Oh Em Gee, more writings.

So I've gotten the intro to my book done. It's rough, and I think the pacing is a little off, but for a start I don't think it's bad, really. I've never really sat down to write a novel before, and all the short stories I've attempted were never more than a few pages long. This is only about 2 pages single spaced, but it sort of sets up the story a bit and introduces two of the main characters enough to grab people and make them invest themselves in what happens next.

At least I think it does.

Anyway, let me know what you think


"You really want to know? The moment I'll be the happiest is when whatever powers that pull the strings of this reality reach into my chest and wrap their fingers around my heart and stop the beating."

Dr. Richard Forth looked up from his notes at Daniel King and merely let his eyes fall upon the man. He'd been his psychiatrist for several months now, but felt any progress achieved was either hollow or short-lived; pyrrhic victories. This discourse just happened to re-enforce his feelings on the subject.

Still, he avoided giving any physical indications of his disappointment. "And why do you feel this way, Daniel? What would death bring that living does not?"

Daniel sat up; the first time since the session had started, and stretched his arms wide. Letting them fall slowly to his sides he turned his head ever so slightly to look the doctor right in the eye.

"It wouldn't bring anything, really." He gave a self-assured smirk and collapsed back onto the couch he was initially reclining against. An old green and mauve sofa in a terrile pattern. Certain areas looked threadbare, and others were stained with some undistinguishable substance. At one time, he was sure, the couch was quite fashionable. Now it seemingly mirrored Daniel's existence. He had recommended Daniel discard of it for something more modern, but the man insisted he'd 'finally broken it in.'

"Then why say it would bring you happiness, hm?" He was pushing Daniel now, and knew it. Sometimes the only way to make progress with him was to push, and push hard. He was tired though, and doubt he could carry on the pointless back and forth for long. He glanced down at his watch to note how much time was left, and cringed slightly as he looked back at Daniel and saw he'd been caught.

"Why not? Nothing else seems to work." Daniel gave a slight look of disgust towards the doctor, and closed his eyes. "Look, we both know this is going nowhere. I'll pay for the full hour, so go ahead and leave if you want. Even I can tell this is annoying."

For a moment, Forth did nothing, but he slowly gathered his items, jotted down a final few lines in his notebook, and closed it slowly. Once all his effects were in his briefcase, he closed it and looked to Daniel, who was still laying on the dilapidated couch as if he were made specifically for it.

"Daniel, look," he gave a slight pause. "There's something I want you to try."

Daniel opened his eyes and turned his head, so at least he knew he'd gotten the man's attention.

"Our sessions aren't working, so I want to try something a little different. Something that will get you out of the house, for once."

Daniel audible scoffed at this, let out a dry laugh, and turned over in the couch so his back was to the doctor. "You can show yourself out, Doc. You know as well as I do that I can't leave this damn house. What'd you call it- Agoraphobia? So you know I can't leave or I'd have a breakdown."

Forth could feel the cocky attitude behind each and every word, and now it was his turn to audibly scoff at the notion.

"You know as well as I do that your phobia is purely self-inflicted. You've merely lived the lie for so long you're starting to believe it. Look around you, Daniel: this home is your self-imposed prison, and you're serving a sentence for crimes that were never your fault, or that you should ever be held accountable for. Your mother-"

Daniel sat upright with a speed the doctor hadn't seen in weeks. Where was once a listless and careless man, now stood a seething pot of emotion and torment. "Get the fuck out, Forth. Our session is over."

He made a mental note to himself to add this to his write-up once he left, but at the moment merely nodded to Daniel. "If we're to make progress, then this needs to be a two-way street, Daniel. If you are ready to take the next step," He reached into his breast pocket and produced a small envelope. "Then you'll leave the house and come with me. The boat leaves in two weeks."

"Boat?"

Forth smiled, and merely placed the envelope on the coffee table separating the two men. He slid it towards Daniel, and walked to the front door, grabbing his coat on the way.

"I know you'll make the right decision, Daniel." What he was doing, and how he was acting- it was unprofessional. Forth knew it, but he also knew Daniel was a special case. If he didn't push, he wouldn't be able to get past the walls and barriers that he'd put up over the years, and he'd never make any serious headway with the man. He gave him a nod and opened the front door. Daniel spoke.

"And if I don't make the right choice?"

"Well, then I just wasted six hundred and fifty dollars, plus tax." He gave a smirk and walked out the door, shutting it behind himself without giving Daniel a chance to reply. He was halfway to his car when the front door burst open and Daniel ran out to catch up with him.

"A cruise? To Alaska?! Are you crazy, doc?"

"No, but I think you could use the change of scenery, don't you?"

Daniel said nothing, but stood there, clutching his itinerary in one hand and the torn envelope in the other. Forth could sense the trepidation in Daniel's mind as he actually considered going on the trip.

"When we started, you wouldn't even go out your front door. Now look at you: you didn't even hesitate to follow me. I still believe you're keeping yourself here with this phobia, Daniel. The cruise is a way to break down at least one of the walls you've erected, and let yourself actually start to heal. This house is poison, and yet you stay. Why?"

Daniel was going to retort, but the doctor held up his hand, pointing to his watch. "Now our session is over. I'll see you in two weeks, Daniel." He smiled at the other man and continued to his car.

"Dr. Forth, you can't expect me to go on this trip, can you?!" His voice sounded slightly panicked, but it didn't concern Forth too much at the moment. He had a feeling that Daniel would get over it just in time. If anything, his ultimate choice would give him some more insight into Daniel than their sessions ever could. His only response was to turn and simle again, and give a short wave good-bye as he got into his car.

As he pulled away from the house, he glanced into his rear view mirror at Daniel, who was growing smaller by the second. Just as he turned a bend and he disappeared from sight, he thought for a moment he saw a look of peace on the man's face, followed by a flash of something that sent a shiver down to his very core. He shook it off and continued his drive home.

In two weeks, he'd know just how deep Daniel's psychosis was, and just how to begin to heal it.