Ripped Manuscript

A very cold October morning. A large window with curtains opened partially, Jason sat at his large drafting table working on his project, peering up to glance at the city skyline. His wife entered the room, hair wet, clothes hugging her body, incredible beauty, sure to draw any man's attentions, something to which she was quite aware of, as she made it clear so many times to him. To him, he was disgusted by her. Her ugliness came in with sharp words and put-downs against him every chance she got.

"So are you just going to sit there and draw and write the whole day through?! You should know by now you're never going to amount to anything, you can't even complete one manuscript!" she shot at him. Already the day looking grimm, she had awoken in her daily routine of maddening words. He was going to remark upon her beauty, then bit his lip, deciding at not bothering with the attempt at a good day.

Her cell phone rang as she pranced through the room, answering in such sweet tone. Giggling, "Oh, George, you know I'd do anything for you, I'll be there. I'll talk to you later, darling." Then abruptly ending the call, she said, "I need to go to the store, I'll be back in a little while, if I meet up with Marsha, I may be longer, in any event you'll still be sitting in that lousy chair no matter when I get back, at least do something more constructive with yourself and take out the trash!" she spoke sharply, eyes like daggers piercing him. "Joanne, could we please not do this..." The door slammed shut.

He got up to throw out the trash. His eyes peering in at so many new clothing tags, receipts from shopping, and the typical daily purchases. Their apartment filled with so many expensive luxuries. He longed to go somewhere to which only held tranquility, back to his roots in a small farming community, or to far off lands in serene settings with a single majestic castle overlooking the oceanside. He placed the bag into the container and went back to the comfortable chair to place his words into the manuscript he had been working on for nearly two long years, and began illustrating the incredible structure of a castle.

Time seemed to move rather quickly, when something odd caught his eye in the illustration. A shadow had passed by one of the windows and the grass blew in the breeze. He felt it stirring his very soul, and suddenly he was moved into the realms drawn in his own hand. It was beautiful as looked upon this surreal environment. He stood upon the rock to where he had appeared, and stepped into the soft cool grass. The air the perfect temperature, mid-70s. He walked in amazement toward the great castle, and entered into the comforts adorned in chandeliers and candlelight, paintings upon the walls, and the most inviting smell of freshly prepared foods, a table set, ready for his entrance. A quiet, stout lady appeared beside him at the table, asking what else he would like. He asked politely with a smile for sour cream for his baked potato, and before his eyes, it was granted to him. A cheer of a fiddler came beside him, and played in the most intriguing tones. He looked upon his watch, discouraged because he knew he had to go.

He left the castle, well-fed, and in the calmest frame of mind went back to the rock and within seconds was sitting back at his desk. Suddenly, Joanne was home. "Just as I had expected, still sitting there like an old log. How I came to be with you is beyond me. You're not even a man, look at yourself, you are worthless." She chuckled at him. Her words didn't seem to sting so much to him. In fact, he was almost urgent in a manner much like that of a child on a Christmas morning. "Joanne, please, I must show you something you will smile at!" he quickly stated without much thought given to what could unravel. He brought her to the chair inviting her to sit with him. Her eyes rolled and she hesitantly agreed. Together they both were brought forward into the pages. She was in complete awe at the structure and quickly moved toward it. He chased behind her, his eyes glistening at the glory in her face. She passed by the dining area set, and the beautiful candle glow to the set of stairs and raced up them. He had not yet been there so like a puppy he followed her.

She opened one of the doors and entered a bedroom. "I can't believe someone like you of all people could conjure up something such as this. Surely some things were added YOU had no hand in!" she continued her jabs, even into his creation. She went directly to the jewelry box. A heavy gold bracelet studded with rubies caught her eye and she held up. "That was for her...." he started to say something about his love from the story. "Certainly me of course, I am your wife." She put it on with such greed, and proceeded to the soft inviting bed. "I'm going to lay down awhile, its been a day, and George asked me to take part in the layout of a new project, why don't you go somewhere and do your thing." She fell asleep rather quickly, as he had taken in the well detailed layout of the room in the antique furnishings. He quietly slipped the bracelet off and stuffed it into his pocket.

His hatred for her grew within him. He left the room infuriated with her, but bottled it up inside himself. How could she play ruler of his words, his dreams, and make this incredible place one so cold. He left the castle and went back to the rock, back to his desk, and closed the book with such angry force, a page ripped from it. He tore it into tiny pieces and flushed it down the toilet.

The next day came, her purse sitting on the counter rang, her cell phone inside. He picked it up to answer. It was George. He had kept hush, allowing George to speak first. "Hey sexy, mmm so incredible yesterday, how about we do that again really soon, you'll be my assistant in no time," the man on the phone said in heavy words. Jason being so angered by this, he took the phone and smashed it into pieces on the floor.

He left the apartment and the book, and walked to a nearby café. A place which he frequented, and to a young woman, that he somehow had an odd attraction for. She was plain, soft spoken, many times looking the part of hard worked. Her face bearing scars of an abusive past relationship. He somehow found comfort in her welcoming personality. She wasn't geared in such beauty his wife had, but he enjoyed going there for the sometimes mildness of talks as she poured coffee into his cup. He lusted her, to touch the softness he seen in her.

"Hi Jason, coffee today or cappuccino?" Anna asked. "Yes," a single word reply. She laughed a light-hearted laugh. "So, which is it?' "Oh, yes, coffee please." She sat down in the booth across from him. The café was not so busy today, the next day being Halloween. "Would you like to come to a Halloween party with me this evening, it would be great fun?" Anna awaited his hesitation in replying. "Well, I suppose I could, maybe it will be enjoyed more than the typical routine I've been dealing with lately." She smiled, "it's a date then!" "Okay, I'll pick you up around 7:00?" he asked. "Perfect," she answered, and she went back to waiting on customers.

Back at his apartment he lounged on the couch, smiling. Glad to be rid of such a wicked woman, thinking to himself he'd burn the manuscript, ensuring she'd never return. He fell asleep in thought, later awakened by a crash. The book had fallen upon the floor. He rose from the couch looking at the time, placed the book back on the desk and proceeded to get ready for the evening's events, once again leaving the apartment and his written works behind.

Anna looked beautiful, wearing glitter and a beautiful gown, dressed as a princess. He was Dracula. The evening went on in laughs and talks, wine and dance. Outside carved pumpkin smiles lit up the night. "I'll walk you home, sweetheart." he said to her. "Well, I should hope so, we came here together!" she laughed. They came to the stairs entering his apartment. "I should run in and get my camera." he stated to her. "Would you like to come in?" "As long as you do not try to suck on my neck!" she joked. The wine through the evening had them both sort of tipsy. He took her by the hand and danced her into the kitchen, then stole a kiss from her smiling lips. "I'll be right out" as he left her there.

Anna thumbed over the table and looked around. She moved a jacket slung over the chair, and the shimmering gold bracelet fell out. She picked it up and placed it upon her wrist. He came out holding the camera, then shock at the gold upon her arm, his face paled at the sight of it. He moved at her, angry, slapped her across the face, bruising the evening she had been enjoying with him. Clearly confused she darted toward the desk, knocking the book open upon the floor, as she made her way toward the bathroom in tears. He chased after her to try to rectify his actions which had boiled over onto her much kinder nature. He wasn't sure what to do as he slumped down into the chair, and was ripped by a hand into his unfinished and ripped manuscript.

Anna emerged from the bathroom, unafraid and ready to leave. She picked up the book on the floor and closed it, and then tossed it into the incinerator, angry at his stinging hurt he put upon her. Leaving the apartment, still wearing the gold bracelet covered in rubies. A horrifying Halloween, she made her way home.