Hey there! I have news!
Back in 2019, I was inspired by writing prompts and wrote twenty short stories that became the book Fractured. Well, recently I was inspired once again by a writing prompt. I was waiting for my Emergence edits to come back and saw this prompt:
Prompt: A mysterious stranger leaves an item at the main character’s front door with a note attached saying “For a rainy day”.
It got my gears turning, and I started brainstorming. I wrote out a bunch of notes, and the next day I began writing this new office romance. Once I started, I couldn’t believe how much flowed out of me. I quickly hit 10k words and was loving the story. Unfortunately, I had to put it on pause to finish Emergence and get Fractured published. Since then, my personal life has been hectic, but the characters are screaming at me to finish their story. Now that things have somewhat settled I’ve picked it up again and started working. I’m about thirty thousand words in now. Today I wanted to share a little with you. Here is a taste of the story that I’m working on:
Rainy Day
(A work in progress by J.L. Sanchez)
Chapter One
Jackie
I turned off the car and listened to the rain pelting the roof. My melancholy mood was bolstered by the sound, comforting me in a way I couldn’t describe. I sat there for as long as I could until the air got stuffy, and I knew I couldn’t put it off anymore. It was time to face the lonely house. Not bothering to run, I walked up the short walkway to the door and was drenched by the time I got there. Sighing, I dug through my purse for my keys, dripping water everywhere. I was so distracted that I almost missed the package sitting in front of the door. My brow furrowed as I stared at it. I hadn’t ordered anything recently. What could it be?
Just then, the wind whipped through the area, and the rain started coming down sideways. Gooseflesh traveled up my back as the cold from the rain penetrated through my drenched shirt. I picked up the package and stuffed it under my arm and turned my attention to the door. Once inside, I set the package down and went to change. The air inside the house was frigid, chilling me to the bone. Putting on my favorite sweats and fuzzy sweater, I instantly felt better. By the time I made it back into the living room, I had almost forgotten about the package. I picked up the box and realized it wasn’t taped, and it didn’t have an address or return label on it. Gingerly, I opened the flaps to reveal a perfectly wrapped gift. It was rectangular, wrapped in thick brown craft paper. I picked it up and spun it around, inspecting it. There was no tape on the package with sleeves in the front that served as pockets. I reached into the first pocket and realized there was a Hershey dark chocolate candy bar there. My favorite! My lips hitched up on one side as I stuck my finger into the next pocket and found a note.
To: Jackie
For a rainy day…
Like today…
Hope this brings a smile to your face.
My brows pulled together as I tried to figure out who left this for me and came up short. Why didn’t they sign it? I set the note aside and carefully unfolded the paper from the object, and gasped when I saw what it was. I had started a book series before the accident and fell in love with the characters. Chloe always teased me about how I’d rather live in my fantasy worlds than take part in this one. I remember counting down the days until the release of the sequel, but then the accident happened. It didn’t feel right to enjoy something when Chloe wasn’t around anymore. I hugged the book to my chest as I struggled with the feelings that warred within me. I wanted to be happy, to get lost in this world for a while and forget my struggles, but was that wrong? My sister was gone now. I didn’t deserve happiness because it was my fault she died. I sat down at my dining room table and stared at the cover of the book, tracing the outline of the words lost in my turmoil when something fell to the floor with a loud thud.
I got up and walked into the living room, and looked around. My brows pulled together as a frown formed on my face. There on the tile floor a book had fallen from the shelf. The book was face down, but I recognized it instantly. It was the first book in the series I was obsessed with. My heart raced as I picked it up. Was it a coincidence that I was just thinking about how much I loved these books? What could’ve made it fall on the floor? I looked back up at the shelf and saw the spot it was tucked away in. How could it have gotten loose from there? I flipped through the book, smiling at the colorful flags and highlights of all my favorite parts and quotes, when a paper slipped out of the front. I snatched it before it hit the floor, and my heart stalled in my chest. It was the receipt for this book with a note from Chloe on the back.
Another world for you to slip away into. I hear this one has dragons! Love you sis!
I carefully slipped it back into the book as a tear fell down my face. Gently, I re-shelved the book and stared at the bookshelf. I didn’t buy into supernatural mumbo jumbo, but this was a little eerie. If the universe was trying to send me a message, I got it. I smiled as I turned around to get the new book from my mysterious friend and my chocolate bar. I sat down on my couch with my blanket and settled in. For the first time in a long time, I was happy. I felt a peace settle over me I’d sorely missed.
***
So, what do you think? Are you ready to dive in and find out who Jackie’s secret gift is from? Stay tuned for more from Rainy Day.