Running [h.s.]

one | luna

Welcome to "Running"! I love reading your thoughts, so feel free to comment frequently during the story!

The room is quiet and empty, mirroring the epicenter of my brain where ideas are created. Which, ironically, is the only thing I want to make a little bit of noise. I need some noise. A good idea. Some call it 'writer's-block,' I call it 'I'm so fucking screwed.'

Sunlight pours in from the tall windows and illuminates the room with it's bright amber glow. The air is thick with the smell of paper and Purell, and the only noise is the ticking of an old grandfather clock and the scratch of my pencil moving across a mostly-blank page in my brown leather journal.

A story, they said, write us a story. There may be a scholarship involved. And boy, do I need that scholarship. Writing isn't just a hobby for me, it is the only thing I can imagine myself doing as a career. The whiff of a brand new book is my favorite smell, scribbling words my favorite pastime, and I swear ink swims through my veins. But there is nothing in the world that I can write about that hasn't been done. Love. Death. Lust. Murder. Heroes. I push the round brown frames of my glasses back onto the bridge of my nose and turn my attention to the window. Outside, I observe the climbing tree in my front yard, the identical yellow flowers like little smiles resting on their limbs. A blue songbird perched on a branch, head tilted back and singing its sweet melody. But nothing inspires an idea. Nothing provokes a thought.

The green leaves on the tree begin to blow and the bird spreads its wings and soars into the air. I follow one particular leaf as it is swept up and carried through the air by a gust of wind. It dances and twirls like a poised ballerina, floating and gliding to the song of the air. I watch it steadily descend and land across the street at the foot of the cemetery gate. I sigh. There must be something to inspire a story.

I turn my attention back towards the assignment's rubric and review my requirements. You have until the end of the spring semester to turn in a story, maximum 200 pages. We will examine them carefully and accept only adequate, gifted writers into our Graduate Writing Program. A few may be given scholarships regarding impressive talent. Please provide your story, a copy of your undergraduate transcript, and a brief, one-page essay about yourself and reflect upon the work you are submitting. Thank you for your application; please make this your best work.