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 183: As she turned the corner the thought left her as she saw Mrs. Lewis.
As she turned the corner the thought left her as she saw Mrs. Lewis. It was almost a shock to see her there. She was reaching for a box of tissues from the display. She picked up a box put it in the cart and saw Gwen. She gave a start and a warm smile spread across her face.
Gwen felt relieved by the warmth.
“I heard you were back,” Mrs. Lewis said. “How was your trip?”
“Great,” Gwen said. “In fact, I’m just her to get my stuff because I am going back.”
“Wonderful,” Mrs. Lewis said. “We’ll miss you of course, but I’m glad you like it there. Or at least enough to move.”
“We’ll I’d have to move anyway,” Gwen said. “Dad’s selling the house so I am getting everything and what I don’t take with me is going to his new place.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Lewis said. “I heard some …rumors but as Lisa usually keeps me apprised I…”
She let the sentence trail off and there was an awkward pause as they both thought about Lisa.
“Dad and Sharron split,” Gwen said. “And the house felt too big.” The comment broke the silence and Mrs. Lewis nodded.
“I can see how it would be,” She said. “I’d hate to rattle around in our house all alone too. I just wouldn’t be able to fill that much space.”
“I think his new place is more manageable for him although some of the stuff from the house will move over after staging and the house is sold I imagine.”
“I’m sure it will,” Mrs. Lewis said. “Well, I won’t keep you. No doubt you have a million things to do. I am so glad you are looking well, and you have clearly found your place.”
Gwen nodded, unsure what to say to that. Mrs. Lewis turned and walked down the aisle and Gwen tried not to look after her and watch her walk away. That somehow seemed more final. When she thought Mrs. Lewis was gone, she pushed her cart forward and consulted her list, trying to get back on track.
Somehow Mrs. Lewis’ words kept sliding through her brain. ‘found your place’. It seemed a strange thing to say ad the words kept circling. She had a place here. Or thought she had. She was Lisa’s best friend and Toby’s girlfriend. In one swoop that was all gone.
‘But I suppose I have found a new place, but it is a different one.’ In her new place she was Gwen as, well, Gwen. She wasn’t Gwen the best friend or the girlfriend, she was Gwen as Gwen.
‘I kind of like that,’ she decided as she pushed on with her shopping. “I’m me defined by being me.”
The thought brought her an odd warmth. She kept the warmth inside as she finished up her shopping and loaded the car. She drove home feeling happy with herself. As she reached her neighborhood and pulled into the drive, Gwen realized that she hadn’t checked the time before leaving the stores.
To her surprise there was not just one, but two cars parked in her driveway.
Ten til Midnight 