
The Runaway
Stacey was excited for the first time in a long time. It had been years since she felt like this. All the responsibilities and stresses weighing her down would soon melt away. The lazy husband she could no longer stand would be gone. The children she had never wanted, but had been pressured into having, would no longer be her responsibility. The in-laws who hadn’t given her an ounce of breathing room since that horrible, embarrassing wedding would finally leave her alone.
She had given up everything for the man now passed out drunk on her couch. Her dreams, her career in genetic engineering, her freedom, her slender body, she had lost everything. He had given her nothing in return and in the end she had lost him too. He had changed so much she barely recognized him.
She breathed a sigh of relief; her new life was finally beginning. Her bags were packed and her flights were booked. She was finally going on the overseas holiday he had promised before they were married. She would rediscover who she was and discard the shadow of a woman that she had become.
At first she had felt guilty about leaving her children, and her husband would be a mess without her. The solution to all her problems had come to her one night as she lay in bed, crying herself to sleep. She had spent the better part of the last year working on it in secret and today it was ready.
She opened the door to the storage shed where she kept it. A soft blue glow flowed out onto the bare concrete like the gentle light of the dawning of a new day. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. A floor to ceiling cylindrical tube in the center of the room held her solution. A woman floated within the tube, her long grey and blonde hair flowed around her head like a halo. Stacey put her hand against the glass. The eyes of her perfect clone snapped open, she was awake.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWell done, Love the surprise ending.
Like the story and the interesting ending.
It certainly leaves one with a few interesting questions on which to ponder.
Also it leaves the door open for a whole new ball game/genre that could be expanded in all directions.
That’s an interesting approach to the theme “Dawn”. It was very unique and original and I loved how the ending turned out.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHa, ha what a surprising ending. I can’t help thinking of how many would love that transition, and then escape. I think you could easily write a crime thriller Sonny.. well written.
Thank you all for the lovely comments, I’m so glad you liked it.
Wasn’t expecting that ending Sonny, very cleverly done and extremely well written.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI bet this is a secret dream for many, once the rosy colored, naive illusions have turned into a gray, boring, daily treadmill. I read that in Japan, there are companies that help people to “silently remove themselves from their lives” when they are burdened with debts, problems and unloving relationships. You made a good description of such a person.
Clever build-up to the twist, Sonny. And the whole story flowed smoothly to the unique and surprising ending.
What a surprising ending, Sonny. Excellent creation 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA great story, Sonny! I was hooked from the start and loved the ending. I’m sure many people have at least some moments thinking like Stacey. Only one question – how do I get a clone? 🙂