The End...And The Beginning

This is my story for the Valentine challenge. It may not be exactly what Hope was looking for, partly since I didn't start out writing this for the challenge.

The End

Black wispy clouds were smeared across the expanse of the night sky. They crept steadily onward over the face of the moon, yet, I felt not a single breath of wind. The air felt heavy and warm, but chills were racing up my spine. On either side of me, the bony branches of naked trees clawed at my T-shirt. It was as if someone had finally discovered life's fast forward button, and the end would pounce upon us any second now. I had always wondered what it would be like when the world ended, but hadn't actually thought I would be there when it happened. I certainly hadn't imagined it like this. Every moment of my life flew before my eyes, and I was forced to wonder whether every choice I made had been the right one.

A flash of red caught my eyes. I peered up into the branches of an ancient elm. There upon one of the lower limbs, pupiless eyes stared from the body of a red bird. The eyes were so small, yet they seemed to draw me into their pools of deep, glowing crimson. I sucked in a deep breath and held it. The chills dancing up my spine increased. A violent shiver shook my small frame. He seemed to know my secret, yet I had only had three witnesses. The ground had drank the blood, the sky had swallowed that silent scream, and the trees concealed the deed. Even if they could form words to tell, not a single one could ever escape from their mute lips. Surely this bird was only mocking my fear.

An hour seemed to pass between that bird and I. Only my pounding heart broke the silence, and the bird's eyes pulsed with every beat. He finally broke the gaze, staring down the dusty lane from which I had come. With a couple gentle flutters from his wings, the bird's feet lifted from the scrawny limb. Releasing a mournful song, he soared off into the distance. I collapsed to the ground gasping for air. Guilt spilled from every pore in my body.

When my pounding heart calmed to a gentle thudding, I dragged my fear-numb body to its feet. Minutes later, I found myself facing the giant doors of my home, but it didn't feel like home. Not now, maybe not ever. It was truly an elaborate mansion, perhaps the grandest in the world, but at the moment the gloomy atmosphere and dark windows caused a haunting effect. I knew it would be no better on the inside. Grasping the shiny metal handle, I pushed open the door. As it swung on its hinges, a deafening creak split the air. My footsteps echoed through the empty halls. I drug myself up the stairs and fully dressed, collapsed onto my bed. The pillows suffocated me, and I willed my hot tears to soak into the cold fabric. I couldn't live another day like this, struggling to suppress my memories; yet the heavy past drug along in chains behind me. Desperately I longed to break the bonds.

I didn't try to sleep, knowing it was impossible. Instead, I counted the ceiling tiles, ten times, then a hundred. I hoped the world would suddenly explode, ending my misery. Loud shrieks pounded against my window. My hand trembled as I lifted the window drapes. A scrawny black bird perched upon the window sill. Bald spots dotted his feathered body, and yellow eyes glowered at me. Its shrieks continued to pierce the air, sending my heart back to its dreadful pounding. I shuddered, and allowed the curtain to slip from my grasp. Stumbling down the stairs, I made my escape to my office. I swiveled from side to side in my desk chair, trying to distract my mind, but the mournful song of the red bird and the shrieks of the black bird mingled with my thoughts. If the world wasn't ending fast enough, I would just take my own life. I jerked open a desk drawer and stared down at the possibility, dressed in cold black and loaded with bullets. Lifting it to my temple, I fingered the trigger. It was either now or never.

Sudden pounding on the front door broke the moment. I put the gun to rest on the desk, wondering who on earth would want to visit miserable me. Despite the possibility of it being another creepy bird, I scrambled for the door. Fumbling with the door handle, I finally managed to jerk the door open. It creaked in protest. I gasped and stood dumbstruck before a figure I was sure was dead. My husband stood staring at me, lips parted, as if he wanted to say something. I searched his eyes, for any glint of malice, but I fell into warm pools of love. For a moment I thought I detected a glint of fear, but it quickly dissipated. I knew I had killed this man. He couldn't be alive. This man who was before me had to be a long lost twin or clone. I had held the very gun that ended his life. My eyes had seen him wallow in his blood and gasp for his last breath, yet, there he stood. Surely it could not be him. Then he spoke:

“Linda...” He hesitantly grabbed my hands. “I forgive you.”

It couldn't be. I knew it just couldn't be. It was impossible, but he had spoken, and I knew his voice. I felt dizzy, faint. “I'm so sorry!” I sputtered. “I'm so sorry!” My knees gave out, and I collapsed into his warm, loving arms.

Then I awoke. Tears were streaming down my face, and my heart beat wildly. I felt different. I felt new. A bird's joyous chorus rang outside my bedroom window. As I pulled back the curtain with shaky hands, light flooded my room. A pure white bird sang happily upon my window sill. His blue eyes were directed towards the heavens, where his notes continued to stream. My heart sang along; and I knew, it was only:

The Beginning

Undying

I'm sorry if the ending is a bit abrupt.  I wasn't sure how to end it, and I didn't really want to spend time thinking about it. 

    “I don’t want you!”  I raised my fist towards the sky, my voice filled with rage.  “You’ve ruined my life!”  My feet slapped against the hard dirt path as I ran away from the clearing...and from God.

    “Leah?” I cracked my swollen eyes open.  A gentle face leaned over me. 

    I don’t want to talk, even to you.  “Yeah mom?”

    “It’s almost time.”  Her blue eyes locked onto my brown ones. 

     I bit my lip.  I had promised myself I would not cry.  “Yeah,” I rolled off my bed onto my feet.  “I’m ready.”

    “You don’t look it,” she brushed my hair out of my face.

    What’s it matter what I look like?!  It’s a funeral!  People aren’t supposed to look fantastic!   I kept the biting words in my head.  They wouldn’t help the situation any.  Nothing I had said in the past few days had helped anything.  “I’ll change.” 

    She smiled and left the room. 

    “How can she smile?” I kicked a shoe out of my way as I reached into my closed for black slacks and a blouse.  A few moments later I at least looked a bit human, besides the fact my eyes were red rimmed and puffy.  I picked up a makeup bottle then set it down. This is the way I feel.  People better get used to it.  My fingers quickly twisted my blob of hair up into a quick bun, then stuck a clip over it. 

    “Time to go!”

    “Coming.”

    The sun shone down on my face.  It was over.  At last.  The body of my dear little brother had been laid to rest.  It was now time to heal.  Ha!  The inner scoff didn’t even begin to express how I felt.  If a gun had been handy I would not have wasted any time in joining my brother in heaven.  My stomach sunk.  It’s unlikely I would make it there after the way I yelled at God.  I tossed my hair as I followed my parents to the car.  Who cares? 

     The rest of the day was torture.  I locked my room door and pulled the covers over my head.  Even when my mom knocked I remained where I was.  No one was welcome.  I wanted solitude. 

    “Leah, open this door!” my mother’s voice carried determination.  She would not be deterred this time.

    “Just a second.”  I unlocked it then swung it open.  Without even looking at her I went back to my bed and picked up my science book.  “I do have studying to do.”

    She crossed her arms and glared at me.  “Don’t use that as an excuse to be a hermit in your room for a week.” 

    I glared back.

    She sighed and sat down beside me, “Honey, I know you’re hurting, but locking us away like this isn’t going to help matters.”

    “Yeah.”

    “Leah.  Really, I’m serious.  You’ve got to open up honey.  If not to us, then to God.”

    It was too much.  “You can still mention his name after what he did to us?!  He took away my little brother!  Didn’t he have the power to let him live?!  Instead, a little boy dies because some driver didn’t see him on the road!  And don’t let me hear all that nonsense about it being his will, or that he knows what he is doing,” my lips curved into a sneer.  “All I can see is that he loves to torment us here on earth.  I don’t want a God like that!”  I slammed my book closed and bolted for the door leaving my mother with her mouth hanging open.  I slammed the door as I left the house.  Let her be surprised at my outburst. 

    I went to the one place I knew I wouldn’t be bothered:  a small cave down by the creek.  I crawled into it even though I was too big.  Let my parents think what they want.  They were wrong.  God didn’t care. 

    “Hey Leah.”   I jerked and starred at the small kid peering into my hideout.  “Watcha doing,” he grinned, small teeth peaking out of his mouth, “Are you playing hide an seek?”

    “Hey Andy.  No.  I’m just resting,” I tried to smile. 

    “Do you wanna play hid an seek?”

    “No, but thanks.”

    “Oh,” he looked down the creek.  “You know what I learned today!”

    I sighed.  This could take awhile.  “No, what?”

    “I learned that God is wuv!”

    “Uh huh.”

    “He wuvs you, and he wuvs me!  And he never will stop,” he clapped his chubby hands together.

    “Uh huh, sure.”

    He looked at me with round eyes.  “He won’t.  Really.”

   “Of course.  Now, you better get back home before you’re mommy gets worried.”  The last thing I needed was a little kid lecturing me.

    He gave me another grin then took off through the grass. 

    What a surprise he is in for when he realizes that is a lie.

    Is it?

    I blinked.  Of course it is!

    Are you sure?

    Of course I am.   I couldn’t believe I was arguing with myself.

    No you are not.

   I blinked.  Perhaps that was true.  Maybe I wasn’t sure.  But did it matter?  I sighed.  It did matter.  Shame began to wash over me.  These last few days had made me hide the truth.  I’m so sorry.  Tears began to stream down my cheeks.  Did God still love me?  I smiled.  He had never stopped, not even when I had rejected him.  I’m sorry.

     A quiet voice echoed in my mind.  You’re forgiven.  

Valentine's Challenge

We haven't been writing on here much lately so I decided I would do an other challenge.

Since I like to think outside of the box I'm going to challenge you all to write a "love story", but, here's the fun part: It can't be a romance! I'll let you figure out how that works. :) The goal is to get it done by Valentine's Day.

If there are any readers who want to participate in this follow the instructions on our new page entitled "Challenge Instructions"!

Super Brain!

I know this is a little kid's story but it is pretty much all I've been writing besides Josephine. I actually had to write this for Psychology.

Sarah sat on her doorstep, crying. Her day had been terrible. First she had gotten a big fat F on her math test. She had studied really hard, but when she was given the test, she just couldn't remember anything. Then at recess she tripped and fell into a puddle. All the other kids laughed at her and told her she was clumsy. Sarah tried not to cry, but she couldn't help it. Then the other kids laughed more because they thought she was a crybaby. Sarah never wanted to go back to school. Everyone just thought she was dumb.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah suddenly saw the bushes shake. Scared, she jumped off the step. An ugly little creature flew out of the bushes and landed on the sidewalk.

“Hi!” he said.

The little creature looked like something she had seen in her science book. “Who are you?” Sarah asked.

“I am Super Brain!” he replied. “I am here to help you.”

“Help me? How? You're so small!” Sarah exclaimed.

“I may be small, but I'm really smart. I can help you do a lot of things.” Super Brain jumped closer.

What are all those wormy things on your face?” Sarah asked.

Super Brain laughed. “Those are called convolutions. They make up my outer layer called the cortex. My cortex is divided up into sections called lobes. This very back lobe is called the Occipital lobe. It is what I use to help people see.”

“Wow! What do the other lobes do?” Sarah was beginning to like Super Brain, even if he was a little ugly.

Super Brain pointed to the next lobe. “This one is called the parietal lobe. It helps people feel things like pain and cold or hot.” He then pointed to his sides. “These ones are called Temporal lobes, and they help people hear. This last one, called the frontal lobe, helps people with things like talking, math, and science.”

“Do you do anything else?” Sarah asked.

“Yep! There is a lot more that I can do,” Super Brain replied. “I can also be divided into two sides called hemispheres. My right side controls things like emotions and artistic and musical skills. The left side is the logical side. It likes things like math and science and also helps with speech.” Super Brain then pointed to his middle. “Inside me, my corpus callosum hold the two sides together. Together, they make up the cerebrum. Some other parts of me include the Thalamus, Hypothalamus, and Hippocampus.”

Sarah giggled. “Is that for hippos?”

Super Brain laughed. “No, that is the part of me that stores short term memories, changing them into long-term memories, so you don't ever forget.”

“Oh,” Sarah laughed.

“The thalamus is kind of like a policeman directing traffic. It makes sure all my important information gets to the right place and back. The hypothalamus can control things like thirst and hunger,” Super Brain finished.

Sarah's stomach growled. “I think I'm hungry right now.” She needed to go eat supper, but she saw one more thing she wanted to know about. “What is that on your back?” she asked Super Brain.

“That is called a brainstem. Part of the brainstem, called the medulla, controls things like heartbeat and breathing. This other part back her is called the cerebellum, and it helps with things like keeping your balance while riding your bike or dancing.”

“Wow, Super Brain, you are really amazing!” Sarah exclaimed.

Super Brain winked. “God made me amazing, Sarah!”

The next day at school, Sarah wasn't afraid of having a terrible day. She knew Super Brain would help her, and she would do better. When she sat down to take another test, she heard him whisper, “You can do it, Sarah!”

Instinct Trust

Here is a story I wrote last night that I really want some honest feedback on. I think it starts out well but falls flat at the end (mainly the last three paragraphs). I also don't like the title. Any ideas of how to fix this without making it much longer?

I checked my watch for the tenth time and drummed my fingers impatiently on the bridge railings. I had three seconds, if he wasn’t here in time, I was—shuddering I forced the thought out of my mind and began to concentrate on the silvery fish splashing in the river below me. 

“Excuse me, do you have a light?”  A low rough sounding voice asked from behind me.

I turned around anxiously scanning the face, hat, and rumpled clothing of a field hand--was this him?

“I’m sorry; I don’t make it a policy to carry matches on me.”

“That’s okay I guess.” The man graveled and walking over to the railings he too leaned dirty elbows on them and began scanning the horizon.

I looked to either side of me at the roads leading on and off the bridge. No one else was in sight. Glancing at my watch I saw that it was the exact planned time of the meeting. So then this had to be the man but why had he not given the pre-appointed signal?

“Lovely evening.” I offered lamely.

He looked at me for a moment from under his dilapidated derby and then back out towards the far distant mountains. “Yes.”

I sighed and slumped my shoulders, tired after a long day’s journey and wishing he would just get down to the point.

“Do you like to come here of an evening?”  I tried again.

“No.”

This was going nowhere quickly. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and cleared my throat.

“We don’t like strangers around here.” His voice didn’t sound threatening, simply informative and he bent down to scratch his leg.

I licked my lips and rubbed my hands together unsure what I should respond.

“They bring crime with them.”

“I understand.” I nodded my head and tried to look sympathetic, where was he going with this? “I’ll only be here for a few hours so you won’t have to worry about me.”

“Those are the worst types. Come, rob and are off before you can get back what they stole.”

“Oh.” I chewed on my lip.

“Why are you here?” He shifted his gaze to look me strait in the face one greasy hand slouched into a half torn pocket.

“Traveling through on my way to Vlandeze.” I forced myself not to drop my eyes guiltily.

“Didn’t they tell you this area was not keen on new comers?” I could tell he doubted me.

“No.”

“They did tell you that this is an unused back road in a town twenty miles out of the beaten path for Vlandeze though didn’t they.” His gravel had lowered into something resembling more of a growl.

I forced myself to look him boldly in the eye. “Yes.”

He grunted and turned back to the mountains. “That was the first honest answer you have given me tonight.”

“Yes.” I admitted.

“Where are you from?”

“I grew up out in the country near Gomer.  Lived on a farm most of my life.”

“Did you? Which end of a cow gets up first?”

I blinked and faltered. “The f-front end.”

“Never lived on a farm for an hour in your life. Back end.”

“Oh.” I was doing a terrible job with this and he knew it.

“Do you have any papers from the city?” he was still turned sideways to me, looking way up river his derby on crooked hiding his eyes from my view.

My heart jumped and skipped a few beats. Finally he said the signal but why had he waited so long. My suspicions were aroused but I couldn’t stand here bantering all night, I had extreme shortage of time.

“No. I’m sorry.” The words startled me. They were not the signal answer that I had intended to give. “I-I don’t read papers much myself.”

He shot a quick sharp look at me and I could tell my answer surprised him too.

“What is the real reason you’re here for boy?” his growl was very threatening.

“Made some enemies in the camps and don’t want to have any meetings with them.” It was true enough though I had left out a few major details.

He bristled like a wounded tiger. “All the more reason we don’t want you around here, Convict! You better let me see a clean pair of heels mighty fast boy.”

Why hadn’t I given him the correct answer? Now it would seem out of place if anyone where secretly listening but I really need to get him those papers. If caught with them by certain people I would—I again shoved the idea out of my mind. Something had made me not trust him. Something inside me still screamed danger. Without a backwards look I showed him the heels he asked for.

 A week later found me a mile outside of Vlandeze worn down to a frazzle but safe and sound with the papers. They had caused constant terror for me and I was sure at several different times I was being followed but I had always succeeded in losing my shadow and today I was near headquarters.

  As I stepped into the office my boss took one look at me and jumped out of his chair.

“Tieniat!” He grasped my hand excitedly. “We all thought you were dead. They set a con on your trail. One they say is real crafty and the day after you were supposed to deliver you package one of ours found the guy you were supposed to deliver it to murdered in a field and without the papers on him! We all thought the con had killed you both and gotten the papers.”

My breath caught in my throat. So my instincts had proved me right, that man was no good. After I had finally given him a satisfactory answer he must have decided I wasn’t the right man and hoping to get rid of me in case the real guy came along he assumed a threatening demeanor. Boy if he had only understood, I was in the camps as a guard, the enemies I had made were the cons I was guarding, and that I now worked as an agent for the king—I smiled and handed my boss the papers. It was nice not to have to think about that anymore.

Sisters

    “Hannah, please,” I wrung my hands desperately as I looked back at the house.  If my mom heard my little sister’s yells and came out, man, I would get it.  

    My sister opened her mouth even louder and let out another screech.  

    “Come one.  It’s not that bad,” I brushed at her dirty shirt and pants.  How was I suppose to know that she would do something stupid like run down the hill with a bucket of mud.  Well, maybe I could have carried it down for her, but that was beside the point.  “Listen, I’ll take you inside and clean you up and then everything will be alright.”

   She glared at me and wiped a grubby hand across her face.  “It’s your fault!  Mommy!”

    Oh great.  Mom must have heard that one and I know exactly what will happen when mom comes out.  Hannah will blame it all on me.  Perhaps it’s time for Plan B.  I picked up the screaming Hannah and took off for the woods.  How could one be accused of an act if there was no evidence?

    It didn't take long for me to find the creek.  I plopped Hannah down in the middle of it.  The shock of cold water running over her legs made her shut her mouth.  It’s about time. 

    “W-what are you doing?” she watched my hands as they quickly splashed water across her clothing trying to get the dirt to wash off.

    “Cleaning you off, what does it look like?” I snapped.

    “Hannah?  Mary?” my mom’s voice rung through the trees.

    Oh no!  Oh no! 

    “There y’all are, I was looking for y-“ her shocked gaze looked at Hannah and then at me.  “Mary!  What are you doing to your sister?!”

    I pasted an innocent look on my face.  “Cleaning her up.”

    Hannah nodded her little face working its magic. 

    My mom sighed, “There are better ways to do that.  Come on Hannah.  Let’s get you back to the house.”

    Yes!  I felt like doing a dance right there in the creek.

    “And Mary, after I clean Hannah up you will tell me what happened.  What really happened.”  

Author's Tip

Here is a tip my sister, who is a published author, passed on to me.

If you are writing a long story or a book, never, ever tell someone else the ending. You don't really want to tell the the plot either because, whether you realize it or not, it takes away the urge to finish the story. If you're writing an allegory, never tell someone what it's an allegory of let them figure it out themselves. To force yourself to finish a story or a book, send it to a friend, as you write it, who will continue to bug you for more until you finish it! Believe me, I know this is true because I have hundreds of unfinished stories that I lost steam for after telling someone else the plot.