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Amy brought a challenge to the show: write a horror story using only three words. The goal was to come up with three words that would feel terrifying if said out loud.
She went first, immediately setting an intense tone with, “You have cancer.” The room reacted quickly, saying that was too direct and extremely heavy. Others tried similarly blunt phrases like “You are dying” and “I’m gonna shoot,” prompting discussion about whether the horror should be personal or more creative.
Amy shifted her approach and offered a more personal example: “Oops, I’m late,” explaining that it would be her own version of a horror story. The group then explored other personal scenarios, including “You’re the father,” and “I’m pregnant again,” debating how specific the phrases should be.
As the game continued, the suggestions ranged from serious to humorous. Amy shared that she wouldn’t want to hear “Life without parole,” while others countered with phrases like “Drink this poison” and “No more beer.” One person offered “The dog’s out,” calling it a personal nightmare scenario.
They began tailoring phrases to each other. For Amy, suggestions included “He left you,” “Therapy is canceled,” and “Your therapist died,” with Amy admitting starting over with a new therapist would be difficult. Other ideas thrown out for her included “Got scammed again” and “Vocal cords gone,” referencing things specific to her life.
The group continued brainstorming, sometimes veering into exaggerated territory with phrases like “We amputate leg” and “Nuclear bomb incoming,” before acknowledging how quickly the game had escalated.
By the end, they agreed it could be a funny dinner table game despite how dark it started.