scijessreads

I’m still slowly pecking away at what looks to eventually become a novel (Tentative title: Afraid to Fall). Likely a romance novel, with the way things are going. So far, it has just under 11,000 words. I’m taking a break from writing to go back and do some editing already, as I have decided to change the focus a bit, and I would rather start doing that now than have to go back when it is all done and remember what I wanted to fix in the first place. And along the way of editing, I am adding in some new chapters and perspectives. Below is an excerpt from one of those new chapters that has come out of the edit process already.

This story is taking threads from my own life, and giving them new life in a different story. A story where maybe I can change the ending from what actually happened to what could have happened. A case of sliding doors, if you will. This has been a process full of surprises. I’ve been posting some of my short stories and essays here, but not anything from this work yet. Let me know what you think. I’m still not sure what I’ll do when I finish it (because I will finish it at some point), maybe do what I did with my old poetry and make an ebook out of it. I’m not really looking to sell books yet and become an author, but I think I may want to share it if it turns out half-decent. We’ll see. For now, just a little look…

Long-Distance Communication

Last Fall…

My eyes were starting to cross. I leaned back in my rolling desk chair and glanced to the clock on my wall. Almost 1am. This is last time I pull an all-nighter I think to myself as I grind the palms of my hands into my aching eyeballs and stand to stretch. I really should have started this damn paper earlier, but I got distracted talking to some of my hallmates in the campus cafe and now I’m paying the price. Luckily, my roommate is sleeping soundly, so my terrible time management skills are not affecting her. Small mercies, I guess. 

I turn to the side of the desk and open my mini-fridge, pulling out a Cherry Coke. From the basket of snacks on top of the fridge, I scrounge for a bag of Cheez-Its. The late-night study fuel of choice lately. Definitely not healthy, but it gets me through the times when I am stuck staring at a computer screen and contemplating my life choices. Which right now consist of me trying to psych myself up to write 5 more pages of self-reflective fluff just so I can get something done to turn in to class tomorrow morning. This morning. Ugh. 

Halfway through munching my crackers, a faint ping sounds from the computer. I pull up the messaging app and check to see who it is. Drake. That’s random. We haven’t really spoken to one another since graduation.

Me: Hey! What’s up? Why are you up so late? 

Drake: Just got back in from the late shift at work and saw you were on. What are you doing up so late? Usually you have the sleeping habits of a senior citizen. I snort quietly into my Coke. 

Me: Procrastination got the best of me. I have to finish a paper before class tomorrow. 

Drake: You?! Procrastinating? Never 😉

Me: Ha! Usually it isn’t this bad, but I guess it had to catch up with me someday. 

Drake: Well, I guess I should quite bothering you so you can finish. 

Drake: Hey, maybe we can chat sometime when you’re not up late doing homework? 

Me: Sure! Text anytime. The conversation may pick up at random times when I’m in-between classes, but I’d love to. It’s hard keeping in touch with everyone now that we’re not all in the same city. 

Drake: I know. And OK, I’ll text you sometime tomorrow. Good luck! *thumbs up emoji* I can’t help but smile as I drain the rest of my soda and flex my fingers, getting back to writing my paper. I’m not sure why Drake messaged me in the first place, really, but I’m glad he did.