Can you recommend some depressing short stories?

One short depressing story could be about an old man who has outlived all his friends and family. He sits alone in his empty house every day, looking at old photos, with only his memories for company. He tries to reach out to the neighbors, but they are always too busy, leaving him in a state of deep loneliness.

One depressing short story is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It shows a seemingly ordinary town where every year they have a lottery. However, the 'winner' of this lottery is stoned to death by the townspeople. It's a disturbing look at mob mentality and blind tradition.

A very sad short story is 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. The poor girl is out in the cold on New Year's Eve, trying to sell matches. As she lights the matches to keep warm, she has visions of a better life, but in the end, she freezes to death, which is a heart - wrenching tale of poverty and despair.

Another is 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. The story of Emily Grierson, a woman who lives a reclusive life in the South. There are themes of death, isolation, and the passage of time. Her strange relationship with Homer and the final revelation are all very sad elements.

One is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is haunted by the old man's vulture - like eye and finally kills him. The narrator's increasing paranoia makes the story dark and depressing.

One long depressing story is 'The Great Gatsby'. It shows the disillusionment of the American Dream through the tragic love of Gatsby for Daisy. Gatsby's pursuit ends in vain, and his death is a symbol of the hollowness of that era's values.

One of the well - known depressing love stories is 'Romeo and Juliet'. Their love was doomed from the start due to the feud between their families. In the end, they both died tragically, which is a very sad and poignant tale of love. Another is 'The Great Gatsby'. Gatsby's unrequited love for Daisy led him to a downfall. His pursuit of her was in vain as she was too caught up in her own world of wealth and status.

There's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' which at first seems to offer hope but then ends in a rather depressing way. The main character's illusions are shattered. 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka is also a very depressing flash - like story. Gregor Samsa's transformation into an insect and his subsequent alienation from his family and society is extremely sad. And 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin presents a disturbing moral dilemma that leaves a feeling of depression.

One sad love story is 'The Notebook'. It's about a couple, Allie and Noah. They fall in love but are separated by class differences. Allie gets engaged to someone else, but her feelings for Noah still linger. Another is 'A Walk to Remember'. Landon, a popular boy, falls in love with Jamie, a girl with a terminal illness. Their love is beautiful yet tragic as they know their time together is limited.

There is the story of elephants in some parts of Africa. Poachers kill them for their ivory tusks. Many elephants are brutally slaughtered, leaving behind orphaned calves. These calves often struggle to survive without the protection and guidance of their parents. The sight of these baby elephants left alone in the wild is truly heart - breaking.