking chair swaying on its own, shadows flickering in the mirror. But then she started hearing a voice—a soft, familiar voice calling her name.

One evening, she followed the voice to the attic, where she discovered a locked chest. Inside, she found old letters addressed to her grandmother, written by a man named Thomas.

The letters spoke of love, regret, and an unfinished goodbye. Emma realized Thomas had been her grandmother’s lost love, a man who had died in the war before she could reply.

Determined to bring peace, Emma read the letters aloud, one by one. As she finished the last letter, the whispers stopped, and the air felt lighter.

That night, she dreamed of an old couple dancing under the stars—together at last.

Moral: The past has a way of reaching us when we least expect it.

The Deal That Changed Everything

Jake was tired of struggling. No matter how hard he worked, life never seemed fair. So when a mysterious man in a black suit offered him a deal, he listened.

“You can have everything you desire,” the man said, “but in return, you must give me something of equal value.”

Desperate, Jake agreed. The next morning, his life transformed—money, success, and fame came easily. He no longer had to work for anything.

But something felt wrong. His memories grew foggy. He struggled to remember his mother’s face, his childhood, the warmth of laughter. Day by day, his past was slipping away.

Terrified, he confronted the man. “What did you take from me?”

“Nothing you didn’t trade,” the man replied. “You wanted an easy life, so I took your struggles—and with them, the memories that made you who you are.”

Realizing the cost, Jake begged to undo the deal. The man simply smiled. “A deal is a deal.”

And just like that, Jake’s past was gone forever.

Moral: Be careful what you wish for.

Lost Pages of a Diary

When Lily found an old diary in the library’s hidden section, she couldn’t resist reading it. The pages were filled with emotions, secrets, and confessions—written by someone named Eleanor, decades ago.

One entry stood out:

“If someone finds this, please know—I was never meant to disappear. The truth is buried under the oak tree.”

Chills ran down Lily’s spine. Had Eleanor been in danger?

Determined to find out, she researched the town’s history. She discovered that Eleanor had vanished mysteriously, and no one had ever solved the case.

Following the diary’s clue, Lily went to the old oak tree in the park. Digging carefully, she found a small metal box. Inside were letters and photographs—evidence proving that Eleanor had been betrayed by someone she trusted.

Lily took the findings to the authorities. After years of silence, Eleanor’s truth was finally told.

That night, as Lily placed the diary back on the shelf, a cold breeze brushed past her. And for the first time, the library felt… at peace.

Moral: Some secrets are meant to be uncovered.

Trapped in Yesterday

Every morning, Daniel woke up to the same date—June 12th. No matter what he did, time refused to move forward.

At first, he enjoyed it. He could fix his mistakes, say things he wished he had said, and avoid regrets. But soon, it became a prison.

Nothing mattered anymore. The future didn’t exist. He couldn’t change, grow, or escape.

Desperate for answers, he visited his childhood home, searching for anything that could break the cycle. There, he found an old photograph—his younger self holding hands with his sister, Emma.

Memories flooded back. June 12th was the day Emma had died. He had never forgiven himself for not saving her.

Tears fell as he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

The next morning, the calendar finally changed.

Daniel had been trapped in his grief, unable to move on. And only when he faced it did time begin again.

Moral: Holding onto the past can keep us from moving forward.