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 65: Aside from the mental questions about her evaluation, she was not even thinking about work once she left the office.
Aside from the mental questions about her evaluation, she was not even thinking about work once she left the office. She did her job, completed all of her required tasks and then left work behind as she headed home. It was a great feeling of release. With the release, Sophie found that there were changes in herself as well.
When she got home she wasn’t tired, her stress levels were lowering. More importantly, she could see the changes in her designs. Before work dominated her thoughts so much that most of what she created were outfits that could be worn in an office environment. While she still had work wearable drawings coming out sometimes when she sketched, there were also other outfits. Designs for clothing more suitable for wearing out to dinner or going for drinks with friends or dancing in a club. The sketches she was making now, leaned more towards a life outside of the office.
In addition, Sophie caught herself looking at activities outside home and office. She found herself looking up movies and museum exhibits that she wanted to attend. She even actually went to a movie, taking Janine with her as they both wanted to see the film. Sophie felt her world was expanding. It was a freeing feeling.
The days continued past and ne morning Sophie drove into work, contemplating the museum exhibit she wanted to make time to see. It tied fashion with literature, linking the intellectual with the physical world. It centered on the concept of Courtly Love. While the exhibit featured works of poetry and decorative items, there were associated fashion pieces and embroidered items she wanted to look at.
‘I might not be making Elizabethan style gowns anytime soon, but some of the embroidered designs might look lovely on the dressing gowns.’
Sophie parked and went into the office. She gathered her materials for the day and headed to her desk. Kristen offered her a slight smirk as she passed.
“Morning,” Sophie said. Along with leaving work at work, she was beginning to ignore Kristen’s moods.
“Morning,” Kristin replied. “Evaluations are starting today. I hope you are ready. Good luck getting off probation.”
Sophie smiled back. “You too.”
Kristen frowned past the sharp edge to Sophie’s smile and Sophie continued past to her desk. When she checked her e-mails, Sophie was unsurprised to find that her evaluation was scheduled for later that morning.
She checked her clock and decided she had plenty of time to get started before she had to be present in Mr. Evers’ office. ‘Might as well get started.’ Sophie worked until a few minutes before ten and then started to lock her files away before going to her evaluation. As she walked past, Kristen again smirked at her. The look didn’t give her a pleasant feeling.
Ten til Midnight 