Edward

Short Story by: Itsuwari

Reads: 731 | Likes: 0 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 4

A short story assignment from my Creative Writing class. The purpose of the assignment was to practice dialogue, so it may feel a little lacking. I sincerely hope you enjoy. Comments are appreciated as always.

The constant dripping of the upstairs bath faucet was the only sound that penetrated this perfect silence. I sat comfortably in my recliner, my laptop set aside. I had finished my novel at long last. It had practically consumed my life, and it was a relief to finally be done with it. I could just lie back and let the dark calming scene lull me to sleep. I let my mind wander to the world I had created for myself so many months ago. My eyelids grew heavy, laden with the perfect stillness of the moment. I couldn’t have kept them open if I’d tried. But I didn’t try, I just let myself drift away…

“Edward.” A voice penetrated my silence, my perfect silence. “It is time to wake up Edward.”

I opened my eyes slowly, curious who called to me by that name. I was met by a sudden, blinding light. “Who’s there?” I asked, a slow fear gripping me.

“It is I, Edward, it is I.” He spoke calmly, coolly.

I tried to focus my eyes, but I could not. In horror I realized I couldn’t see. What’s happening? Where am I?!” I tried to left my arm against the overpowering light, but I couldn’t move, I couldn’t even feel my limbs.

“Fear not, Edward. All is fine.” He spoke cheerily.

“All is not bloody well!” I exclaimed. “Where in Hell’s fiery name are we? Who are you? What in hell’s going on?!” I felt my fear being slowly replaced by anger. Irrational, unmeditated anger. “Answer my questions, or so help me God I’ll…”

“You will what, Edward? Think ill of me?” I felt the smile in his voice, the power.

I took a deep breath. Counted to ten. “I don‘t understand.” I said calmly, nearly whispered.

“You will.” Was his only response.

Deep breaths.

I tried to remember what I’d been doing, but my mind raced out of control. I tried to think of what could be happening, but it was futile. The more I thought, the more my head ached.

Deep breaths.

“Where are we?” I made my voice calm, steady.

“That is not for me to decide.” He replied curtly.

“What…” Deep breaths. “Who are you? What is your name? Why are you hear?”

“My name is of no consequence.” He stated simply. “As to why I am here, that is not for me to decide.”

A sudden realization overcame me. “Am I… am I dead?” I whispered the words.

“Oh me no, Edward. Think not of this as death.”

“Then what in bloody hell…” Deep breaths. “Then what is this, a dream?”

“Yes.” He said, as if it were the most obvious thing.

“So then you are not real?” The light began to fade.

“Again, dear Edward, that is not for me to decide.” He spoke so calmly, so powerfully. His voice was laced with the power I knew so well. The power over something, or someone. The power I felt over my characters. I knew that he knew me completely, whoever he was.

“Are you God?” I spoke the words before I had even realized that I thought them.

“Oh dear me, no, Edward. I am no more God than you or anyone else.”

“Then…”

“Perhaps,” he interrupted. “You seek to understand the wrong person.”

“What do you mean?” I began to regain some feeling in my limbs.

“That is not for me to decide.” Again, I could hear that power within him, I could feel that pure sense of being. The light was gone now. I sat in a dark room, surrounded by ghost images of furniture. I wiped my eyes sleepily. Had it all just been a dream?

“Of course it was a dream Edward.” And with that the voice went silent. I heard a car pull into the driveway, lights flashing through the curtained windows. The front door opened slowly. Groaning lazily in discomfort.

“Why is it so dark in here?” Natalie asked, shutting the door and turning on the lights. She moved into the kitchen, groceries in hand. “Charles?”

“Yes.” I said, standing and following her into the kitchen. “I was only napping.” I helped her put away the groceries.

She regarded me with an amused expression. “How is your novel coming along?”

“My what?”

She laughed to herself. “Your novel, Charles. You know, the one you’ve been working on non-stop for nearly eight months.” She smiled at my brief moment of confusion.

“Oh, right, right. It’s…” I looked back at my laptop. “It’s finished.” I said with a feeling of finality.

“Did Edward ever find his lover?” She asked in earnest. She had always taken interest in my work, she had always supported me. A very belated realization overcame me.

“In a way.” I answered. “But enough of that,” I pulled her into a tight embrace. “How was your day?”

FIN

Submitted: September 26, 2008

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Me Against The World

Very interesting, shocking that no one has commented. Well it certainly does have a lot of dialog, but then again that was the point. Well, you did a wonderful job of clumping an assignment with making it appealing. ^.^

Sun, September 28th, 2008 3:19pm

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Thank you, I don't really like it, but I thought it'd be interesting to see how others react. I'm glad you found it interesting.

Sun, September 28th, 2008 1:14pm

Vampire Roxas

WOW it's amazing. strange how not many people have commented. Loved it

Thu, November 6th, 2008 5:26pm

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Not strange at all I think. Thank you very much for the comment.

Thu, November 6th, 2008 12:53pm

Vampire Roxas

of course

Thu, November 6th, 2008 11:47pm

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Thu, November 6th, 2008 4:10pm

Wolven Instinct

So THIS is the creative writing project that was driving you insane, I take it? ^-^

Sun, November 23rd, 2008 4:52am

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Nope, in fact, I completely forgot about this assignment until the day it was due, so I wrote kinda half-assedly in class right before she told us to turn it in =^.///=

Sun, November 23rd, 2008 7:18am