16 Comments
User's avatar
Sean Gois's avatar

Loved every second of this. The ending hurt, but it felt right. Beautifully written, I’m so happy you have published.

John Gois's avatar

thanks, brother

Laeth's avatar

beautifully written. loved it, though saddened by the end.

John Gois's avatar

thank you, Laeth. this doesn’t get written without you and Sean encouraging and inspiring me. it means a lot.

i wonder if i pulled it off, because to me the ending was not sad, or only sad, though overall the story certainly is. but this one may be one of those with multiple interpretations

Laeth's avatar

you did more than pull it off. you pulled me in. and i understand what you mean but i’m a sucker for love and wanted them to end up together for real, somehow.

Sean Gois's avatar

Yep, same

Laeth's avatar

did you imagine Edwin as Kafka? very early on that was the character for me

John Gois's avatar

no, i didn’t, to be honest. Edwin was for me a new character, born from me in some way. but i can see some resemblances. i thought of Kafka explicitly when i talked about Edwin eating less, since i associate that with Kafka’s spiritual/artistic discipline. but your question is interesting for me, bc i asked for FK’s help writing this, following your own example. perhaps you also picked up on that general influence.

Laeth's avatar

interesting!

Sean Gois's avatar

I never read Kafka, so no, not at all.

Kathryn's avatar

it is a sign of a hearty spirit (? or not?) to believe in love and want it to work to lofty heights, thrive in the most barren soil.

Sean Gois's avatar

It wasn’t only sad, it was hopeful too, but it was sad. Happy to have helped get the ball rolling. And may it continue to roll.

Tyler Eric Fincher's avatar

This will haunt me. Crisply written, and exactly the sort of thought-jaunt I hope for in a short story.

Kathryn's avatar

from whence came the picture?