The Novelry contest: First three pages of my book
The Novelry.com has just announced their latest contest, and it's every aspiring author's dream. The challenge? Submit the first three pages of your novel and get the chance to have your talent recognized by top industry professionals. The prize $100,000 and a year long mentorship to develop their novel. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting that story burning in your heart.
You can read more about the dream and my writing process, with a few sneak peeks of other chapters on the blog. Read more
ONE
Borrowed Time
"Hey guys, Katie here. I’m back! Still vertical, still sassy, and somehow, still alive. It's Vlog day #222 of Borrowed Time, and this drama queen of a heart is still thumping along. Some may say a miracle… me, on the other hand, I say it's just pure stubbornness. Honestly, I'm convinced I'm God’s favorite, or the universe lost the paperwork, carrying my soul contract.
If you are new here, bless your curious soul… and welcome to the chaos. Around here we use humor as a shield and sarcasm like a second language. Feelings? Ya, we just laugh through those. The comment section- often filled with “she isn’t dead yet?”… Although a valid thought - and welcomed - I have thoughts as well. I would much rather romanticize my story, just living out loud on ‘borrowed time’, turning every heartbeat into a plot twist. You see, I was born with a congenital heart defect. Long story short, I’ve had more surgeries than bad tinder dates, which says a lot. I’ve flat lined twice. Twice! Most people can't even keep a houseplant alive, but here I am cheating death like it's my side hustle.
Last year, just before my twenty-fourth birthday, the doctors hit me with a reality check: no more surgeries, no more fixes. At this point in the game of life, the meds are basically a spa treatment, just to calm my aching heart. To survive, I need a whole new heart, otherwise they’ll bury me under the carnations. The final scene of a rom-com no one wanted to happen, no fairytale, no kiss from the charming man of my dreams to wake me, just the man showing up after the credits roll because he took too much time trying to prepare himself for happily ever after - you should’ve skipped the second pump of hair gel, dude. You are already too late. Anyway, enough about my blood-pumper. If you’re into heart-pounding medical dramas and my charming near death wit, go binge the blog: livingonborrowedtime.com.
The sun’s actually shining in Toronto today, -let’s be honest,-feels like a rare celestial event after surviving a winter so cold and dark it would make you feel like Elsa herself took out a grudge on the city. I forgot what it feels like not to have to wear seventeen layers just to go for a walk. Look at this sunset behind me now guys isn’t gorgeous? A sky once painted in cool blue now bathed in layers of warm amber, flirty pinks and lilac hues. Yes, that was my attempt at being poetic. Don't get used to it, but seriously, I live for sunsets. Maybe that’s where I will end up when I'm gone. Wrapped in a world where I live in a cute little cottage by the lake surrounded by sunflowers and trees and every day- all day is a sunset. You know what I think it is? They remind me that endings can still be beautiful…even if they come with maggots or mosquitoes.
Okay, listen up- you're not going to believe what happened to me today. I am still shaking. I don't even know why I felt like going out, but something inside me said go. Normally, long walks and I aren’t friends- my heart goes dramatic real fast. When you are quite literally living each day like it could be your last, you follow where your heart is leading you to go. But today? The powers that be… said put those pink cordless headphones in and walk that fine ass to the park. Even if my heart stages, its own dramatic exit- right next to the guy on the bench feeding the pigeons Toronto's finest questionable meat. Okay, hold on to your panties, - I'm about to hit you with the “woo” of a lifetime.
Let's start from the beginning. And please forgive me - my thoughts are all over the place, so the sarcasm might take a back seat for a moment. Let me set the scene guys, “fix you” by Coldplay was playing. I was in my feels, eyes wide, smiling from ear to ear and a little pep in my step as I wandered down the busy streets of Toronto. I took a detour and turn left onto Don Mills Road, and headed into a small cafe to grab a hot tea before making my way to Edward Gardens. As I entered the cafe, the feeling of warmth filled the atmosphere. Eclectic art pieces on the walls, the chalkboard menu hung slightly crooked behind the bar, and mismatched chairs filled the space, adding to the charm. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pasties often greets you when you enter a coffee shop. However, today felt different the moment I stepped in line, the smell of coffee still lingering, mixing with the rich scent of men's cologne. Musk, sandalwood and citrus filling my nose.
In Front of me, 5 people ahead stood a tall, dark and handsome man… of course the beginning of every good love story ever written. A little Damon Salvatore meets James Dean with a splash of prince charming. Oh look, I’m blushing just thinking about him again. He grabbed his coffee and moved towards the tables. And just before he sat down, he pulled his green hoodie over his head and dropped it low, almost like he was trying to hide. I didn’t get a clear look at him, but something felt so familiar. Not in a ‘hey, I’ve seen you at the grocery store kind of way- more like I feel like I’ve known you forever kind of way. Guys, is that crazy? Maybe? Hold on, there’s more. When the barista handed me my tea, the Taylor Swift song begin again, playing in the background. I wasn't planning to stay, just wanted to have something warm while I went for a walk around the park. But now, lingering didn’t sound so bad. I wanted to stay and admire him from afar, but all the seats were taken except the one closest to him. Even though all I wanted to do was bury my nose into this man's neck and breath in his delicious scent, that would be wildly inappropriate, and I lacked the courage to sit at his table. So, I left the cafe, nose still filled with his scent, stomach full of butterflies… peppermint tea in hand.
I turned left and continued walking down the sidewalk until I reached the park. Following the path to my favourite willow tree, the sun was bright, but the air cooler than it was earlier. I sat on the bench beneath the tree, sipping my tea, still thinking of him. My thumb drifted across my phone screen, but I wasn't really looking. My mind tangled in thoughts of him. Until that scent hit me again-pulling me out of my daydream. I looked up. There he was, sitting on the bench across from me, eyes on his phone, lost in thought. I blinked, stunned. How is this evening happening? Two meetings in one day? Kind of serendipitous if you ask me, and I live for that shit.
He was broody. Mysterious- sharp features, facial scruff that made him almost beastly. A little dangerous, yet there was this undeniable sparkle about him…Like a romantic poet disguised as a creature of the night. And all I could see was twilight. His mind seemed somewhere else entirely deep in thought. He ran his hand through his messy, dark hair. My eyes fixated on his face,- something inside me was screaming I know you. As the sun was setting, he stood to leave and without thinking, so did I. We walked toward each other slowly and silently. The sun hit him just right- not a sparkle, don’t worry- but a glow, a golden flare that made it impossible to look away. And right then-right there, without knowing his name, I declared him “My Edward.” Go ahead, roast me in the comments. I can take it. He looked up from his phone, and his eyes met mine. The world stopped…But my heart didn’t. His eyes… I’ve never seen eyes that colour before.
Honestly, I actually can't put into words what just happened and how I feel, other than it was magical. Maybe I'm in shock. One of those moments that makes you believe in a higher power and even though they say time is an illusion, it’s also everything. The fact that I felt well enough to go outside today and walk as far as I did, and for him and I to be in the same place at the same time not only once but twice is testing my logical mind at the moment..
That’s not even the craziest part. I think I dreamt of him before I even knew who he was… like how is that even possible, right? Maybe a glich in the matrix? I wanted to say something but I couldn’t. And just like that, he turned to leave- vanishing before I could even remember how to breathe. Let alone ask for his number. What was I supposed to do, anyway? Text him hey, I think I dreamt you into reality? What? He doesn't look like the kind of guy that would take that well, maybe leave me on read for a week then respond with emojis. Seriously, Katie, why can’t you just be normal and text him? Hi, park girl here, I think you're hot and I like your eyes. Ugh, I just have too many things rushing through my mind. Perhaps I’ll end my live here, catch my breath and gather my whirling thoughts, head home and I'll write you guys a blog post about it. This is Katie signing off. I hope to see you all tomorrow. “Remember to lead with your heart, it will always guide you home.”
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