LJ Idol - Week 19 - I can’t get calm

[tonithegreat]

The sun was beginning to filter through the trees at an angle. Bryn pedaled harder and checked her watch. She was almost to the spot where she wanted to make the call. It looked like she still had ten minutes or so. Her plan was going to work out

Comments

[d0gs]

I love the hopeful ending to this!

[tonithegreat]

Thank you!

[bleodswean]

This is wonderful, utterly wonderful. It’s perfectly written and complete! A small little slice of life in quarantine and yet you packed so much into it with your skillful expository storytelling that I feel as though I’ve read a much larger piece! Your characters always make me want to sit down next to a campfire and share a beer with them!

[tonithegreat]

I feel the same way about many of your characters- rather that it’d be fun to overhear them in a coffee shop or to be dressed just right and run into some of them at the watering hole! I really appreciate your compliments here. I was happy to manage to get into the short story grove for this.

[encrefloue]

The guessing game of Bryn's destination and objective definitely hooked me, and the pay-off was lovelier than I anticipated! It's so reassuring (and such a relief!) to see active investment in mental health portrayed in a positive light. Somehow we're always bombarded with images and sound bites about physical health, but when it comes to mental health, the silence is morbid and stifling. I wish there were more Bryns, more stories, more media out there to fill that silence and erase the stigma. Loved this!!

[tonithegreat]

I’m so glad you liked it! Man, I really don’t know what to think about staying balanced these days. Slowing down a bit is nice. Interruption of all normal support structures less so. I feel so lucky to have all that I have, but I haven’t been without more than normal anger and sadness in these days.

[lyssa027]

I hope Bryn got the help she needed :)

[tonithegreat]

I hope it was positive for her too! I can’t write the next chapter, because I haven’t actually tried tele-therapy. But I’m glad it’s an option that seems to be gaining steam.

[rayaso]

What a great entry! I loved the ending, with it's hopefulness. At first, I thought this was a story about someone seeking an outdoor backdrop for a zoom/skype call, but you made it so much more.

[tonithegreat]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you.