We don’t usually think much about time unless it’s at a demarcation point, like the new year last week or a birthday or other milestone. Time just flows by in the background of our lives.

However, there are times when significant things happen quickly and we are very aware of how fast (or slow) time passes.

Story Prompt: January 5, 2026

Write a story that shows the explicit passage of time

What I mean by this is that you note the points in time in the story to show it passing. This could be days, or times of days or even seconds passing if the story happens in a very short amount of time. The passage of time should be significant to the story, of course.

I’m curious to see what you come up with so if you do write one, let me know. Send me a link to your story on your own site, either in the comments or at info@greenwalledtreehouse.com. You can also submit your story here for a chance to have it published on the site next week.

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 goes well for you.