The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 26: Sophie fastened her seatbelt and turned the key in the ignition.
Sophie fastened her seatbelt and turned the key in the ignition. She navigated her way out of the parking lot and turned onto the road leading away from the office complex and towards her apartment. She held her breath, half expecting to be called back. She wasn’t. The cell phone remained quiet and she made her escape. Sophie pulled into her building complex and parked in her assigned spot with a feeling of relief and release.
She did not have to go back to that office for a full month.
Sophie took a deep breath and felt the tight bands around her lungs relax. She would not have to navigate her co-workers affairs and whatever issues were currently causing tension between them. That there was tension between Kristen and Ryan was not a surprise. She could feel it radiating across the cubicles. The week had been too busy for her to even bother attempting to listen in and figure out why. “Maybe whatever it is will either blow over or blow up while I am gone.”
Sophie gathered her bag and left her car, making sure it locked behind her before heading to the building. Too tired to take the stairs she waited for the elevator and let it take her up to the second floor. It dinged, letting her out and Sophie stepped onto the floor. Standing in front of her apartment was Janine. She was wearing a wide grin and holding a chilled bottle of champagne.
“I thought this called for a celebration,” she declared as Sophie walked towards her.
“Something happened?” Sophie asked.
Janine rolled her eyes. “Partially for me, yes, but that was a last second addition. I saw how late you got in all week and figured everyone piled on to make up for the fact that you won’t be there for the next month to help them out so I figured we could celebrate your release from the office of doom for an entire month and you could get out whatever you’ve been bottling up about their behavior so you could start your month clean and free.” Janine smiled. “Plus, I thought we could split a pizza.”
“Pizza sounds fabulous,” Sophie said.
“Excellent,” Janine said. “We will order, you can tell me how horrible the last day was, purging while we wait and then we will celebrate.”
Sophie smiled. “I appreciate it, come on in,” Sophie unlocked her door and they walked in. “Make yourself comfortable, I just want to change.”
“Will do,” Janine said. “Love the outfit by the way, your designs?”
“Based on a magazine, although I did some minor alterations to suit me as I am not as tall or as thin as the models used. The magazine should still be on the coffee table if you are interested.”
Sophie left Janine in the living room as she ducked into the bedroom and changed into more casual clothes for lounging with pizza and champagne. She smiled at the thought. While she planned to put work out of her head, she half suspected she would brood over her afternoon before setting it aside and that it would be the trip to the fabric emporium in the morning that would cleanse her mental palette. ‘This way is much better,’ she decided.
Ten til Midnight 