Writing in the Dark
Emma was typing away at her computer--continuous clicking, clacking. Pause. Right-Click. A triumphant sigh erupts in the air.
"Woo! At last, I finished my final chapter." Emma relaxed into her office chair and kicked her legs up onto the desk filled with crumpled up notebook paper. A fifty-seven chapter long fanfiction perhaps wasn't the smartest idea, although the satisfaction she got from her friends and small supporters made it all the worthwhile. Emma looked up at her glow-in-the-dark stars, which weren't glowing at the moment. Emma blew air into her cheeks, exhaled, and comfortably positioned herself in the chair. Although, she didn't have much time to close her eyes before being engulfed by the sound of what she thought to be a thousand single-chiming bells.
Emma's face lit up at the cheery sound, "Comments!"
The screen shone brighter as Emma scrolled to the most recent notifications tab. Thirty new comments. She grinned as she clicked on each one. All the comments had similar messages along the lines of, 'Wow! This would sell millions!' or, 'I can't believe it's over already, please write more!' Emma giggled at the enthusiastic comments surrounding her works. What had started as a way to express her imagination, which was filled to the brim with ideas, had turned into a place for many to share that joy with her. She had been getting many requests to officially publish her stories. She sunk back into her chair with a doubtful mind. She could make many people --including herself-- proud. Could she actually achieve something like this?
Charlotte's mind wanders off to her freshman and sophomore years of college; the third board meeting this week was beginning to bore her yet again.
"Outstanding work, Charlotte!" The English professor, Mr. Genovese, praised Charlotte. She beamed as her A+ paper was handed back to her.
This was not the first time Mr. Genovese dismissed class early to speak with Charlotte. In fact, it had almost become routine to do so every Friday. Mr. Genovese enjoyed teaching English, which he had a burning passion for, but it wasn't the curriculum he was teaching every student. Mr. Genovese taught a select couple of students who had more of an interest in writing, since Element College had begun to dissipate it's English classes due to technology taking over. Mr. Genovese still had hope that some students would appreciate the old ways of writing.
"Have you thought of entering your works in any festivals? Perhaps the annual one downtown?" The professor was sure that his prized pupil could succeed in becoming a well-known author.
Charlotte grinned, "Why of course! I've been collecting a series of my pieces--knocking them down one by one until I have the perfect one! Although..."
She looked up at her bald superior, "They all seem to be perfect by what I'm hearing!"
"Why, I guess you could put it that way, but you should be careful as to where--" Blinded by her daydream of success, Charlotte cut the man in glasses off without listening to a word out his mouth.
"Ah! I've got it, I can do this. Thank you, though." Charlotte grinned ear to ear, leaving no time for the confundled man to speak.
Immediately, Charlotte skipped out the class with absolute glee, and back into the chair she was currently sitting in. Sadly, those days were long gone. Charlotte sighed as she slowly returned to the reality of being surrounded by malicious board members..
"The annual writer's convention is coming up! Ironically, one of our most recent hires--Ms. Charlotte James-- will be a judge for the first time!" The sly tone, half-lidded eyes, and mischievous smirk of the well-dressed man sent shivers down Charlotte's spine.
