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Life Lines

July 16, 2018 by Alice Nelson 29 Comments

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.

Filed Under: Drama Tagged With: Drama, fiction, Flash fiction, Short Fiction, short story, writing

About Alice Nelson

Alice Nelson is a regular contributor to Short Fiction Break. She currently co-hosts a flash fiction podcast called A Creative Mind Fiction, where she narrates her original stories. She also co-moderates a flash fiction writing group. She is the author of Hell Is for Puppies, a horror-filled collection of short stories. You can hear more of her writing here.

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Comments

  1. Roy Dorman says

    July 16, 2018 at 10:57 am

    Great story, Alice. Writers often have lovable characters, good or bad, who they become attached to. I know i do.

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:04 pm

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

      Take care.

      Reply
  2. Diane Turner says

    July 16, 2018 at 11:04 am

    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
    • Duane Turner says

      July 16, 2018 at 11:10 am

      Obviously, typing in the dark was not a great choice. Sorry for the strange word…sigh

      Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      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. Billie Wade says

    July 16, 2018 at 11:16 am

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      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
  4. John Hotchkiss says

    July 16, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    Now this is a wonderful story! Super work!

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you very much John!

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  5. Lyn says

    July 16, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      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
  6. Evelyn says

    July 16, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Writer’s block? I will never be able to desert my characters again and leave them in the dark. Inspirational stuff. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      Wow Evelyn, thank you so very much!

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  7. Ralph says

    July 16, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    Whoah!!
    Good twist!
    Nice quick read.

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 6:45 pm

      Thank you Ralph!

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  8. Victoria Norton says

    July 16, 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Hi Alice I enjoyed this, clever!

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 16, 2018 at 8:58 pm

      Thank you Victoria!

      Take care.

      Reply
  9. Avon Leonard says

    July 17, 2018 at 6:56 am

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 17, 2018 at 2:06 pm

      Avon, thank you so much, I appreciate your kind words.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  10. Krish says

    July 17, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Hi Alice, beautiful story, looking forward to hear more tugging stories from you.

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 17, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you Krish, I’m so glad you liked the story. If you are interested in more of my stories, you can find them here:
      https://shortfictionbreak.com/author/pocketvenusalice/

      Take care.

      Reply
  11. David Monodanga says

    July 17, 2018 at 11:17 am

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 17, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you so much David! I am so glad you enjoyed the story.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  12. William Marcus says

    July 21, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 21, 2018 at 6:47 pm

      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. Isabella says

    July 24, 2018 at 8:21 am

    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
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 24, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Thank you so much Isabella, I am thrilled you liked the story!

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply
  14. Jessica Deen says

    July 26, 2018 at 12:01 am

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

    Reply
    • Alice Nelson says

      July 26, 2018 at 12:41 am

      Wow! Thank you so much Jessica for your kind words, I truly appreciate them.

      Take care,
      Alice

      Reply

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