THE END - Nanowrimo Day 25 - 3592 words (53950 words)
Okay, slightly different ending than I had anticipated but only because there’s an actual ending. I initially wanted to leave it open ended where nothing was resolved. And while a lot of things still aren’t, well, there’s an ending of sorts. You’ll see.
And, of course, this may all change. But I think that for the most part the first draft is done. Now it’s time to edit. And woo, doggie, are there edits.
But I’m done. I feel a sense of accomplishment greater than simply breaking the 50,000 mark. I’ve finished the story (somewhat). That’s a good feeling. I mean, I could have his 50k and said that’s it, I’m done. But, no, I wanted to finish. And even if it’s only about 4k over the Nanowrimo mark, I think this is a greater accomplishment.
Now to clean it up.
***
You don?t remember if you dreamed or not.
You just feel like shit in the morning when you wake up.
You are sore all over, a side effect of restlessly sleeping on a couch and too much alcohol and not enough water consumed the night before.
Your head is killing you.
But your stomach is thankfully fine.
You sit up and blink the sleep out of your eyes, looking around and trying to recall where you are, stuck for a moment in that freshly awake daze where you are unfamiliar with everything.
Then you remember you are at Lynn?s.
You look at your watch and see that it is just after ten.
You hear a voice from the kitchen say heads up and turn face first into something flying through the air.
Your forehead takes the brunt of the impact, but it?s not much of one, and a bagel bounces off your head, the armrest of the couch, and then tumbles to the floor.
Lynn apologizes as she walks into the den and you bend over to pick up the bagel.
You look it over, decide that it?s clean, and bite into it.
Lynn plops into her chair, dressed and ready for the day, tearing into a bagel of her own.
She asks if you slept well.
You say you?ll get back to her on that.
She pats you on the knee as she says poor baby in a coddling voice.
She asks what time you have to be at work today.
You say three, you?re working another late shift.
She asks if you want to do lunch.
You think about it for a second as you chew another piece of your bagel and then shake your head. You say you should probably go home, take account of things.
She finishes for you, says that you will also eagerly wait by the phone for an oh so important phone call. Right?
You feel like you should smile there, at least smirk, acknowledge the joke, the absurdity of the comment.
But you know that?s exactly what you?ll be doing.
So you don?t say anything, you don?t do anything, just eat your bagel.
She says she has to go out, run some errands. That she?ll try and stop by the diner tonight if she can find that tape for you.
You say that would be great as you stand up and stick the bagel in your mouth, using your teeth to hold it there while you pat yourself down and make sure you have everything you came with, keys, wallet, the usual.
And you do.
Lynn gets up and follows you to the door, opens it.
You thank her for the bagel and the alcohol and the talk.
You say you really appreciate it. That it was good. You needed it.
She smirks, says yeah, just try and think about what she said. Think about what you?re still asking for, wanting. Please.
You nod but aren?t sure what you?re going to do.
She says to have a good day at work.
And she wishes you all the best with your girlfriend.
Sap.
You smile a bit there, you know the humor in that, you acknowledge that much.
You say you?ll see her later as you step out into the hallway.
She says that we?ll see about that.
And closes the door.
