Sample from "The Bone Spirit"
Jamie Conrad sat next to his bed hung-over. Outside the rain bounced off of his tin roof. He reeked of alcohol and would need a thorough shower before leaving the house.
His heart pounded inside of his head and each drop of rain sounded like an amplified drumbeat. He had to get the horrible morning taste out of his mouth or he would soon vomit. James hadn't always been such a heavy drinker, but since the writer's block began, it had become a regular thing.
A fairly successful author, his first two books had hit the top five on the on the New York Times best seller list. After his third novel, his ideas had just dried up, like someone turning off a faucet. What began as a minor annoyance soon evolved into full-blown stress.
That was when he began to see the skeleton man.
Now, here he sat in his own filth, feeling like he was losing his mind. James walked into the bathroom, and after relieving himself, took a long look into the mirror. Huge bags rimmed bloodshot eyes. His brown hair was a mess and it had been ten days since his last shave. He looked more like a fifty-one year old than a thirty-one year old.
Casey
She would kill him if she saw him now. Even though they had been divorced for a year and a half, they still cared deeply for each other. He wished she was here right now. Whenever he was down, she always knew what to do to make him smile again. She was one of those girls that got a high out of life. He supposed that it was his constantly melancholy and depressed attitude that had ultimately driven her away.
James scoffed. He had enough sitting around feeling sorry for himself for one morning. Feeling like a prisoner in his own house, he needed to get away from the house.
After a hot shower, James brushed his teeth and did what he could with his hair. He grabbed the keys and headed for his black Camaro.
Casey had loved this old car.
(Page 8)
He was being charmed like Eve by the serpent in Eden. He stood and placed his glass on the shiny marble. He then walked into the kitchen and pulled a butcher's knife from the block. He made his way to the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
Just end it all. The voice continued.
James used his shaky right hand to put the blade to his flesh on the opposite wrist. He pressed the blade into his flesh and winced as it began to sting. When he looked at the hand that held the blade, he saw the hand of the skeleton man pressing on top of his own as if gently guiding him to do what needed to be done.
"End it all"
Before the blade penetrated any further, he broke out of the trance and looked at the knife, horrified. He dropped it to the floor and went to his knees. Lifting the toilet seat he vomited into the bowl.
Wheezing, James sat down beside the toilet and wept like a baby into his hands. He was terrified for his sanity. He couldn't believe what he had almost done. He was suffering from a horrible depression, but he still wanted to live. The thoughts that had filled his head frightened him even more. They felt like they were not his own. What the hell was this skeleton man?
When he thought he couldn't get any lower, a thought came to his mind that brightened his heart like a child on Christmas morning. Casey. He needed Casey. Yes, they were divorced, but they still cared about each other and was there when the other needed them.
Once when her washing machine was on the blink, he fixed it for her so she wouldn't have to call a repairman. Shortly after the divorce was final, James had sprang his ankle and was on crutches. Casey had done his shopping for him so he could stay off his feet.
He rushed to the living room, picked up the phone, and dialed her number. It was fifteen after ten and she was likely in bed. She answered on the fourth ring.
"Hello?"
"Casey, It's James. I need you."
"James?" She said with sleep still in her voice. I know we had sex one time after we separated, but I told you I wasn't making a habit of it. You have my permission to get a hooker." She joked. "If you get busted for soliciting, I'll bail you out."
As she had failed to recognize the genuine desperation in his voice, James broke into tears. "Casey....I really need you. I'm afraid to be alone. I'm afraid of what I might do.
There was a short pause.
"Holy shit. You're serious aren't you?"
"Please, Casey. Can you come here?"
"Yes.....yes, I'll be there in a few minutes. Hold on, I'm coming."
His heart pounded inside of his head and each drop of rain sounded like an amplified drumbeat. He had to get the horrible morning taste out of his mouth or he would soon vomit. James hadn't always been such a heavy drinker, but since the writer's block began, it had become a regular thing.
A fairly successful author, his first two books had hit the top five on the on the New York Times best seller list. After his third novel, his ideas had just dried up, like someone turning off a faucet. What began as a minor annoyance soon evolved into full-blown stress.
That was when he began to see the skeleton man.
Now, here he sat in his own filth, feeling like he was losing his mind. James walked into the bathroom, and after relieving himself, took a long look into the mirror. Huge bags rimmed bloodshot eyes. His brown hair was a mess and it had been ten days since his last shave. He looked more like a fifty-one year old than a thirty-one year old.
Casey
She would kill him if she saw him now. Even though they had been divorced for a year and a half, they still cared deeply for each other. He wished she was here right now. Whenever he was down, she always knew what to do to make him smile again. She was one of those girls that got a high out of life. He supposed that it was his constantly melancholy and depressed attitude that had ultimately driven her away.
James scoffed. He had enough sitting around feeling sorry for himself for one morning. Feeling like a prisoner in his own house, he needed to get away from the house.
After a hot shower, James brushed his teeth and did what he could with his hair. He grabbed the keys and headed for his black Camaro.
Casey had loved this old car.
(Page 8)
He was being charmed like Eve by the serpent in Eden. He stood and placed his glass on the shiny marble. He then walked into the kitchen and pulled a butcher's knife from the block. He made his way to the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
Just end it all. The voice continued.
James used his shaky right hand to put the blade to his flesh on the opposite wrist. He pressed the blade into his flesh and winced as it began to sting. When he looked at the hand that held the blade, he saw the hand of the skeleton man pressing on top of his own as if gently guiding him to do what needed to be done.
"End it all"
Before the blade penetrated any further, he broke out of the trance and looked at the knife, horrified. He dropped it to the floor and went to his knees. Lifting the toilet seat he vomited into the bowl.
Wheezing, James sat down beside the toilet and wept like a baby into his hands. He was terrified for his sanity. He couldn't believe what he had almost done. He was suffering from a horrible depression, but he still wanted to live. The thoughts that had filled his head frightened him even more. They felt like they were not his own. What the hell was this skeleton man?
When he thought he couldn't get any lower, a thought came to his mind that brightened his heart like a child on Christmas morning. Casey. He needed Casey. Yes, they were divorced, but they still cared about each other and was there when the other needed them.
Once when her washing machine was on the blink, he fixed it for her so she wouldn't have to call a repairman. Shortly after the divorce was final, James had sprang his ankle and was on crutches. Casey had done his shopping for him so he could stay off his feet.
He rushed to the living room, picked up the phone, and dialed her number. It was fifteen after ten and she was likely in bed. She answered on the fourth ring.
"Hello?"
"Casey, It's James. I need you."
"James?" She said with sleep still in her voice. I know we had sex one time after we separated, but I told you I wasn't making a habit of it. You have my permission to get a hooker." She joked. "If you get busted for soliciting, I'll bail you out."
As she had failed to recognize the genuine desperation in his voice, James broke into tears. "Casey....I really need you. I'm afraid to be alone. I'm afraid of what I might do.
There was a short pause.
"Holy shit. You're serious aren't you?"
"Please, Casey. Can you come here?"
"Yes.....yes, I'll be there in a few minutes. Hold on, I'm coming."
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