Me [sits down to write]: Sigh. This hasn’t been going so well.
He [plunks down next to me; offers me a potato chip from the bowl he’s produced out of nowhere]: Wanna talk about it?
Me: No. Yes. Maybe.
He: Go on. I’m listening.
Me: Well, that’s a change.
He [bats eyelashes]: Why, whatever do you mean?
Me: You’re usually bossier. You’ve been silent on this one.
He: You killed me, sweetie. [crunches loudly]
Me: You said to! And I thought you meant just for your story, not a “for all times and all people” kind of thing.
He: That’s Jesus you’re thinking of. I’m not your sacrifice to the gods of fictional characters, babe.
Me: “Babe”?!
He: If the shoe fits.
Me: Whatever. You disappeared after I did what you asked.
He: Right. You needed to let go of depending on me so much.
Me: Well, I failed that test.
He: No, you didn’t.
Me [blinks]: I didn’t?
He: Not at all. You did some good stuff in there.
Me: Yeah, but…
He: But what?
Me [tiny voice]: I think I still need you. Sometimes it’s just…hard.
He: I know.
Me: My brain and body don’t always do what I want. Some days are really bad. It’s frustrating.
He: You want some advice?
Me: I think you’re going to give it to me whether I do or not, so go ahead.
He: Give yourself permission to fail at something. If it isn’t working, change things.
Me: But I feel stupid. I was already on this path. Someone might get mad if I go another way.
He: Who, exactly, is going to be mad at you if you go a different direction?
Me: I don’t know…people? The universe? Uh…you?
He: I’m not mad at you. I promise. That’s not even possible.
Me: Why not?
He: You made me up. I came from inside your head. [eats chip]
Me: True. Wait, why do you have potato chips, anyway?
He: No idea. You gave them to me somehow. I don’t even really like them. Now, if you had cookie dough ice cream…
Me: I think I can do that. [conjures a pint of cookie dough ice cream] Here. Dairy free and everything.
He: Oh, my God. You are amazing.
Me: Sometimes, I suppose. [pause] I miss you, you know.
He: Of course you do. I’m still here, just not so much in the spotlight.
Me: Can we just sit together for a bit?
He [already fidgeting]: Uh…
Me [glances over; giggles]: Yeah, bad idea. But you’ll be around if I need you?
He: I pinkie swear it.
Babe. Haha.
That was to cover up for the tears I shed at the end. :’) <3
LOL.
Yeah, I was in a mood today from all kinds of things. I figured I might as well just get it out on the page.
My muse rarely comes when conjured, preferring to plop down beside me at the most inconvenient times.
Maybe if I offered some of that ice cream…
I love this. Thank you for sharing.
Hahaha! Mine is usually nosy and interfering, so much so that I wrote him into a novel (three, in fact).
Definitely offer treats. A least it keeps their mouths occupied.
Aww, you have such a sweet relationship with your muse even if he is bossy at times. Mine is never this nice…(rueful grin)
Excellent post!
Ha! Well, you’re only seeing his sweet side. He’s not always this nice. Maybe he would be if I fed him more cookie dough ice cream.