Short Fiction Break

Break From Reality. Daily.

Life Lines

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Life Lines

My life has been reduced to a few lines on a piece of paper. My memories are fading fast, and I know that if I don’t write them down they will be gone forever.

My name is Martha Geller. But I think at one time my surname was Jensen, so maybe I was married — maybe I’m currently married. I just don’t know anymore. To hold on to some sense of myself, every few minutes I say my name over and over so I don’t forget it.

My name is Martha Geller, my name is Martha Geller, and I’m scared.

Lately, my thoughts have been scattered, reduced to short memory flashes of my life. It’s hard to know what’s real and what isn’t. Sometimes I can recall a coffee shop — maybe I work there, or get my caffeine fix there on my way to work, maybe it’s nothing. Am I going crazy?

My name is Martha Geller, my name is Martha Geller.

Where was I? Oh yes, random flashes. They come periodically, but I wish they would stop — I can’t make them stop!

But when these flashes finally, mercifully end, I feel sleepy … so sleepy, and the dreams in this heavy sleep state are incredibly vivid, it feels like I’ve actually experienced them. So each time I wake up, I write down what I think are lifelines to a world that is slipping away from me. I want to hold onto them, so they don’t vanish. But I don’t know how much longer I can do this.

My name is … Martha … Geller?

I know I was happy at one time, I’m fairly sure of that. I remember the smiles — a man, he could’ve been my husband, my lover, perhaps. His face is so beautiful, and I can feel that he loved me — loves me still maybe; he could be out there somewhere looking for me; I just don’t know.

There are times when I’m simply in this dark space, without even a single hint of light. I can hear a man’s voice, and a woman’s too. They’re talking — about me? I think so. He’s angry — no, worried, and she’s soothing him, telling him it will work out. What will work out? This dark space scares me more than anything. I think I’m going to lose who I am in there — I think it’s already happening.

I hear him again — the worried man, he says he wants to end things, start over. Is he leaving me? The woman is encouraging him, she’s telling him that if that’s what he needs to do, then he should do it. I begin to panic. He’s leaving me — I know it. I can feel myself fading fast. My name is … I don’t know anymore. It’s gone now, the memories are all gone now … I’m in the dark space — floating.

****

“Honey, you’ll figure it out. You always do,” Vivian said to her husband, Ian.

Ian Waverly wasn’t so sure. He had a deadline, and needed at least four chapters to show his editor in a week’s time, and his story wasn’t coming together as quickly as he had hoped. He smiled at Vivian. She was his rock.

“I’m worried, Viv. I’ve written about this character for so long, maybe these changes are too much.”

She gave him a stern look. Ian knew that look. It meant that Viv thought what he said was complete and utter nonsense. “Martha Jensen from the first three books is now the newly married Martha Geller. It’s the fresh start you were looking for,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I know. It’s just hard saying goodbye to who she was in those earlier stories.” Ian gave Viv that sheepish grin she loved so much.

Vivian stroked his hair and kissed him. “I have faith in you, my love,” she said as she left him alone in his office. Viv always knew when to give him encouragement, and when to give him space.

Ian opened his laptop and stared at the blank page. The cursor blinked in the upper left hand corner, waiting for his instructions.

As he began to write, Martha Geller, formerly Martha Jensen, began to awaken from the darkness. She felt herself coming alive again as Ian Waverly began writing the first lines of her new life.

Comments

    • Roy thank you so much, and you’re right, we writers often have characters that really stick with us.

      Take care.

      Reply

  2. Wow! Alice, you have hutbit out of the park. I love what you did here, and, as usual, I am blown away by your imagination. Thanks for sharing your work.

    Reply

    • Diane, thank you so very much, hit it out the park, that is so kind of you to say. I am glad you enjoyed the story! Ha, I try not to type in the dark too, you did better than I do.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply

  3. Alice, I appreciate your great story. I’m currently in the same shoes as Ian. My story isn’t working, and I’ve worked the past two years trying to get it to come together. When I changed the name and the plot, I found I had an entirely different story, so then I had two novels. I’m feeling very frustrated. Thank you for the inspiration. Happy writing.

    Reply

    • Billie, thank you. I totally understand the frustrations that come with writing a novel, and am honored that you feel my story is an inspiration for you. I hope that you can quickly work through the difficulties your experiencing in writing your story.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply

  5. Wow! I love your story! What a fascinating twist. I envisioned an old woman with Alzheimer’s disease. My dad had that, so I could really relate. But instead, a story character was teetering on the brink of a character arc. Such an imaginative turn of fate to write from, the main character’s perspective of the author as he brings the character to life — or not — in this case, the death of an old identity and birth of a new one.

    What profound implications. Is that how we feel as we pass from this life and our Creator finds new purposes for us?

    Your story concept is what author, editor and story writer C.S. Lakin calls a “strong concept with a kicker.”

    Reminds me of a M Night Shyamalan twist ending, like in his movie The Sixth Sense.

    Made my day! Please keep up the wonderful writing!

    Reply

    • Lyn you have made my day! The C.S. Lakin quote, and a comparison to M. Night Shyamalan, I’ll be floating on air all day. Thank you so much!!

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply

  9. At first I thought you were describing someone going through Alzheimer’s. That’s exactly how some people live every day.
    Great story. Beautifully described.

    Reply

  11. Oh My God. This is a mind blowing short piece that i would love to keep reading again and again and again. I’m sure my two years-old daughter would love a copy of the Life Lines.so creative, especially the part where the protagonist overhears Ian and Viv. i love that creativity Alice.

    Reply

  12. Alice, You did it again, wrote something unexpected and original. I would never have guessed the ending. It reminds me of the encouragement I get from my best friend–my wife. I read all your stories and enjoy every one. Sincerely, as always

    Reply

    • Oh William, you just made my day. I truly appreciate you being a constant reader of my work, knowing that is an encouragement to me.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply

  13. Beautiful story! I was engaged from the first line itself. Never felt more connected with a character so instantly! Through the end Martha remained a mystery. Ian is so like millions of writers who struggle with their character. I could relate to him. Great work Alice

    Reply

  14. Alice,
    What a captivating story! I loved the twist. It was unexpected, but done brilliantly. Excellent work.

    Reply

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