Friday, November 25, 2011

Steer


Blowing off steam with some friends, conversation and laughter overwhelming her small apartment, She looked down at her phone, her sister’s name lit up the screen.  She had to take this.

“How are you?”
“I went out with Andrew again.”
Pessimistic sigh, “How did it go?”
Heading to the corner of the kitchen, she attempted privacy, “I don’t know if this will ever work, I don’t know, I just don’t know.”
Her sister’s end of the phone sat silent until finally she blurted, “Charlotte, why do you this to yourself?”
With her all-too-familiar undecidedly pathetic tone she replied, “I don’t know. I just felt like he was the one for so long. I thought we were meant to be. I thought giving it one last chance was the right thing to do.”
She quickly approached this excuse, “Charlotte, how does he make you feel?”
“Like shit.”
Her tone firm, “If this was meant to be it would have happened by now. Charlotte, this needs to be done. It shouldn’t be this hard, it just shouldn’t. Tonight was the last time. Okay?”
Head hung and weeping, she quietly answered, “Okay.” She meant it, this time she actually meant it. At that moment, more grateful to have an older sister than ever before, she wondered how people navigate through life without one.

There she sat, in front of her peers, embarrassed and teary eyed, but finally free.

A glimpse of hope settled as she began to imagine a life without this toxic tug-of war relationship. Her mind began to sing a comforting chorus, (Missy Higgins, Steer)

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know
That you control where you go
You can steer.

Listen to Missy Higgins, Steer
Disclaimer: Yes, another challenge for Write on Edge, and boy was it a challenge. The guidelines can be found here.
Thanks for reading,
Lindy

8 comments :

  1. Very intense emotionally....everything fits together including the song.

    well written

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great dialogue, brilliantly structured. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can feel the exasperation of the older sister needing to "pull" the little sister out again, and the little sister being ashamed and grateful at the same time.

    And that video? Ouch on the crash test thing! LOL. I like the way it all flowed together.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post-the song really fits with the story.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You definitely get the sense that the older sister is always stepping in as the voice of reason yet little sister just isn't listening. I hope she figures it out before something goes horribly wrong.

    Great piece.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your writing. I can feel the emotion in your words! Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love it!!! So excited for the next one... I know!! I'M A SHORT STORY WHORE!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is awesome. I write too, or at least try too :). I think we just became friends on FB...went to HS together. Enjoying your blog. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete