There is a palpable sense of struggle and inner turmoil conveyed through the narrator's dialogue and private reflections. The unseen "companion" seems determined to keep the narrator in a place of self-doubt and loneliness. Exploring their motivations and origins could add an interesting layer of mystery. Perhaps in a moment of clarity, the narrator begins to suspect this voice does not have their best interests at heart. Some of the key elements that point to this: - It explores complex questions about identity, loneliness, and the human psyche. The narrator is grappling with who they are at a deep, introspective level. - There seems to be an element of uncertainty about what is real vs. what is a product of the narrator's troubled mind. The unseen "voice" could be imagined or could be external - this leaves the reader questioning reality alongside the protagonist. - Mental/emotional distress and interior conflicts are central to the plot and character development. The narrator appears to be suffering from loneliness, self-doubt, perhaps other psychological issues. - Mystical/supernatural events (the voice) are left open to interpretation. They could be literal, or they could be symbolic of the narrator's internal struggle personified. This psychological/interpretive angle is common in this genre. - Prose has a subjective, stream-of-consciousness quality that draws the reader into the narrator's fragile mental state and highly personalized perceptions. So in summary, I think this blends psychological complexity, questions of reality/identity, and interiorized storytelling to qualify it as a work of psychological fiction. Of course, other genres may also apply as it continues to unfold. But so far the focus on the narrator's psyche seems the defining element.
2 parts