Finish the Story!

Seriously.  Finish my story.  I don’t want to.  I have no idea where I want it to go.

This story came from a prompt from my good friend, G.r. Bliss.  You can find that post here.

Now, to the story.  I really wasn’t a big fan of it, but G.r. talked me into sharing it with him.  He didn’t mind reading it so much, so I’m sharing it with you guys.  But, of course, I want you to finish the story.  Is it her husband?  Is it someone else?  Is a werewolf saving her – oh wait, that’s been done.

Finish the story.    And if your ending wins, I’ll send you a free paperback copy of one of my books, your choice.  (Sorry, no international shipping, but you will get a digital copy if you win!)  🙂  You have until the 14th to send your ending.  It can be as long or as short as you like.  The winner will be announced on the 20th!

Send it to emerald_barnes (at) yahoo (dot) com – subject line “Short story ending”  I look forward to reading what you have to write!

My hands were numb.  In fact, my whole body was numb, but it wasn’t from the snow and cold wind that surrounded me.

I walked with no destination in mind, needing to escape.  I didn’t understand what was happening.  I really didn’t understand much.

I slipped my hands into the pockets of my jeans, hoping that would warm them.  Snow stuck to the bottom of my slippers.  I hadn’t even bothered to put on real shoes when the letter came.  I had run out the door, dropping the letter in my wake.

I was at the edge of our property.  An old bench sat there, waiting for someone to come along and rest their weary feet.  But, it wasn’t my feet that were weary.

I collapsed on the bench, the snow melting through my jeans.  My body shook with cold chills.  The wind tossed around my hair, and cold tears ran down my cheeks.  I welcomed the tears.  They were the evidence of some emotion coursing through my mind.  It was better than being numb.  Numb I couldn’t handle.

He was gone.  For good.  There was no coming back from this.  Death was permanent.

The rushing of the water down by the creek drew my attention.  I stood, running towards the water.  My slippers fell off, and I tripped over a log.  I picked myself up and continued running.

I came to a stop on the bank of the river.  I could end it.  I could end everything.  The pain.  The tears.  All it would take was a dive into the water, pulling me under the current and taking my body away.

I closed my eyes and prayed for forgiveness.  Would God grant it to me if I took my own life?  The life of our little one growing in my stomach?  I couldn’t live without him.  He was my everything.  But I couldn’t kill our child.  It wasn’t fair to it.  No.  I’d have to find a way to live with the pain.

I caressed my stomach.  I’d just found out.  I was three months pregnant.  He’d been gone for only two months.  How could his death have happened so quickly?  Why would God let him die?

With one longing glance at the river, I walked back towards the house, praying for some kind of relief.

Someone called my name as I sank to my knees, looking towards the sky.  Cold snow fell on my face.  My body shook violently, and I knew that I had to get inside and warm up my body for the baby’s sake.  But my legs wouldn’t work.  I had no will to keep going.

I sank down, lowering my entire body to the ground.  I covered my head and violent sobs shook my body.

“Traci.”

I was going insane.  I could hear him saying my name.

“Traci.  Get up.”

I wanted to lay here, give in to my insanity if it meant hearing him speak my name one more time.

Warm hands picked me up easily and carried me inside.  A blanket was placed over my body, and a blurry figure walked away from me.

“Oh, Traci.”

The person rested a hand on my forehead.  “You shouldn’t have been out there.”

I forced my eyes open and blinked away the tears.