The Novel Part 4
The next six months went by in a whirlwind and before I knew it, I had a bestselling novel and was gaining a reputation. People really loved my book. It was a dark concept, I have to admit. It was about a man who is falsely accused of molesting a child and loses everything and eventually kills himself, it’s only then that his name is cleared.
People love those dark concepts and the downfall of a decent character. I’ve often wondered why. Of course, there are those other fans who are always rooting for the hero and the happy ending and are heartbroken when it doesn’t turn out the way they’d like. People become so invested in books, in my book.
One late night I was walking home from an interview and I heard a voice call my name. I turned to see a gray haired woman who looked to be very old. She approached, and I became uneasy. I took a step back and then realized how silly that was, she was an old woman, probably harmless. “Can I help you?” I asked.
“I’m here to help you,” she answered cryptically.
“I don’t understand,” my voice a little shaky.
“You must burn the novel, it will be your downfall!!” She yelled.
I almost laughed. This was ridiculous. “Thank you, but I must be going,” I stated as I walked briskly down the sidewalk to my home.
“What the hell was that?” I whispered to myself.
I let myself in my house, decided to make some tea to put the incident with the strange old lady out of my mind. I put the kettle on and sat down in my comfy chair. Just then my phone rang. “Hello,” I answered.
“Russell? It’s Victoria.”
“Hey sis, how are you?” I asked.
“Russell, how could you!”
