#5 - Short Story Sample

So recently, I just found a whole thing of story starters from summer writing in my old journal. So, as any writer would, I jumped on the opportunity and was so into writing the sample of it.

My writing style has improved drastically over the course of just 3 months and very much so since I first got contracted. In fact, I look at writings of mine from a few months ago and I want to smack my head into a table.

Therefore, I think I would tackle this story sample here instead of earlier when my writing was subpar. Without further ado, here it is! (I haven't decided on a name for it so we're rolling with short story #1 because I have a number 2 along the way-)

STORY STARTS HERE:

He tied his boat off and started to climb the cliffs. He knew that no one had lived to tell what was behind the cloud but he still climbed.

Why was he even climbing in the first place if he knew he might never live to tell the tale? Accomplishment? For him, the sense of accomplishment was never the motivation. Being able to be the first at something, being filled with a sense of pride and being called strong and brave wasn't at all why he climbed. In fact, the reason for him was a little murky itself. It was a big gamble to play but he was willing to risk everything he not only had but was.

It all started when his wife was finally diagnosed. If you asked him, he'd remember it clear as day.

He sat in the waiting room of the hospital one Thursday late at night. It was relatively crowded as regular doctor's offices were closed. Beside him was a little six-year-old girl complaining to her mom, constantly nagging her about how her pinky finger hurt. He recalled how the mother remained calm throughout the entire night, calmly reassuring her child. Just like magic, it worked on the child to relax her nerves.

At that moment, he wished he had a guardian figure to tell him everything was going to be fine and turn out just as he had hoped. He couldn't help but smile at the mother-daughter interaction. He knew that his wife would one day become someone just like that for their future kid. Of course, he never got ahead of himself and remained focused on praying to whoever would listen for his wife. He wasn't particularly religious or any sort, only desperate.

He had just come from his work as a labourer in the fields when the hospital called him. His jeans and collared shirt appeared to be torn and muddied up, while his hands were covered in grime. In his fingernails was dirt he'd long grown tired of dealing with. His eyes carried a snuffed glimmer as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, mashing his lips together.

It wasn't surprising that after attempting to keep himself entertained for a while that there was some point any forced bliss he was feeling would dissipate. A young lady dressed in a nurse scrub approaches him, clipboard in hand. She had a certain look on her face as soon as she saw him. Though he couldn't discern what it was, he was almost more sure than anything that it was pity. What was it for? Pity for him from seeing his appearance, or perhaps, pity for the news she's about to bear onto him?

"Excuse me sir, we have your wife's results."

END OF SAMPLE

Alright y'all, that's it from me. I'm still working on the other series chapter draft (Dear Future Empress) so that'll be coming in a few days, if not, a week. I'm still high school student suffering from work as the holidays approach, competitive swimming, and playing the violin in an orchestra so be patient with me. It's all pretty daunting so I hope you can understand, even more so when I have two non-exclusive contracts.

I'll keep updates of Lost In Deep Waters to once a week and Beyond Our Imagination to once a week as well (once releases calm down).

I guess that's all I have to say for now, though I'll add anything more I find relevant later. Or maybe I'll just create a new chapter, who knows?

Nothing is for certain when it comes to me and that's on period.