Like a lot of writers, I mine my life for ideas and a lot of times, I reuse something several times but put a different spin on it. The new issue of Tauy Creek Quarterly does just that. While I was packing for moving to Topeka, I found a book I had made that reproduced notes that were passed between me and this girl I dated who was already in a relationship. I made a copy for myself and gifted one to her. I kept that book for 11 years and, after memorizing some of the notes so I could write "The Original of Cassandra", I finally threw it away. I wondered if she kept the book I gave her but then figured that she definitely didn't.
I am also making this story the last story I'm taking from my life. I think this is a good one to go out on. I took the title from Vladimir Nabakov's unfinished final novel The Original of Laura. You can purchase it for your Amazon Kindle for only 99 cents.
Continue below for a brief excerpt:
The next day when Cassandra sat down at her cubicle, I bypassed our usual mode of communication and just stood over the cubicle wall. “I need to talk to you. Can you go into break?”
“I just got here. I should take at least one phone call, Brian.”
“This is important, Cassandra. I need to talk to you.”
Cassandra sighed angrily and dialed herself into break. I took her arm and I pulled her outside. “Okay, last night I went to a party at Ericka and Radha’s. I’ve known Radha since college and we’ve always had a thing for each other,” I began.
“Brian, I…” she sighed.
“Hear me out. So last night we were on the couch and I was about to leave when we started making out and she asked me to stay so we could, you know.”
“Brian, I’m sorry that we’re not together but I don’t want to hear about the other girls you sleep with,” Cassandra sniffled and started to walk away but I grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“But I didn’t. I’ve wanted to for years but I didn’t. You know why? Because I love you, Cassandra. I love you so much,” I said as I pulled her close to me. I then bent down and lightly swiped my lips along hers. I held the back of her head and pressed our lips together. We held each other tightly, lost in each other.
