How to End a Narrative
You lay down your pen and look at what you’ve made so far. It doesn’t seem to be perfect yet, but you could see its potential as a masterpiece. Smiling, you stretch your arms above your head and get up to grab a cup of coffee.
You yawn as you rub your eyes, tired from the day’s exhaustions but inspired enough to finish your story. You grab a mug and reach for the coffee grounds when you hear a little voice whisper in your head.
“Kill her off,” it said quietly, almost seductively. “Kill her.”
Your mind zones in on your protagonist lying in the middle of the room in a pool of blood. You could see the tears falling from your reader’s eyes as the soothing voice of the narrator praises her good deeds and offers the most beautiful elegy. You smile at the possibility.
Just then, a desperate voice cries out in your head. “No! Don’t kill her! It’s so cliché!”
You wince, but consider how it has been typical of you to play that card in your numerous personal concertos. You bite your lip as you stand in the middle of the kitchen, undecided on what to do.
Yet another voice chimes in. “Kill everybody instead! Kill them all!”
And another. “Let them resolve it and have peace forevermore.”
And another. “End at a cliffhanger and leave the audience wanting more!”
More and more voices come forth as your mind goes over the possibilities of how to end a narrative. The wave of ideas reaches a crescendo and you cry out in frustration as you bang the coffee you have not made on the table.
Everything suddenly goes quiet, and you are left to your own thoughts again. You hear a stirring from your room and quickly run back, worried about waking her up.
You open the door and see her look up at you, frightened. You release a breath of relief and walk towards her. Stroking her hair gently, you readjust her gag and tighten the ropes that bind her to the ceiling. She struggles, but seems to be unable to move further.
You pause to stare at your handiwork and rub your chin. As you consider the anger flashing in her eyes, you are suddenly hit by inspiration and hurry back to the table. You pick up the pen and slowly take off the top to reveal your favorite knife.
The muffled scream and panicked rustle of skirts confirms that you have made the right decision, and you smile. Coffee be damned, there’s a story to complete.
You step towards her.
–
Image source: deviantart.com/dewfooter/art/Handwriting-193211021
This story won first place at a weekly contest at the Scribes and Scribblers Discord community.
First written November 18, 2017.
#108