How To Write A Short Story: Susan Mallard's Seattle Home

Rain had begun to fall again. Thick drops of water fell slowly and then all at once, hitting the tin roof of Susan Mallard's Seattle home. Once again, she was sitting in her armchair reading whatever book she had plucked from her shelf without looking, turning the pages absently as the rain poured harder around her. Despite, this being a nightly routine, she never actually read the books, she would sit for hours looking at what might as well have been empty pages. Written words contained no essence for her anymore, she had pondered over them for years and had bled them dry of any meaning they had. Presently, they were only empty carapaces, open outlets for Susan to exist inside her own head. Consequently, this was always difficult on nights

Staying behind the couple by about ten feet, Susan walked with them, making sure that she would not be perceived as suspicious. Susan and the couple walked on, together, though not all of them realized it. Suddenly they turned and entered the disenfranchised neighborhood, broken glass and chipped paint surrounded them as they walked into a throng of pedestrians. The couple seemed to float through the crowded street, untouched by the garbage and grime that littered the path in front of them. Susan blended right in, no one gave her a second look. The couple, however, drew the attention straight to them. The two seemed to absorb the light around them and making the rest of the world look black and white comparatively. The woman, now identified as Mary, had long chestnut locks and eyes that shone like brilliant emeralds. The man had his arm around her shoulder the whole time, protecting her from the dangers that lurked in the

Susan quickly hid behind a wall as the man turned around and fumbled for his keys. “Here Jon, I think I have my key” said Mary. “Thanks honey” Replied the man.

As Mary reached over and handed the key to the man, when she did this. Susan made a new discovery; Mary had an engagement ring.

“This couple is going to be married,” said Susan to herself.

Sadness overcame Susan as she watched the two walk through the gate and lock it behind them, as she watched the two silhouettes enter the darkness and vanish, she finally came back to her senses. Looking up, she saw the sun begin to set in the sky. Had she really wasted the whole day following two people she did not even know?

Susan slowly turned around and began the long walk home. Realizing did not even know where she was. Susan's obsession with these two people that she had completely removed herself from reality. One foot in front of the other, she said to herself, this is how you move forward. Thoughts about her actions began to seep through the cracks in her mind and she began to hear her own voice in her mind. “Why did you do this Susan?” “I don't know” “Did you need something from