Hoe for Hosie

The Other Side

Hope's PoV

I'm a writer, and for me, the greatest joy lies in escaping reality by immersing myself in the worlds I created.

Sharing those worlds with others who seek an escape is equally fulfilling.

People often say that happy endings are clichéd, yet many love them for the hope they provide. Others prefer sad endings because they resonate with the struggles of real life and acknowledge that not all stories conclude with joy.

I gravitate towards writing sad endings because my own life has been filled with sorrow.

I lost my parents when I was young, and the girl I loved, Josie, passed away two years ago.

My Aunt Freya worries about me constantly. When I'm not pouring my emotions into sad stories, I often find solace in alcohol. I drink to cope with my sleepless nights, where my thoughts are consumed by memories of Josie and the life we shared.

•••

"Why not try writing about a vampire and a human?" Penelope suggested.

We were in my office at the publishing company, busy brainstorming ideas for our next stories.

"And in the end, they fall in love, and boom—happy ending!" Maya added, eliciting a chuckle from me.

I had been asking them for the best plot to write about.

"That's so predictable, Maya. Sad endings are better," I said, but they scoffed at me.

"Hope, you've been like this since your girlfriend died," Maya said with concern. "It's been two years; it’s time to move on."

I didn't want to move on.

"If Jojo were alive, she'd be upset seeing you like this," Penelope said, squeezing my hand gently.

"I know, but Josie loved tragic stories. That's why I want to write about them," I replied, forcing a smile.

"No, Hope, listen to me!" Maya said angrily, grabbing my collar. "All your readers are complaining. You've been writing tragic stories for two years, and they want you to explore different genres like you used to." She let go and stormed out of my office.

I felt lost; I didn’t know if I could write anything else.

"Hope," Penelope said softly, drawing my attention. "Josie died two years ago. She won’t come back to read your stories like she used to." She patted my back before leaving.

I missed Josie. I missed her so much.

•••

Flashback:

Josie's PoV

Hope and I have been dating for three years now. We fell in love in high school, though our love story wasn't perfect at first. Hope used to bully me, and I was the only one who stood up to her.

That dynamic led us from her teasing to true affection.

"Hey, baby, what are you doing?" I asked when I saw her focused on her laptop.

We were at our favorite coffee shop, close to Hope's house.

"I decided to publish the stories I've written on Wattpad," she said, standing up with a wide smile.

"Really?" I exclaimed, and I hugged her tightly.

I felt so proud of her. Writing was her passion, and she dreamed of becoming a published author.