August 2025: After The Undoing – Athena Law
There’s not enough Pinot noir in the world to dull the pain of what’s coming. Foolishly, I’ve worn a new frock and taken care with my makeup. I take a gulp and steel myself.
This can’t be avoided any longer.
“I’m so sorry, it’s not you…” I begin, hoping he’ll somehow jump in and save me. With his flirty banter and witty repartee, he always has the right words. Please, don’t make me do this alone.
Silence.
The wine bottle empties. Time to say goodbye.
“You’re my favourite—” I choke out, chest tight, tears threatening. Deep breath. How could I have predicted that Chloe’s flatmate – a musician with a neck tattoo and a thumb ring – would become my favourite person in the world?
Xavier Michaels isn’t generically handsome. One dark eyebrow sits higher than the other, and his spiked labret piercing looks like it would hurt to kiss him. His default expression is a scowl behind his two-day growth, but when he laughs it’s like the sun coming out.
I run a finger down his jaw. It’s smooth, and that jars me into action. It isn’t real. He isn’t real.
“So, my publisher said if you’re not in Chloe’s love triangle, you’re extraneous. Ryder the bartender will take your dialogue. I hate myself, but I agreed—to get the deal done. So, I… need you to go.”
Now the ugly tears arrive. The delete key is no longer a tiny silver square on the top row of my keyboard, but a glowing malevolent force, a big red button that, once pressed, will end a life. Thankfully nobody is here to witness my blubbing as I slash chunks of my manuscript and every shred of Xavier’s existence. Even his precious guitar.
It’s done. I’m bereft, knowing I’ve hollowed out my soul for a publishing contract. I pick up his character sheet and study the AI-generated portrait. Perfect, right down to the eyebrow and the chipped tooth. I kiss the paper gently, leaving a smear of lip-gloss and wine. It does hurt, but not how I’d imagined.
“You’re going to be a short story one day, I promise.” I have to be certain I won’t weaken. I feed him through the shredder, then crack another bottle of Pinot before falling into an uneasy sleep on the couch.
A rough hand to my shoulder wakes me. The room is hazy in the half-light. When I see a man standing there I rub my eyes. I’m dreaming.
“Surprise.” Xavier says. His leather pants are just as I’d written them, but he has rings on every finger, and…
“You’re Scottish?”
“Surprise again, ma darlin’,” he drawls. “Sorry ah’ve nae banter for ye. Just a wee message.”
“A message? What?!” I pinch my arm to wake myself up, as Xavier raises a gleaming guitar into the air. His inked muscles ripple as he steps closer, preparing to swing.
“Ah dinnae want tae be reduced tae a bleedin’ short story,” he says, and deletes me instead.
Athena Law
Right Left Write’s August prompt was Big Red Button. New prompts are announced monthly in QWC’s Pen & Pixel email newsletter.
Find out more about Right Left Write at www.queenslandwriters.org.au/rightleftwrite.
Right Left Write’s August prompt was Big Red Button.