I finished writing my first novel on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. I’ll always remember the date because it is the birthday eve of my very best friend. As a birthday present, I send her my novel. I want her to be the first one in the world to read it. She’s everything to me. I trust her more than anyone.
What I don’t know about that evening is that she will finish the entire book start to finish, causing her to miss her morning workout the next day. Around 9:25 p.m. she tells me she’s gonna stop reading, but she doesn’t want to.
I wake up with a text from her saying she’s read the entire thing in one sitting.
I am beyond honored. Truly, I don’t yet have the words to express my gratitude to her. One day I will.
For now, I can rest a little. The writing of this novel took me five years total and probably took a full five years off my life. Now I can take a break.
Last night I slept more hours than I have in the past 7 weeks. At 4.5 hours total, I feel awake for the first time.
I wake up around 4:30 a.m. and stare at my ceiling, my favorite pastime these days.
I’ve rearranged the furniture in room and so now the shadows appear different. It is a curious contiguous shape. At first I thought it was a pirate ship. Early this morning I realize it is a warrior mermaid.
She faces the door of my room, her tail is the shape of an arrow. Her wild hair sticks up straight then beautifully falls and flows down my wall. She’s wielding a bat in her hand, watching my door and waiting for a battle. I’ve found my shadow protector and now I’ll finally begin to sleep.