Henry finished his story. It was a short little piece, a story about a murder. Dark, even darker than the ones he used to write. He went out to get another drink.
He went into the living room, poured another Jim Beam, bare with no ice, and sat down. He’s quite drunk, as he usually was at this hour.
He heard a loud noise from his office. He was a big guy, and quite a fighter. He brought the bottle in one hand just in case. In the other he brought his glass. He went in to have a look.
The room had changed. It was over grown with vegetation. A tree seemed to have grown it’s way into the room from outside. Huge roots came in from the torn down wall. Green leaves of different kinds. Flowers. Butterflies and other insects flying in the air. On the other side he saw a garden. Green and beautiful. He lived in the centre of the city, all cars and pavement. Until now.
He looked at the glass. Put it down on his desk.
What the fuck…? He said out loud. This was the strangest thing he’d ever seen.
He walked in, looking around at the plants. A squirrel could be seen in the tree tops. The forest was like a wild growing garden, just like the one he had been writing about. He moved further in. He walked for a long time, the trees got bigger, the plants greener, the flowers more and more colourful.
He heard a girl singing. He knew who she was. He walks closer, slowly.
She was sitting on a sling chair in the garden. She was as gorgeous as her voice. Familiar, like an echo from a dreams, or a distant memory. Beauty. He just stood there, perplex. Then he remembered. She’s about to die. Murdered for her perfection.
Thunder. The sky darkened.
He ran towards her. She looked at him, coming out of the bushes. Her expression was surprised, a bit confused. Then it turned into fear.
What do you want? She asked. Who are you?
Come with me! We have to get you out of here!
She stood up, moved away from him. Leave me alone!
Come! He shouted. Come with me! We have to get out of here! The alcohol made his voice loud, his movements hash and sudden. She starts running.
The sky was dark now. The beautiful sunlight coming through the leaves high in the trees was gone. Flashes. Thunder. Rain. She ran into the dark bushes, where her death awaited. It was all his fault. Why did he write this story so dark, so sad, so evil?
What had he done?
He runs after her. She screams for help. No! Stop! He shouts. He hears laughter in the darkness. His own voice. He catches her. She falls. She tries to get away, but he needs to stop her, save her. She breaks free. She falls. Her head hits a rock in the small river.
She was dead. He’d killed her. Again. The monster of his story. It was him. He held the dead body in his arms, his tears mixing with the rain, as the blood from her head.
The darkness took over. She faded in his arms, disappeared.
He was back in his office, sitting on his chair. The big tree invading the room was gone. The garden was gone. He looked at the sheet on the table. The murder. He ripped it to pieces and poured himself another whiskey. He didn’t want to write any more today. He just wanted to get drunk.
https://mythsofthemirror.com/2017/02/02/28104/https://mythsofthemirror.com/2017/02/02/28104/
https://randomsbyarandom.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/writers-quote-charles-bukowski-2/
How beautifully you spin tales…
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Thank you! What a beautiful comment… 🙂
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Damn😐 I would never want my dark pieces to come true. Only the good and happy ones.😇 Enjoyed it very much!! ✌
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It’s a scary thought, isn’t it… If all my blog posts were to suddenly come true… Aaaaaahhhh! 😀 Thanks!
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Yeah!! I was thinking the same!! You write ups are dark and intense that suck the readers in. It’s a compliment, of course.😇😇Not everyone holds such ability and skill.
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Thanks a lot, Sakshi! A compliment indeed, i like it… 😉
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You’re welcome 😏👍 Can I ask your name if you don’t mind? Or you want to continue being mysterious.
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Send me a mail if you want, and I’ll tell you;) On my blog I prefer my blog name… for now:) fictionspawn@gmail.com
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No problem 😇
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Pretty sure we could draw some ecological comparisons here. The monsters in our own story. Splendid stuff, mate.
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Thanks! Interesting interpretation. I like it.
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I’m so glad you were inspired to write this. We would write much differently if we had to live our stories, or if they came true. I liked the way it came full circle. Well done. 😀
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Thanks! It’s your honour, really. The idea was born reading your post.
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People usually get drunk to escape their reality. Not this guy. Loved it!
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Getting drunk to escape one’s fiction… Thanks!
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The writer’s life: We are all the monsters of our stories! This was excellent. I felt ill the first time I killed off a character. But then it got easier each time, hmmmm…
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Hahaha! Easier and easier until you one day realize you like it… Muahahaha! ;)Thank you!
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You’re welcome! Yes! Ahem, well as long as it’s poetic justice or something like that… 😈
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So many, hmm, I’m going out on a limb here to say that all of the greatest books of fiction ever written are either analogies of societal injustices and our role in them or autobiographies hidden in the bones.
This goes the other way around, like a self-fulfilling prophesy or an inevitability. This borders on dystopia. My favorite.
Excellent story.
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Thank you very much.
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It is not always a nice experience to live one’s own story! Wonderfully woven….
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Thank you!
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There’s a tremendous power in words, like an enchantment. One should always use them carefully….Awesome story!
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Thank you! I might be guilty of breaking that rule every once in a while…
Let’s hope no one gets hurt for real. 😀
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From what I’ve seen of you till now…if there’s even a hint of hurt ahead, you’ll be there to stop it. The pen is in your hand!
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Haha! Thanks! Some eggs might have to be broken, though… 😉
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Great story. It reminds me of this tweet from @deangloster
Writer: One who spends the day with imaginary friends.
And is mean to them.
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Haha! That’s how we are, isn’t it. Bad, bad people. 😀 Thank you!
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Dreams that come true … always a source of shivers!
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Careful what you dream of!
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Awesome! Good story.
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Thanks a lot!
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gosh that art is just lovely!!
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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I’ve probably said it before but I love your illustrations! And this story…becoming one with what we write. Scary good.
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Thanks a lot. And no problem if you’ve said it before. No problem at all 😉
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Intriguing! Very well woven. 🙂
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Thank you very much.
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Brilliant! As writers we really do feel responsible for our characters as if they were real people. You captured that connection beautifully 🙂
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Thanks! Getting to know your character is an important part of the work, isn’t it. Glad you liked it!
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It’s so easy to get attached to them. I suppose the phrase “kill your darlings” is pretty spot on with writing!
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Our characters are more real to us than we might always feel comfortable admitting to. I don’t have a muse; I have a cast of characters who might whisper in my ear, prod me with a sharp elbow, or take over the keyboard, leaving my conscious mind out of the process.
Your story (and it’s references) project that idea — we are far more involved than we sometimes realize, our characters more real than words on a screen.
Enjoying your illustrations as well.
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They can get a life on their own sometimes, can’t they… That’s when it’s getting good. 😉 Thanks!
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Wow, great story. Perfectly executed twist of Henry being “The monster of his story”. I enjoy your artwork too. 🙂
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Thanks a lot.
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Illustrated Short Stories – It is like my dream come true 🙂 I love short stories and illustartion and you have both.
Wonderful blog and such interesting stories… Thank you for visiting my blog.
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Thank you very much! Happy you like them. There’s a lot more, and more will be coming 🙂
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Oh wow, I really enjoyed reading this piece.. Really great story.
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I’m very happy to hear that 🙂 Thanks!
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Just a couple of thoughts. When you were describing the man’s drink, in American English, his drink was neat. That is, if I went into a bar and ordered a whiskey neat, I’d get my whiskey unchilled, with no ice, water, or other mixer. Sorry. First thing that popped into my head.
The second was a line from the Terminator movies: “Come with me if you want to live.” Unfortunately, he already wrote her murder.
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That line actually past my mind to 😀 But yes, I think he had less hope than Kyle had in that moment. Thanks for the word, I might even remeber it next time. 🙂
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Woah! Awesome story! You really know how to get your reader to connect with your characters!
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Thanks a lot! Those words mean a lot to me 🙂
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The most beautiful quality of the brain is that it forgets… the way you spun the tale is mind blowing!!! I am blown away
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Thanks a lot!
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What a story..
By reading this, it seemed to me that I have actually watched a movie.
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Thanks! I love having that effect 🙂
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