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Dark and Introspective Fiction

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Archives for February 2021

Happy Birthday

February 21, 2021 by Shane 3 Comments

Today is the second birthday of my first book, a collection of short stories titled This and That but Mostly the Other. The process of publishing This and That was me jumping into the unknown with both feet, something up to that point I wasn’t necessarily used to doing. It is a history of where I’ve come from as a writer, but more important than that, a sense of what the future would bring.

That future continues to unfold, and as far as author Shane goes, nothing looks the same as it did before I pressed the publish button for the first time. Starting a business, growing that business with a human being more like me than anyone I’ve ever met (yes, that should scare all of you, Wonder Twins power activate!). I suspect that very little will look the same in two years time, and I look forward to it.

Today is also my birthday. Let’s not worry about the number. It’s not important, is it? What’s important is that even though I’m so old and tired, I’m still moving forward, and as hard as it can be sometimes I’m still trying to do better. I have a lot of better to do, at least in my opinion. While I’ve been on this amazing writing journey, much of what’s going on in the background hasn’t been much fun. Jobs and relationships and pandemics. In this space as well, I suspect very little will look the same in two years time, and once again, I very much look forward to it.

Shane Kroetsch Image

As much as I wanted to, I don’t have a new book for you today. The release date of the current work in progress has been pushed to July because, well, 2020 happened. Hopefully I don’t need to explain. If you would like a little insight, check out my blog post from December, Keep Moving Forward. What I do have is a completed manuscript for Chasing the Storm, the third instalment of The Storm series. I won’t use the word final, because as much as I want to move on to other things, I can see that one day I might pick it back up. I’m proud of it, both for the quality of the story and how well it’s coming together. You may not believe it when you see the first page of edits, but I promise it’s true.

The opening scene is old, one cut from Surviving the Storm that went through a perspective change and was in need of some general tidying up. While it’s just entering the first round of edits, I’m happy with it. This is not a feeling I get very often, so one I’m grateful to be able to share. I can’t wait for you to see it!

The last two years have been a whirlwind. I want this year for me to be not so much about redefining myself, as finding a way to be myself that is sustainable. I want to be more responsible with my time and energy. To be more realistic with my goals and workload. The freight train is still rolling, but at a speed that means it will continue to do so for a long, long time.

So, happy birthday to This and That. Happy birthday to me. Here’s to a year filled with amazing opportunities. Now, bring on the cake, and the pie, and then some more cake.

***

Photo by Angèle Kamp on Unsplash

Filed Under: Blog Post

Unexpected Gifts

February 20, 2021 by Shane 2 Comments

I check my watch. She’s late. I was really hoping she wouldn’t be late.

Gaetan strides up beside me and flicks the butt of his cigarette into the dark. He blows smoke and watches me from the corner of his eye. “Relax. This will all be over soon.”

I chew on my lip and watch the crest of the hill. The cast iron park bench. The Victorian lamp post beside. A silhouette emerges from the shadows and Angelica stops under the bland electric light. Her coat is buttoned to her chin. Dark bangs cover her eyes. Her fiery red lips stand out like the ‘x’ on a treasure map.

My heartbeat hammers in my temples. “Okay. She’s here.”

“I see that.”

“Are you sure this is going to work?”

Gaetan frowns. “Of course. You need to trust me.”

“Right. Trust you.” My hand tightens around the handle of the cloth bag resting against my thigh. “Okay. Be right back.”

Gaetan steps away. “Remember to breathe.”

The click of my heels echo around me as I climb the path. Angelica is still as I approach, showing no recognition, until I stop next to her.

“Hello, Thomas.”

“Hello, Angelica. Thank you for meeting me.”

“It is confusing. Being told that we should not see each other. Then you ask me to meet you here, of all places.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just… I have something for you.” Her eyes follow as I hold the bag out. I swallow against the lump in my throat. “A gift. To say thank you.”

Her shoulders relax and she faces the darkness. One hand rises and pulls the top two buttons of her coat open. The lace fringe of her bra matches her lips. “You know how I prefer to be thanked, and how I show my gratitude in return.”

My intention to maintain eye contact fails. “I can’t. We can’t. You know that.” I stretch my arm. “Please.”

Angelica sighs and takes the bag. With the handles spread wide, she peers in, then for the first time to me. “What is this?”

“It’s, well, it’s a doll.”

She reaches in for the doll and lets the bag fall. When she squeezes the body, it crinkles. “It is made from?”

“Dried grass. I think.”

Angelica scowls. “Thomas, what have you—”

Her breath catches. What little colour her skin held evaporates. The whites of her eyes show, and she folds to the ground.

“Angelica?” I rush forward and take her free hand. The doll is clutched tight in the other. “Angelica, are you okay?” Her skin is cold, lips twisted in a permanent sneer.

I scramble away and run down the hill. Gaetan steps onto the path to join me. “So?”

“Gaetan, I think she’s dead. What did you do?”

“You asked me to take care of your situation. So, I did.”

I lace my hands over my head. “That… that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Perhaps next time you should clarify your expectations.” He leans out and looks along the path. “Besides, she is not dead. Only, incapacitated.”

“Next time? Wait… she’s okay?”

Gaetan puts his hands in his pockets. “We can discuss details another time, since you now find them of interest.” He walks the path toward the hill. “In the meantime, it would be best if we collect your girlfriend and leave.”

***

Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash

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Filed Under: Story Tagged With: Flash Fiction, Short Fiction

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