Please note: The deadline for this contest has passed. Feel free to write a ZapFic based on the prompt (and post a link in the comments if you do!) but you won't be eligible for a prize (although you may still be upvoted). Tune in to the Freewriters Community this Monday (27th January) for the results (3 winners and 3 runners up) and a new ZapFic prompt!
Hey there ZapFicers!
Welcome back to the weekly ZapFic Contest!
It's been a while (eight months)! I hope you are ready for...
ZapFicMonday - ZapFic240: The Original ZapFic
This is the original ZapFic contest! Write a story using 240 characters or less!
You have 3 days (until Thursday 23h59 GMT) to post a Zapfic (a story written in 240 characters or less) using the prompt given.
Please note it is a story with 240 characters (letters, full stops, spaces, etc) NOT words!
Rewards
All valid posts will be upvoted and reblogged by @felt.buzz and @Zapfic.Club
Three winners will be chosen over the weekend, each will get 1 Hive SBI share.
The three winners will also get 100% upvote from @felt.buzz and @zapfic.club on their link drop comment on this post.
3 runners up will also receive a 50% upvote on their link drop comment, in this post, from @felt.buzz and @zapfic.club
Rules:
Post to the Freewriters Community.
Post a link to your entry in the comments section of this post
Use one or more of the tags: #zapfic; #zapficmonday; #zapfic240
NO plagiarism, NO AI-generated stories (write your own story; that is the whole point!)
YOU MUST use a word/character counter (if you search for word counter on the internet or in your phone's app store you will get a big choice!) and include a screenshot. Entries without a screenshot will NOT be valid

Above: an example of a screenshot of a word counter app
Please use the prompt provided as you see fit (use your imagination)
Try to tell a complete story if you can!
Another Reminder: The story should only be 240 characters long (including spaces) - it can be shorter, but not longer!
…
This Week's Prompt:
“return"
The winners will be announced by the @zapfic.club on Monday (in the same post as the next ZapFic Challenge)!
Look out for the post in the Freewriters Community!
Good luck ZapFicers!
...
