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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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWelcome 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?
Thank you for reading and commenting on my story.
Referring to an exercise, I wrote down three words (sleeping, a hand, jeans) with no thought to open the parameters of what we know as realistic fiction. Then I began. The ideas behind the exercise come from Kafka’s Metamorphosis, as you mentioned.
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!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you for reading and commenting on my story.
I had a fondness or a desire to delve into surrealism, and I wrote down three words (sleeping, a hand, jeans) with no thought as to where they might be going. It allowed for the working of the unconscious to be its guide.
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.
Thank you for reading in depth. I’m glad to hear that.
This method is based on the exercise that was given to us in a workshop. I was told that what’s important about this exercise is that it allows the writer to “think outside the box,” to move into territory with which he/she might not be familiar or comfortable.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi 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)
?
Thank you for your comment.
I also try to “think outside the box,” but when I get away from the box, I have another box ahead, though.
I hope you will fly free and high.
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.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you for reading, commenting on my story, and imagining looking at your hands.
I have been writing short stories in English quietly. So I’m also looking forward to learning at Voice.club.
I appreciate your encouragement.
You’re welcome. Voice club is the right place for you. Enjoy your stay.
Annie, reading this story opens up a box of imagination. A creepy one too. Good write. Welcome to Voice.club.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI like to stretch the limit from the first line and open up a box of imagination.
I appreciate that you read and commented on my comments.