Famous Last Words: Things I Have Learned

Writer

During this class so far I have learned a lot about myself and what truly interests me. I have enjoyed reading both versions of the stories and how it all comes together within the story. The endings are not stereotypical endings that we are used to but that's why to me I enjoy it. I like the different writing styles and the different culture that is portrayed within the stories.

During the writing assignments this week I enjoyed writing my new story titled The Last Hit. It brought to light about domestic violence and I felt like I did a good job incorporating the Mahabharata but also filling my story with a more modernized approach my readers can relate to. A lot of where I get my ideas for writing is from either my personal experiences or those around me.

Someday I would like to be a writer full time and I want my writing to always be genuine and real.
Instead of this class I am in three others and for the most part every class is going well. I am in a math class that is not my favorite but I have a friend in that class that makes it a little bit better. For the most part my favorite class is this one. I used to write a lot growing up. Writing was my outlet for my emotions when I did not feel like I could truly talk to anyone. After awhile I stopped and I could not figure out how to get back to it. This class helped me see that maybe someday I would like to write a novel and be a published writer.

During this next week I hope to get a lot done for school and somehow manage to spend some quality time with my loved ones. I have had trouble organizing time for fun and for school. Sometimes I get so focused on school and work that I forget to enjoy life more. One thing that college has taught me is that life is too short to not enjoy yourself some.

Week 5 Storytelling: The Last Hit

He pushed her hard against the wall in their living room. They have been having screaming fights for weeks and she felt trapped. Her body trembled in the harsh grasps of his rugged hands. He tossed her around like a piece of junk.  Paul crushed every sense of self she had. His threats grew louder as the days went on and she could not break free. Sally spent nights awake with bloodshot eyes trying to shut the world around her. She came seconds to ending her own life and spent hours pondering if that would be the better choice. But in this moment in time she could not stand it. He begins yelling, "You dumb slut. You will not amount to anything". She hovered in the corner with tears crashing onto her cheeks that were swollen. He began to pace back and forth in front of her yelling threats with arms wailing at both sides. She looked up from her reddened eyes and immediately stood up. She took the lamp that stood on the nightstand that was next to the bed that she was near; Sally whacked him in the head when he got distracted. She ran out the door as he lay lifeless on the bedroom floor. Sally tripped running to the door as the tears on her face began to turn to sweat. She ran out of the house after she quickly composed herself. As she stepped outside she frantically turned her head in both directions as the street lights flicker and began to run down the street.

Domestic Violence

Sally finally stopped running after a long period of time and suddenly walked by a homeless shelter. Not knowing anywhere else to go and not wanting to return to the man who has been abusive towards her, she walked in. The place was far from glamorous. It was only made up of a few rooms. One room had rows of twin beds lined up in a row for people to come and go. The cafeteria was bleak and painted white walls filled the space. Rows of cafeteria benches stood sporadically in the room. Volunteers stood around and were walking in and out of the kitchen getting ready for the afternoon meal. The place made Sally feel like she hit rock bottom. She could not believe this is what had become of her. The pain succeeded on all accounts but she knew that she had to keep going or else hope will be lost. Then suddenly she catches a man staring at her and began to feel flushed. He had manly features and was quite handsome. He stood with broad shoulders and a chiseled jaw. His eyes were a sparkling light blue that reflected brightly under the fluorescent lights.

Homeless Shelter

Harry introduced himself as the director that runs the homeless shelter. He was smitten with her. He felt a deep connection with her and felt like he needed to protect her. She gave us this vulnerability that no other woman possessed. It revealed how feminine she is in nature and it intrigued him, likewise she felt the same about his features. There was an instant connection and within weeks they fell in love. You would never find them separated and even if they were separated by a short distance they could not keep their eye off each other. The happy ending does not end so quick because after it all Sally still was hiding from Paul and she knew he would not stop till he found her. She kept him and that past in the back of her mind. Sally could not bare Harry knowing or getting involved. She kept Harry at a distant as much as she could. She would tell him they can be together when she "gets her life together", but deep down that was far from the case.

Fight Club

Six months came and gone quickly and Sally found a job as a bartender to get by living in a  cheap studio in Bronx of New York. She still was very close to Harry and spend many moments with him, and if she was not he was steady on her mind. Harry would surprise her at work but on this particular day he decided to show up to her studio and walk her to work. As he was rounding the corner he saw an estranged man handling her roughly. He was drunk and using her to keep himself up. Harry sprang into action and beat his face in as soon as his arm was within reach. Sally fell to the ground beneath her and eyes started swelling with tears. He finally was able to see what kept her from his love. He picked her up as if she was his bride and he was taking her in their new home. He whispered sweetly in her ear, " You are safe with me. I will never let another man touch you unjustly." As the police car lights in the background began approaching closer, they still did not lose their gaze. She began smiling and kissed him passionately and the world around them grew fuzzy. Their love blinded them from all the cruelty around them.


Man holding Woman

Author's Note:
I read through the first part of the book version of R.K Narayan's, "the Mahabharata" and created my story based from that. I decided to go with a more realistic approach and incorporate domestic violence. In the story Dhrtarashtras were a family known for demonic birth and were said to be incarnations of demons. They wanted nothing to do but destroy Pandavas family. The Dhartarashtras tricked one of the brothers and took the Pandavas and even the wife Draupadi. My story is based on the ridicule they brought to them and the abuse that Draupadi endured. Sally is resembles the wife and the two other men represent the Pandavas and Dhrtarashtras. I stook with three characters representing the story because I wanted to go more in depth so my readers can follow easier.


References:
Narayan's "the Mahabharata", Link to Reading Online
Background Information about the Mahabharata

Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata, Part A

As I began reading part A of R.K Narayan's "the Mahabharata" I came across an interesting idea that I could do for my own story. The reading starts out with this woman who marries this man and she keeps throwing out the babies. Then on the 8th baby it was saved and she went away. Later on negotiation was had about the dynasty that would be left and Bhisma said he could not break his vow of celibacy even if it meant help princesses to become mothers. Satyavathi asked for Bhisma to forget his vows and help her give children given birth since the men they chose were duds. He said no and then a name popped into her head, it was Vyasa. He owed her a favor and he was sure to do it. He then says yes and enters in. I am basing at least the basis of my story about these scenes and the scenes going forward. Instead I would like to write a story about a woman in an abusive relationship and how she has been hurt from the previous man. Kind of piggy backing off of the idea that all the princes lost their lovers in some way. In this way this princess will eventually lose her lover do to abuse and Vyasa's character will instead save her from the terrible person and help her heal. My story will in a sense have a lighter ending and gives realism to my story, considering domestic violence is common in America I felt like I could write a story to bring that to light. The character Bhisma will be the abusive character and instead of him not wanting to give in and go against his purity he will be the bad character. It will give my readers a sense of how the story could have been different if the characters are different.



Domestic Violence


References:
R.K Narayan Mahabharata Link to Reading Online