Novel Between Novels & Stories

I should pull away, I should push him away, scream or even slap him but instead I kiss him back, not out of forgiveness, not out of this sham of a marriage, but uncertainty, pain, longing. But in this moment, we tasted all the years between us, all the fights, silent nods, stares across the room and something terrifyingly close to an idea…of us.

The campus felt unusually dull that morning. Maybe it was the weather, the sun refusing to show itself leaving the grey sky or maybe it was just her mood. Everything seemed slower. She tried to blend into that chaos, to look busy, normal. But her mind wasn’t on her textbooks. It hadn’t been in days. She slid into an empty table by the windows and opened her textbook, flipping through pages without really reading. The air carried the familiar mix of coffee, paper, and the low hum of stressed students—a smell that usually grounded her—but today, it couldn’t keep her mind from drifting back to him.

Back in the physical world, Novel’s body collapsed beside Kitty, as he coughed up a splash of blood before slipping into complete unconsciousness. Inside his mind, Alexei faced the dark, monstrous shadow of the Myth standing before him. “You can’t use me for your revenge!” Alexei roared, charging the beast with everything he had. “My mate isn't dead! Give me back my body!” With a final, desperate strike, Alexei slammed into the dark entity, and darkness took him completely. _____ One Year Later It was Novel’s university graduation day. She stood near the podium in her cap and gown, a bright smile on her face as she chatted and snapped photos with her classmates, completely oblivious to the f

' thought Nora as she headed straight for the waiting room. Nora's flight was in an hour. Nora had turned off her mobile phone and chose to read a novel by her favourite author. The novel told the story of the adventures of three people in various parallel worlds. This work was the second part of the previous work. Just by reading the novel, she felt like she was in another world and forgot for a moment what was happening to her at the moment. She seemed to be immersed in her own world of reading. Meanwhile, at the Torrence family mansion, Vivian, Adam's mother, was engrossed in reading a magazine in the living room. There was tea and freshly baked cookies on the table.

For the first time, Cathedra had someone who didn't cringe every time she opened her mouth to speak. So this is what having a friend feels like, huh? Cathedra thought to herself. One lunch break, while waiting for Diane underneath the tree, Cathedra was scribbling a draft of her first novel in her notebook. The novel contained the scenes she saw in the storybook, back in her kindergarten days. Since that day at kindergarten, she didn't tell anyone what she saw in the storybooks anymore. The thought of seeing things that other people couldn't still terrified her but she tried hard not to think about it by avoiding any book she can see other than school books and textbooks.

I rolled my eyes and walked away, Ben following me and saying Yes all the time and I just laughed. "Let's make a wish here, what do you think?" I asked. He grabbed 2 note books who happened to be in his car. "Come on, I want the blue one." "No the red one." I glared at him "Blue." "Red." "Blue." "Red." "Blue." "Red." "Okay red then." Ben said and I jumped up and down winning this "Yey." I squealed, he brought the red one and began to write his message. After he's done, he gave me the note and I read his message first. A new page has begun

“Can you lay with me? Just until I fall asleep again. Please.” His chest tightened. “Beatrice,” he said softly. “Are you sure?” She nodded. “Yes. I don’t want to be alone.” He hesitated for half a second. Then he kicked off his shoes and got into the bed beside her, on top of the duvet at first. He left a careful space between them. “Just to keep you company,” he said quietly. She didn’t answer. She just turned on her side to face him. For a long time they just looked at each other. The room was dim. The only light was a thin line from the hallway under the door.

I groan. I’m too tall for this thing. My feet hang off the end, the cushions are too soft, and I’ll wake up with a kink in my neck that lasts a week. And honestly? It’s not like Lena and I have never shared a bed before. Back in high school, we’d crash after late‑night study sessions all the time. Nothing happened. Nothing weird. Just sleep. So why should tonight be any different?

Arielle let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, so we're inside your novel?" Ivana bit her lips as she tried to stifle her laugh. "Hmm," Arielle nodded. "Okay, stop it, I can't anymore, this is too much," She laughed clutching her stomach. "Aww, you don't need to come up with such jokes to cheer me up," She patted her back, "But thanks anyway, I don't remember when was the last time I laughed like this, I feel better, thank you, my dear Elle," She hugged her, "Forget it then, let's talk when you're sober enough, let's tuck you into bed," Arielle sighed as she patted Ivana's back, Ivana lied on the bed as Arielle covered her with the blanket, Arielle heard Ivana laugh again, "Inside a novel? Lol!" She

Satisfied with my work, I put it back in the envelope then took the envelope out as I went up to see Nene after locking the entrance to my office. Nene and I got closer. We did not give a name to the relationship because I always felt what does not have a name would be hard to end. Her new sales girl pointed to her little office and told me, she was around. "Thank you," I said to her. I reached the door to her office and leaned on it. She was sitting infront of her sewing machine and backing the door but facing the light coming from the window. I walked into the room and she turned quickly as the sole of my shoes did an introduction.