Inner Conflict -| The Ink Well Fiction Prompt #136
As the family gathered around the dining table, Joyce sat there, her gaze fixed on her food as she stirred the plate of food with her spoon absentmindedly. Her family company had been her daily job routine, and she often found herself wondering if this was the life meant for someone like her. She needed something else, yet all she had known was the humdrum of her family's daily routines.
"Joyce, are you with us? You haven't touched your food," her mother asked in a concerned manner.
"I'm fine, Mum," Joyce replied, her voice sounding with a hint of sadness.
"Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mum."
She abandoned her meal and left for her room. Outside her window, she stared at the night sky, wondering if there was more to life than her everyday family obligations that clung to her like an unwelcome shadow.
As her eyes remained on a blinking star, a sudden knock at her door brought her mind back.
"Joyce, you left your phone on the TV stand, and it's been ringing. It's a caller named Gabrielle," her mum said.
Gabrielle, her childhood friend from university, was known for her persistent calls. Joyce hesitated but finally decided to get her phone.
She returned the call to Gabrielle. "Hi, Gabrielle. I missed your calls."
"Babe, I have got a fantastic idea," Gabrielle exclaimed.
"I'm not in the mood right now. I have so much running through my mind, and I don't need more to be added."
"Come on, girl. You know if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry one bit. But trust me, this idea will brighten your spirits."
"How I wish it's possible to switch places. By the time you get stuck doing one thing for eternity, you will begin to realize life is more than being a rich kid. Alright, spill the crazy news."
"I know how much you love adventure, and with your birthday just around the corner, I think we should leave everything behind and go on an adventure. Life is too short not to do what brings us joy, what do you think?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure my parents would buy that idea. They are overprotective, and all they care about is the company and protecting the heir from danger, which I'm getting tired of. They think they know what's best for me more than I do."
Sarah appreciated her friend's effort to make her birthday memorable but felt torn between her parents' expectations and the fear of the unknown. She wondered if she could try her best to share the idea with her parents, as she had been met with countless refusals over time.
Determined, she went to her parents the next day in the living room.
"Dad, Mum, I would like to talk to both of you about something."
"Alright, sweetheart, we are all ears. Go ahead," her father encouraged.
"I know you both want the best for me as the only child, and I know how hard you both want me to know the ins and outs of the company. But life is not all about working 24/7; I have other things outside of work that I love, but no one cares about my other life. I wonder every day if there is more to this life than 24/7 working. I know the answer to that question, but mum, dad and company have made it look like there is no answer to it."
"Baby, it's not what you think. Your dad and I remember your birthday, and nothing can make us forget that."
"Your mum is right; we have planned on hosting a very big party in the company's event hall. A celebration that will wow everyone and make them wonder if there is any fun in life without money."
"Dad, Mum. I don't want a flashy celebration. It's sad that no one knows what I love in this house."
"Tell us how you want the celebration to go, and we will make everything possible."
"Dad, I have places I have dreamed of, but the company, the family business, has been a hindrance. I just want to experience life outside this company, hike through lush forests, and meet like-minded people. Life is not all about what you and Mum want; I want to experience the beauty of the world outside my comfort zone."
Different strokes for different folks. I would have love to know the parents' response after, the child said what she said.
My bad for leaving you without that resolution. Thanks love for reading through the end.
You're welcome dear.
Your story was just starting to build. Sarah went from reflecting on her life, to gaining confidence from her friend's call, to deciding to confront her parents and share her needs and desires for her life with them. There was great use of dialogue to drive the story forward and the piece felt nicely balanced. The story ends with her telling her parents that she wants more from life than simply wealth and security from the family business. But it just ends, and that is where it fell short of the mark for me. It feels unfinished and sadly falls flat as a result. There is no completion of the story arc, and no resolution of the conflict. The following resource from The Ink Well is therefore recommended reading in order to elevate future stories.
What is a story arc?
My apologies for the abrupt ending, I thought leaving my readers with a suspenseful ending was a great idea.
In my future stories, I will strive to provide more detailed conclusions, ensuring that all story elements, including resolution and conflict, are included. Thank you for your insightful feedback @theinkwell.