I'm so excited to be working on my first short story. Because I'm so new to this, I've decided to share the first chapter, just to get some constructive feedback and honest opinions. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Chapter 1: Annie
There it is. That regular dull tone of the alarm
clock, 6am sharp. Just like every other morning. I will press the snooze button
three times, five minutes each, just like I always do. Then I will get out of
bed, drink the same mint tea that I have every morning. I’ll then go to the
bathroom, weigh myself, groan and tell myself that the diet starts today. And
then I’ll proceed to eat something sugary chocolate bar for breakfast, forgetting
the promise I made myself just moments ago.
Then I will get ready to go to my boring job, where,
like every other aspect in my life, I do the same thing over and over again. I
work in travel insurance. Sounds exciting, it really isn’t. There is nothing
exciting about asking people the same questions over and over again.
“How long are you travelling for?”
“Any prescribed medications?”
“Are you well enough to travel?”
Still, it’s a job, and it just about pays the bills. I
know that that’s more than what a lot of people have, so I try to be grateful,
but I also know it’s a lot less than what some people have.
My life is just fine. I’m happy. Most of the time. I live
in a cosy home which is close to where I work, I have a full time 9-5 job with
a regular salary, not a good salary, but one that I can rely on. My rent is
always paid on time, I have a nice, clean home, food in my belly, a small group
of friends that I can trust. I live alone so I don’t have to cater to anyone else’s
needs. I’m independent, my own person.
But sometimes, I crave something more. I’m 29 years
old, and what really do I have to show for myself. Most people my age are either
settled down with a mortgage and a family, or they’re off seeing the world,
going on adventures. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy. I like my Friday nights alone
in my pyjamas, with a glass of Pinot Blush and a puzzle or a good book. But
sometimes, I’d like someone to finish the puzzle with me, or go on a
spontaneous adventure with. I feel like my life is walking the tight line between
comfortable and mundane. I’m ready for something to shake things up a bit.
I look at the time. I still have fifteen minutes
before I have to leave for the office. I sit down and begin scrolling through Instagram
to pass the time, torturing myself with pictures of beautiful people in bikinis
on tropical islands, or in their newly decorated family home, enjoying a
healthy breakfast of yogurt and berries. I sometimes wonder if people actually
eat those breakfasts, or just take pictures to make the rest of us feel bad,
then demolish a doughnut and a cappuccino.
As I’m scrolling through the feed, my phone begins to
vibrate in my hand. I don’t even have to look to see who is calling.
My mother. Gloria.
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