After a long day of sleeping, I discovered that my hand had grown jeans.

“What’s this?” I wondered.

My dominant right hand split open in half, just like the blades of a pair of shears, without bleeding. My right hand was, moreover, weirdly blue. 

I sat up and looked at both hands. My left hand remained normal. No sooner had I realized that something terrible happened than I hid both hands under the duvet, though nobody was in my room. 

I tried to calm myself down. I took my right hand slowly out of the duvet and stared at it again. Still it was a pair of jeans, definitely. My hand was covered in raised bumps like denim-covered pimples. There was a dividing line between the blue fabric and the flesh on my wrist.

I thought, “I should have plastic surgery done on my right hand in order to divide these disgusting two fingers into five fingers. What would it cost? Would it be covered by health insurance? Could it turn flesh color? What rehabilitation would I undergo?”

I got into the duvet again. I decided not to go to the office, thinking that I would never be able to work, and closed my eyes. 

 

Yet I didn’t sleep. I was going to lie on my right side, according to my habit of lying on my right side, but I was continuously conscious of my hand. Even if I rested on my back or on my stomach, something was weighing on me. I felt my right hand incongruous. I felt myself incongruous. 

Even while I had my eyes closed, I could not help feeling that my right hand was a little bit heavier, harder and more uncomfortable than before. I was struck by the incongruity and by my fate that I would have to tolerate the incongruity as long as I lived. My right hand was an unwanted distraction. 

I opened my eyes. Even under the duvet, the weird right hand was there, being dark blue.

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    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    6 months ago

    Welcome to Voice.club, Annie! Your story sounds as if inspired by Frank Kafka’s short story The Metamorphosis, an absurd physical condition experienced after awakening and with gruesome consequences. Are you considering expanding it?

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    6 months ago

    Welcome to Voice.Club. This story immediately brought to mind Kafka’s fantasy and absurdist fiction, “The Metamorphosis.” Have you thought of writing irreal?
    http://cafeirreal.alicewhittenburg.com/what_is_irr.htm
    Well done!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    Reply to  Annie Leung
    6 months ago

    Hello Annie. Your description of writing down three words, then letting the unconscious guide your writing is absolutely fascinating! I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which was extremely unique. A story like this turns the mind upside down and promotes creativity. Great job! Welcome to Voice Club. You are in the right place.

    Chris
    Chris(@chris)
    Reply to  Annie Leung
    6 months ago

    Hi Annie – When you said above: “think outside the box – to move into territory with which he/she might not be familiar or comfortable.”

    For some unknown reason, this seems to be the story of my life!

    谢谢 (thanks)
     ? 

    Last edited 6 months ago by Chris
    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    6 months ago

    Hello, Annie. Welcome to voice club. Your story is full of fantasy and mystery. I do enjoy and love it. I was imagining looking at my hands as a pair of blue jeans. That was horrible and terrifying. Nicely done. Keep on writing.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Annie Leung
    6 months ago

    You’re welcome. Voice club is the right place for you. Enjoy your stay.

    Thompson Emate
    Thompson Emate(@thompson-emate)
    6 months ago

    Annie, reading this story opens up a box of imagination. A creepy one too. Good write. Welcome to Voice.club.

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