Full prompt: Choose a book. Turn to page 48. What's the first sentence on that page? Write a story around it. *(first full sentence). [I'll be honest, I flipped through a few other books first]
"The bullet he'd taken in the duel with Charles Dickinson remained lodged near his heart and regularly led to inflammation, breathing problems, and other unpleasantries."
But none of that was anything compared to the pain suffered to his ego, his pride, and his metaphorical heart. William and Charles had once been lovers and yet, their relationship had come to such a tragic end. William had always thought that trying to keep their relationship clandestine would be the biggest hurdle he and Charles would face.
Their families wouldn't have approved for a number of reasons. It was unlikely their families would have approved of any man for William as they wanted him to marry a woman, procreate, and remain a pillar of the community who did not approve of men loving other men. But even if they could get beyond that, they likely wouldn't have approved of Charles for William. Charles was younger, poorer, and from a family of ill-repute.
Yet none of that mattered to William and Charles, at least for a time. They started off as uneasy friends who frequented the same tavern on the same night at the same time as they both knew when they could find companionship and saftey in their small city. They struck up a conversation about literature and William was pleased to discuss his favorite authors and poets with someone who didn't find him boring or a bother as his family and friends seemed to. Soon they became more than friends and their relationship was off like a rocket.
It was all stolen kisses, secret meet-ups, strolls deep in the forest where no one would see them, and passionate poetry exchanged in code. It was the happiest William had ever been and it was far happier than William ever thought he could be.
But then, came the incident.
William saw Charles laughing with another man and showing a smile that William thought was reserved for him. William confronted Charles about this, publicly--that was one of his many mistakes. Charles acted bewildered and to not know what could have upset William. William, blind with passion, called Charles out on his name and insulted his family.
William watched Charles's heart break behind his crystal blue eyes and William knew that their relationship could never be repaired. He had ruined the best thing in his life all because of a moment of anger that sprouted from jealousy.
Charles challenged him to a duel. It was the thing to do, William had to concede. William had insulted Charles publicly and in front of other pillars of the community and duels were how men of their station--or who aspired to their station--sorted out disputes.
They met at dawn with pistols and seconds not far from the spot in the woods where they had first lain together. William was angered to see the man that Charles had smiled at was his second. What did this man know? The two men took ten paces, aimed, and fired.
William had aimed at the sky, trying to signal regret to Charles, but Carles fired squarely at William's chest, perhaps signalling the finality of this act. William did not remember much after that as he blacked out.
When he came to, his second was there, but Charles was not.
William had always thought that, at least, he would always have a remnant of Charles kept close to his heart even if their relationship had ended. He just had hoped it wouldn't be so literal.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
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