Mini Brain Dumps

Hey everyone! Today I am going to share with you the first scene I had ever written for the novel, the one that came to my head as I read of snotsicles. This scene, unfortunately, never made it into the book as my husband insisted that it was far too heartbreaking to keep in. And though I was sad to remove it, I do agree with him. But I still wanted to share it with you all. So here it goes….

As Quentin left Lucy’s house, the streets of Marielle lay quiet under the blanket of night, illuminated only by the soft glow of lamplight scattered along the cobblestone pathways. The path to the docks was familiar to Quentin, yet tonight it seemed to stretch out before him with an air of solemnity, each step echoing in the stillness of the night. Shadows danced at the edges of his vision, cast by the flickering lamplight, as he made his way through the winding streets.

Occasional sounds broke the silence – the distant cry of a seabird, the creak of a ship’s rigging in the harbor, the soft murmur of voices from taverns and inns tucked away in the darkness. But mostly, it was the rhythmic sound of his own footsteps that accompanied him, a steady beat against the cobblestones.

As Quentin drew closer to the docks, the salty tang of the sea grew stronger, mingling with the briny scent of fish and seaweed. The wooden planks of the wharf creaked underfoot as he stepped onto the boardwalk, where ships of all shapes and sizes lay moored in the moonlit harbor. He made his way through the docks dodging and weaving between crates of goods.  He kept his gaze fixed ahead; his mind consumed with thoughts of the journey that lay before him.

“You’re leaving aren’t you.”

Quentin froze, his heart sinking as he turned. He immediately recognized Lucy’s silhouette illuminated by the nearby lamppost. Her eyes bore into his. Never in his life has he seen Lucy be so upset.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no word came out.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” she said shaking her head to herself. “But you were being weird tonight. I guessed that you had finally decided to leave, to get on that ship and never look back,” a hollow laugh escaped her throat. “And you were going to leave without even saying goodbye,” Lucy continued, her voice trembling, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.

“Lucy, please…” Quentin began, but Lucy cut him off. 

“Is the concept of marrying me so repulsive that you decided to sneak away in the middle of the night?” she demanded, her words like a dagger to his heart. “You know, I get that you don’t want to marry me. I really do get it. But I thought we were at least friends,” she continued.

Tears glistened in Lucy’s eyes as she spoke. Quentin felt a lump form in his throat as he met her tear-filled gaze, the weight of his own guilt bearing down on him with a crushing force. He had never intended to hurt her.

“L-Lucy, it’s not like that,” Quentin stammered.

“Friends tell people when they are about to travel halfway across the world. Friends tell people when there is a chance that they might never see each other again,” she spit out, her words dripping with venom.

“I… I didn’t mean to leave without saying goodbye. I just… I thought it would be easier this way.”

Lucy’s gaze softened, her anger giving way to profound sadness. “Easier for who, Quentin?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “For you? Or me?”

Quentin felt his throat tighten, his words catching in his chest as he struggled to find the right thing to say. “For both of us,” he admitted at last, his voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Lucy. I never wanted to hurt you.”

For a long moment, there was silence between them, broken only by the sound of their uneven breathing and the faint lap of the waves against the pier. And as Quentin looked into Lucy’s eyes, filled with hurt and longing, he knew he could never forgive himself for the pain her had caused her.

“Goodbye Quentin,” Lucy said, turning on her heel, the creak of the wooden planks piercing through the air as she left. At the edge of the pier, she looked back at Quentin, her gaze heavy. “I would’ve understood… If you had told me. I wouldn’t have tried to stop you…” she shook her head. “I think that’s what hurts the most… the fact that you didn’t trust me.”

With those words, Lucy turned away, leaving Quentin standing alone.

Your Thoughts Matter!

What are your thoughts? Should it have stayed in the book? Is my husband right about it being to heartbreaking and making Quentin a nonredeemable character?  Please leave your comments below.

Thank you for taking the time to read and I can’t wait to hear from you!