Existential Fiction

Chapter 1: Emptiness

My eyes widened in horror. No, no, no! This just cannot be happening! I scanned the situation with my eyes. Went back and retraced my steps. My favorite character did not just die! I flipped the pages and even read ahead a little just to make sure. But there is no escaping this horrible truth. I set down the book, face down, on my bed. I sat up from my reading position and just sat there. I didn’t know what to do. I felt so empty.

My best friend had read this book before. We’re pretty similar in our tastes. She might be able to help me out here.

I dialed her number. It rang several times before I heard a voice. “Hey! This is Brooke, and I’m not answering right now…” I knew the routine. I hung up. It would’ve ended with: “…obviously. So, um, please leave a message. If you want. Okay, bye!” Every time I hear that voicemail I smile a little. It described Brooke almost perfectly.

But I didn’t smile this time. I could’t bring myself to express any emotion except almost sadness. You know that empty feeling when you want to cry but you just can’t? Yeah. I know that feeling all too well. It was 2am in the morning. No surprise. In these kind of situations I’d usually take a walk or get my mind off of it doing something else. But I couldn’t think of anything I could do to get my mind off of this fictional at 2am. I decide to call Stella. The only other person I could think to call and might pick up at this hour.

I don’t know if she’s ever read this book, but I know she’s gone through character deaths before. I have too. But this is my first time for my favorite character. It kind of hurts more.

I dialed her number. It rang several times before I heard a voice. “Hi.” It was a whisper. I whispered back. “Hey.” I say. I felt so monotone. “Are you okay?” She asked. “Stella,” I start. “Have you ever been through the death of your favorite character?” I heard her sigh in desperation. “More times than I would have chosen. Why? Did it happen to you too?”

"Yeah." I managed to answer. "Well, I understand. I don’t really have any advice for you, sorry. All I can say is that your emptiness - I’m assuming that’s the stage that you’re at - will soften. You won’t ever be over it completely, but it’ll get a little better." She answered back. "Thanks." I tried to change the subject, mostly to distract myself. "So what are you doing?" "Oh, you know. The usual. Taking advantage of the wi-fi on a Friday night." Stella is a fun person who I can almost always count on. She’s sort of socially-awkward, but I am too, so it’s okay. 

After a few moments of silence, Stella said to me, “I really should get to bed. I’m going to that new amusement park tomorrow!” I could tell she’s really excited. “That’s awesome! Have fun!”

We said goodbye, and I decided I should try sleeping too. I found a bookmark after thirty seconds of searching for one and stuck it in the open page. I dropped the book on my floor out of anger (and love) towards the author. How could this just happen? 

I set my phone on my nightstand after fifteen minutes of liking and reblogging on Tumblr. I turned around and laid on my side. Just then, my phone buzzed. Ugh. I just got comfortable.

I picked up my phone, and smiled at the name of the person who texted me. It read:

hey dani. sorry i didn’t answer earlier. i was lazy and didn’t want to wake up my family or else i’d get caught staying up this late. oops. anyway, what do you need?

Normally, this kind of text would bother me. But with Brooke, it just doesn’t. I understand it.

I texted back.

It’s okay! I just experienced my first favorite character death. It’s rough. We can talk about it tomorrow though.

I was so tired. I sat down my phone again and readjusted my sleeping position. I yawned and took the little energy I had left to close my eyes. “Sweet dreams,” I heard a British female voice say. “Sweet dreams,” I answered back, subconsciously. 

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Hello chickens of the internet. I had a bolt of inspiration all of a sudden. I asked my followers on Instagram for information about themselves so I could create them into a character. I’m still taking offers, if anybody wants to send me (in my ask box) their:

Name. An idea of your personality/personality traits. Likes and dislikes. Favorite character (and what TV show/book/movie etc it’s from). Anything else you want me to know/want your character to have.

So if you like this, let me know by “liking” this, and I’ll post more and maybe get a Wattpad for it so it’s less confusing.

Thank you all so much!!

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CHARACTERS

Protagonist - ukelle.tumblr.com | instagram.com/lemurswift

Brooke - talesofadivashipper.tumblr.com

Stella - instagram.com/madeupofswift