Pages

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

"Lost" by Chelsea M


Disclaimer: This is a fictional story. Not a narrative. Fiction. This is not me. This disclaimer is very necessary because everyone that reads this thinks it is based on my life. It is not. Thank you, over.



I was late. I hurriedly padded down the stairs as I gathered my dark hair and secured it with a rubber band. I pushed past the swinging doors of the restaurant’s kitchen and ran past Dawson, who was seated at the counter, coffee and newspaper in hand.

“Anna? Aren’t you supposed to be…?”

“You didn’t wake me up.”

He shrugged. “I thought Robyn already did.”

“She’s with her mom, shopping downtown for your wedding!” I snapped and turned the corner into the stock room.

“Oops.” He said, standing confused and half-asleep in the doorway. “What are you doing?”

“My keys.” I muttered, scanning the floor. “Have you seen my keys?”

“Nope. Why would they be in the stock room?”

I groaned, crouching under a set of shelves. “Are you going to play twenty questions or help me find my keys?”

“I’m out of coffee,” he pouted. “Maybe your keys are by the coffee maker!”

“You’re no help.” I mumbled, crawling to the other end of the room. I have no idea what Robyn sees in him.

Finally, wedged between two boxes of ketchup, my thumb found the cold, jagged metal that was my keys. I let out a sigh of relief and pushed the case aside to grab hold of the jingling, magnetic collage.

I stood, my eyes coming face to face with the plaque. The keys in my hand suddenly became irrelevant. I scanned the familiar face nailed perfectly to the wall. I remember the effort it required for me to get the plaque just right, parallel to the door frame and thirty-six inches below the ceiling. Dawson had to move it several times because he couldn’t stand my response when a customer asked me about his best friend, my deceased brother. I’d suffer constant questions. What rank was he in? How long had he been over “there”? And people praised me for his sacrifice for our country. A pang of nostalgia hit me square in the chest and the walls closed in around me, making it suddenly harder to breathe. I reached up, tracing over the embossed letters of our shared last name.

The noise of someone clearing their throat made me jump, my hands instinctively moving to wipe the tears from my eyes.

“I should just put that away already,” Dawson muttered.

“No.” I croaked. “No, it’s nice here.”

“You cry every time you see it.”

“But it’s a good crying. It means I’m feeling something, right?”

He looked at me as if questioning whether or not I was sure of my words. I couldn’t blame him. He’s seen me cry over this plaque enough times to question whether or not this really was a “good crying.” After a while, he looked down at his watch.

“Don’t you need to…”

“Yeah.” I nodded, wiping a last tear. “I’m going.”

“Say hi to him for me, okay?” He said as I passed him. And for a split second I saw it. He was hurting just as much as I was. He lost a brother, too.

That afternoon, I put two flowers onto a gravestone.

51 comments:

  1. This is a nicely written piece! I was hooked from the beginning and I could not stop reading it! I was curious to know what would happen next! I really like how you used dialogues because I feel like I was right there next to Anna. The scenario was really realistic and relatable. I was surprised at the ending and I got a little emotional at the end. Overall, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, Chelsea! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your story. It is very captivating, from start to finish. Your characters are so distinctly animated and your use of vivid imagery conveyed a powerful message. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This was such a great story. The detail you used to describe the simplest things really added to your piece. The way you allowed the reader to understand the character's feeling was very interesting and personal. Also that last line summed everything up in a creative way. Good job. It was such a well written piece.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This story seems very honest and personal, and I admire the way you took the story to a whole new level and made it seem real and sentimental.

    -Sabrina Rondero Per.5

    ReplyDelete
  5. This was really good, how you were able to fit so much feeling, and a mini story in such little words I don't know, but it was still good. The conversation flew effortlessly, and the readers are able to enter the scene without wondering how they got there, GOOD JOB!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This story was just...wow. I loved the detail and imagery and how the story began so simple and turned into something so powerful. The last sentence really put everything into perspective and gave the story a strong emotional message. Good Job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This story was very well written. The way you incorporated the dialogue made the story realistic.The dialogue was witty in the beginning and the way you used it allowed you to quickly change into an emotional setting. Good Read!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Okay, so, from what I've known about you, I don't know if you're much for sentiments, so I'm going to avoid questioning about why people would think this is personal (Notice the use of satire there...)

    But really. I HATE YOU TOO FOR THIS. Because this brief piece of fiction, honestly made me feel so many types of emotions. I can't even reciprocate what they are. All I know is, there was a pang in my heart by the end.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the ending because to me, it was the closest thing I had to seeing the lives of army families. Sometimes we get so caught up in moving on. It's nice to see that people still hold on even years later.

    And I loved that quote: "'But it’s a good crying. It means I’m feeling something, right?'"

    I don't know if you've seen the movie 'Sundays at Tiffany's,' but there was a scene when one of the characters is in awe as to why he's crying and doesn't know what tears are, really. And a random old man passing by tells him, "it means you're human."

    I loved this piece a lot. I think it's refreshing to know that it's okay to let go of what society says you need to do (in this case, move on), and just let go of the things burdening you. It's also heartwarming to see this character still hold so much love over her brother, showing us that she will never forget him. I also found it interesting that you decided to show that Anna felt guilty for Robyn too because she wasn't the only one who'd lost a brother.

    Fantastic job, Chels. Maybe you should dive into some more creative writing?

    ReplyDelete
  9. The feels! This piece is great! I especially enjoyed the line, "And people praised me for his sacrifice for our country," which army families can relate to and it is subtly self- undermining. The little details like "thirty-six inches below the ceiling," were a nice touch that made the story more believable. -Emily Wilt per. 1

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great job, Chelsea. I really enjoyed reading this story. The very specific use of imagery and character description made it possible to really see the complete situation unfolding. The use of "common people" made the piece very believable and easily connectable. The feeling that happens when a loved one passes away was conveyed perfectly in the story from the common language to the emotional imagery demonstrated in the story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This story was beautiful. It perfectly captured the heartache and sorrow which follows the loss of a loved one. We, as civilians, are so prone to take the sacrifice of our armed forces for granted. It's tributes like these that remind us of the true cost of freedom. I loved this piece from beginning to end. I especially admired the fact that the deceased soldier was the main characters' brother - it made the story all the more impactful for those of us with siblings. Fictional or not, the message of this story rings true.

    -Christina Tapia

    ReplyDelete
  12. This piece was amazing. It was short, yet it contained so much emotion. Your detailed descriptiveness of everything put me into the moment with the characters, and everything flowed so nicely. The last line was my favorite, "That afternoon, I put two flowers onto the gravestone." It ended the piece perfectly. At the beginning, she seemed kind of annoyed at Dawson, but its obvious that she still loves him as a friend/family member. The idea that losing someone can actually bring people together is bitter, yet beautiful at the same time, and you really showed that delicately in this piece!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Chelsea, I think you did a great job on this piece. I love stories that have a twist at the end, so I really liked that you did not make it clear where Anna was going until the very end. It made it all the more touching to read about. Your attention to detail truly added an aspect of reality to the story, and I could picture this situation actually happening. I even found myself wanting to tear up at the simple way you ended your piece. Really amazing work!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This reminds me of fanfiction. I love fanfiction. The best thing about this was your use of dialogue to move the story rather than explanation. If you had written out "My dead brothers picture is on the wall. I miss him. Sometimes it makes me cry so I go to his grave and his friend is sad too" it just wouldnt have been as effective as using dialogue to build a bond between the characters as you show us how they're connected by this tragedy. This was just fun to read and I actually WANTED to keep reading. That's pretty rare.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This was an extremely well-written piece. I wanted to read more after I was done. I swear girl you should write a book ;)
    The details you put into every sentenced hightened the emotion present within the plot. I felt what your character felt although I have not lost a brother. I also had a perfectly vivid image in my head of everything that was playing out in your story. Great job

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gosh, I feel like because I'm pretty much the 100th person (not really) to comment on this, there's not much left to say because everyone pretty much stole the words out of my mouth.
    I think this piece was beautifully written; it evoked so much emotion to not only appears to be me, but to all your other readers out there. That means you're doing something great! Or that just means you just incorporated great pathos into your story. The story line, altogether, was just great. Everything flowed so delicately and nicely. Though I really enjoyed how you ended the piece, I think it was the way the story ended in itself, that made me want to read "more" of the story. Good job Chels! ☺

    ReplyDelete
  17. Chelsea this is just a perfect piece! It a story behind the family that not a lot people focuses on. Its a hard lost but knowing he died protecting his love one will always display a soldier as a hero to this country. You displayed this tragic emotion very well. I love how everywhere we go, everyone tries to show respect one way. Great Job Chelsea, You do you.

    ReplyDelete
  18. the first of the story was like really good and the climax, good job on this piece
    -jakob cadena

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great job! I wanted to keep reading because I was so into the story. I loved your use of imagery when describing the picture and Anna's deceased brother. Good job on the dialogues of the characters also.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You did a great job on your story; it was well written and i liked it alot. I liked how you used dialogue in you story it gave your story a little suspension to your story. Because you never know what's going to happen next. Good Job!!

    -Natalie Anguiano

    ReplyDelete
  21. I loved this piece and I felt that you executed it well. I really like the humor that you were able to weave into the story and the easy transition from one emotion to another, you were able to give ample description without over detail. Overall a wonderful piece and certainly a tear jerker. Great job!
    -Rachael R. Rubalcava

    ReplyDelete
  22. your story was fascinating because of how real your characters are. I can distinctly see who they were and understand the life that they have had, both their struggles and defeats. The ending left the audience feeling both sad but also more fully aware of how one's life can change so fast. I loved the message behind it and your relatable characters.

    -Marcopolo Anzora

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your story really touched me. Through your vivid description of the situation you captured my attention throughout each and every line. The references to the plaque stirred emotion in me because I can identify with the loss of loosing someone. The way you suddenly made the story pause was amazing because it felt as if I paused in my life to. You did an excellent job.

    ReplyDelete
  24. your story was fascinating because of how real your characters are. I can distinctly see who they were and understand the life that they have had, both their struggles and defeats. The ending left the audience feeling both sad but also more fully aware of how one's life can change so fast. I loved the message behind it and your relatable characters.

    -Marcopolo Anzora

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is one of my favorite entries by FAR. It was so well written, I honestly felt like I was reading a published author! The way you wrote the exchanges dialogues was actually my favorite part about this, because you made it so natural; and it really shows the sign of a mature author. The ending made me cry but really great job Chelsea!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love this Chelsea! It's really emotional and I was able to picture what was happening in my head. I was sad when it ended, because I wanted to know more! You know how to write a really beautiful piece that captures people's attention. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great story Chelsea, all the detail made me see everything clearer and the character description was really good. Great job ! - Alexis Chiong period 6

    ReplyDelete
  28. WOW! Your piece was so amazing. You were able to intrigue me with the simple disclaimer to placed in the beginning. The line, "This is not me," made me wonder who exactly it was and what this story could possibly be about. From the opening storyline I was hooked. I felt the rushed and panicked feeling as the character did. The automatic irritation toward the character's brother. The whole time while reading I couldn't help but wonder, "Why is she in such a rush? To be where?" The moment you wrote about the plaque on the wall it was as if time had stopped. This was such a beautiful story great job!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This story hit me right in the feels. The military background of my father makes me realize how real this can be, and indeed is. He refuses to speak of those days, and this piece highlights exactly why. The pain it brings back is vicious, and can strike with the least provocation. Extremely nice, well written piece.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I liked this a lot. It was really full of emotion and it really expressed to the reader what they were going through. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I really enjoyed this, the dialogue made everything feel very real and it evoked emotions. This was really great
    -Haley T.

    ReplyDelete
  32. DUDE. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CHANGED IT.

    Alright, I'm not really mad because I actually really like the changes you made, but oh well. Chelsea, you have a real knack for writing. I'd honestly love to read more of your work, if you would ever let me. You captivate your readers through your attention to detail and you have this power of some sort that allows your readers to relate and "feel" for the characters. Good looks on the disclaimer, by the way!

    Let me read more of your works. K, peace out girl scout!

    ReplyDelete
  33. That was so good and sad. Even though you said it wasn't about you it seemed so personal and real. You did a great job in the end by stating that Dawson had also lost a brother. Overall it was a really good story.

    ReplyDelete
  34. The style of writing here actually made me want to continue reading it all the way through; not just because I needed to finish the piece of reading I had started, but because I was truly intrigued, wondering what would happen next. Nothing about it is convoluted or confusing, and the twist from casual to emotional at the end was so perfect, even though it wasn't entirely joyful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. this piece was poignant and demands some sort of emotional response from the reader. both the dialogue and situation convey this emotion so well. well done Chelsea
    - Justin Myers

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow, my feels are just exploding! This was great. I loved how simple of a story it was but it was so powerful. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great work! This story was very detailed and captivating loved the connection between the characters good job - Haley Brown

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is a really nice piece Chelsea. It's great how you didn't reveal the loss of the brother until the end and you made his death that much more significant to the girl through extreme detail of her perception--the picture being 36 inches from the ceilng. Backtracking, it was also nice how you transform a seemingly everyday, humdrum occurence like searching for your keys into something emotionally transcendent. It's beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This is a really nice piece Chelsea. It's great how you didn't reveal the loss of the brother until the end and you made his death that much more significant to the girl through extreme detail of her perception--the picture being 36 inches from the ceilng. Backtracking, it was also nice how you transform a seemingly everyday, humdrum occurence like searching for your keys into something emotionally transcendent. It's beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  40. A very poignant story, close enough to reality not to be ignored yet still distant enough not to bring one to too much sadness. One of the best slice-of -life stories ive read. Good work

    -Arturo D. Ayala

    ReplyDelete
  41. What an interesting piece! Your usage of dialogue really allowed me to clearly visualize exactly what was happening in the piece. You managed to put in so much details while also keeping the story short, which I find incredibly difficult to do! So, major kudos to you! The statement about the "good crying" was extremely touching because people nowadays pretend that everything is well in order to hide their vulnerabilities. However, in this piece, you send out the message that it's okay to show emotions, because it just shows that you're that much stronger. While making this an enjoyable read, I absolutely loved how you put in such a deep meaning to the piece. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow, Chelsea, great job. This piece was effortlessly impacting from beginning to end. The dialogue between the two characters felt natural and realistic. The way you portrayed the main character's point of view was effective and heart-wrenching. This piece was so relatable that I actually cried. It's hard to capture this feeling with words, but you captured it so beautifully. I especially loved the quote, "But it’s a good crying. It means I’m feeling something, right?" Again, amazing job and well done.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Really fascinating dialogue Chelsea. This story evokes so much underlying emotion. It relates to those who have loved ones that served our country in the military and how their sacrifices can really affect them. The story is very captivating and provides a narrative that is very relatable. Good stuff

    ReplyDelete
  44. This piece was amazing Chelsea. Even your first sentence provided enough action to engage the reader. You truly captivated your audience's attention with a slight twist, despite the melancholy of the topic. I appreciate your disclaimer though; thank you for clarifying that this does not relate to your personal life. Nevertheless, the intensity and action of merely finding the set of keys was exquisitely illustrated and the trip downhill was illustrated with ease. Wonderful job Chelsea.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wow. What a beautiful story. You show signs of a great storyteller with the techniques you use. You really drew me into the story from the beginning. I loved how you were able to create great characters in such a short story. I found it to be both funny and sad. I actually want to know more or read more of this story. It was that GREAT!
    -Jay Moritz

    ReplyDelete
  46. The amount of emotion you were able to put in this story with so little words is pretty amazing. The small little details and the interactions between the two characters made the scene very realistic. Great job. - Oscar Salazar

    ReplyDelete
  47. I liked the rushed feeling that was used in the beginning; it literally gave me no idea about how it would end. You wrote a really good snippet into the lives of people - fictional people that reflect a lot of other people's lives - who had lost someone and I think that it was very well written and touching. It makes me feel for the people in the world who go through this feeling. Good use of imagery and I like the subtle input of how life goes on with the fact that Dawson is getting married (I don't know if that was intentional, but I noticed it) and that they will always remember the deceased. I really liked it!

    ReplyDelete
  48. CHELSEA!
    Those tacos we had earlier were great. (Not to mention, I had 7)
    BUT THIS BLOG ENTRY WAS EVEN GREATER!
    I am honestly so glad you changed your mind when you were about to show me it earlier today,
    because if you hadn't, I would've been crying my heart out in your car, in some random parking lot.
    It gave me chills, because I felt like I was in the same room as the characters and I was watching
    Anna stare at her brother's plaque. I sympathized with her, but at the same time, I felt that
    "good feeling". Brilliant piece. Honestly, this is my favorite and I'm not just saying that
    because we're like super close. Hahaha!
    Keep up the AWESOME work and can't wait to read your chapter book! ;D


    ReplyDelete
  49. LOL to the fact you actually had to put the disclaimer. "Wow Chelsea, this is so sad, I didn't know you had a brother" hahaha. Anyway, to see this published on the blog with everything final and corrected made it an even more beautiful piece. It amazes me how you can write flash fiction so easily, I always need a ton of background or I have to think super hard to be as creative to even come up with a topic. Your topic was different, it had slight humor and it easily flowed. Your meaning was heart-warming. I felt so many different emotions while reading it, first I was like, where is this going, and then I was like, omg, and then at the end I was like dude, this is real life. (cept maybe not YOUR life, but others). The reality that you showed me through this piece really reminded me that we have so many dedicated heroes for our country, and many people do not realize the pain that their loved ones go through too. Overall, I loved it and i'm glad it came together so nicely.

    -Alyssa Che

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wow this was really good Chelsea! You deserve like a nobel prize! I really liked the whole idea of the story. This really got to my heart, making me all sad and what not. But great job haha!

    ReplyDelete
  51. wow, what great story i was never bored i like how it kept it short but portrayed a lot of emotion

    ReplyDelete

Remember, make your comment positive, supportive, and specific to the piece you're commenting on. No anonymous comments! :)