Essays in...

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Complete the story given the ending

She was the loveliest girl in the world. Her face was more beautiful than the angels from pictures. Her figure was more perfect than a Barbie doll's. Her steps were daintier than the fairies from storybooks, and as for her voice, it matched her name perfectly — Belle.

I am Kenneth. I am an ordinary human being, but luckier, perhaps, than most people. For I have had the honour to become Belle's first ever lover and protector, and she had agreed to marry me in October! That was joyous news indeed, and I could not sleep for five days, out of pure excitement.

I could still remember that magical night. My engagement ring was prepared, I was dressed smartly, and we were dancing in a dimly lit restaurant. When the music stopped, I did it in the old-fashioned way, going down on one knee. "Belle, will you —" I began, and stopped in horror. The ring was nowhere to be found! That must have been the thud when I was getting out of the car — I had dropped it.

Most of the people in the restaurant were watching us. Some boo-ed, and the others laughed unkindly. But she did neither. I must have had a really desperate look on my face, because she suddenly threw her arms around my neck and declared loudly that she would be my wife.

October was a month away, much too long for me. I found it difficult to contain my emotions, and was afraid of a nervous breakdown on the eve of my wedding. So, I followed my friend's advice, and went on a vacation to the beach for a whole week. I spent many hours alone on the beach, and found that it was very calming. I returned home a week later, full of confidence and peace, and most of all, joy.

I hurried to Belle's house as soon as I reached home. I wanted to bring her the little collection of seashells that I had found on the beach. However, when I reached her house, the door was shut and locked. I was just raising my hand to press the doorbell, when I happened to glance inside through the window. And I saw a sight that I would never forget.

Belle was lip-to-lip with he richest man in town, Julius. And on her finger, a diamond ring glittered.

My head drooped, and I returned home with a heart of lead. During the next few days, I had beer for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and much more besides. One day, however, I woke up with a strange feeling in my heart that was not sadness.

I have always been a gentle man. But on that day, there rose a hatred in my heart so deep and wild and strong, that it was as if a volcano had erupted in my body. I drove over to Belle's house, well over the speed limit of the road. When I reached her house, I strode up to her front door, and without bothering to knock, crashed it open.

She was sitting at her writing desk, pen in hand. Her diary was open in front of her. The monster inside my soul made me stomp towards her, and I struck her with my fist. She fell to the ground, quite unable to move, and gazed at me imploringly. Disregarding the pleading look in her eyes, I took up her diary.

"No...don't...read..." she mumbled weakly. But I was not going to give in. I read the page that was open on her diary.

"Dear Diary, my heart is broken. I really didn't want to disappoint Kenneth like that...but what choice did I have? I would never have agreed to marry Julius if Mother hadn't been so ill and in need of money. Dear Diary...on that day when Julius suddenly pulled me towards him and kissed me, I saw Kenneth at the window. He was walking away..."

"Dear Diary, I miss Kenneth so much. But there were only two people for me to choose between. One, who had carried me in her womb for nine months, and in her arms for many more years. The other, who had held me in his arms for just five years."

"Dear Diary, I hear heavy footsteps coming up the path. It can't be Kenneth, because he is far too gentle, and it can't be Julius, for he has flown to Thailand. So it must be a burglar. I do hope he will kill me, for I don't want to live anymore. Dear Diary, I —"

The entry ended here. I looked down once more at the pitiful figure on the floor, and met her gaze squarely. There was nothing but pain and frustration in her eyes.

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