Welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Each morning I spend fifteen minutes writing on a singular story line. Each morning starts with the last line of the previous day. The goal is to get a (very) rough draft out of the simple story idea and to avoid letting the story idea languish in limbo forever, actually writing it out. This is the third year I have done this writing experiment and each year I learn just a little bit about myself and the way I write as well as creating a framework for the story. But without further ado…
Day 6: The air vent’s kicked on wafting cool air through her room.
The air vent’s kicked on wafting cool air through her room. The breeze from the vents caused the plastic bag around her dress to rustle. The bag seemed to whisper to her. Gwen slipped off of the bed and walked to the dress. She lifted the plastic bag, exposing it to view.
The dress was a dark blue. It was deep and rich and looked fantastic with her dark hair and slight tan. The dress looked good on her when she bought it but after a session with a seamstress, it was now tailored perfectly for her. It fit her perfectly and she felt like a princess wearing it. She knew it would not only look good on her as she danced but it would look amazing in photographs.
Gwen stroked a hand over the material. It was butter soft and when she spun it ripples like water. When she tried it on and performed a few dance moves, she felt as though the dress was floating around her. She knew that while her looks were acceptable, she wasn’t stunningly beautiful. She was cute at best. Wearing this dress made her feel beautiful.
“And now I won’t get to wear it,” she said. Gwen stared at the dress.
“No, I am going to wear it,” she decided. She squared her shoulders. She planned to go with Carl, but there was no reason she couldn’t go without him. It was a dance for all of the seniors and she was still a senior even if she didn’t have Carl as her date.
“I can go alone,” she decided.
The thought felt good. She squared her shoulders. It would be hard walking in there alone, knowing that everyone expected her to be with Carl. She knew there would be whispers and comments.
“But I will look beautiful,” she said. That had to count for something. And even though final exams were complete and there were no more classes, there was still the graduation ceremony to get through. Gwen would have to face everyone sooner or later. She would rather do so when she knew she looked her best and not when she was wearing the same identical gown as all of her other classmates.
“You would have,” a voice said from the doorway.
Gwen turned to find her step mother standing there. She looked at Gwen sadly. “It is a pity you won’t get to wear it now.”
“I will still wear it,” Gwen told her. She could practically see herself walking into the ballroom in the dress. The scene began to play in her head.
“Someday maybe,” Her step mother said consolingly. “But I don’t know where that would be. We don’t have that many formal events.”
“I plan to wear it to the dance,” Gwen said.
“Oh no dear,” Sharron said. “I already heard the news from Julia’s mother. Carl will be going with Lisa.”
“I can still go on my own,” Gwen said.
Sharron blinked and her mouth fell open in shock. “You most certainly cannot. What would people say?”
“They will say I look beautiful,” Gwen said.
“No,” Sharron said. “You can’t go on your own.”
Ten til Midnight 