Dark Matter

History

I began writing Dark Matter on the 26 May 2013. The original idea dated back a few months early when I thought it would be fun to create a movie trailer for my Psych 101 class. The idea was to make the semester seem like it was going to be dramatic, fun, thoughtful, etc. It would include all the classic trailer cliches: people yelling at each other, someone losing hope, a wise saying, bizarre behaviors. I briefly considered throwing in a potential romance, but then realized that if this was going to be a trailer of the class as it existed then a romance definitely didn't fit the bill. However, the idea stuck with me and so I thought I would turn that idea into a short story.

Why Dark Matter? It was just the idea that came to me at the time. I was probably in a less than happy mood when I began writing this. It is definitely not the title that belongs on the story. I just haven't cared enough to create a better title yet and probably won't until the story is finished. I actually like the title, but it definitely belongs more to one of my sci-fi/fantasy stories that contemporary fiction.

Synopsis

A young widower realizes that his self-enforced isolation is ruining his career. Now he is faced with the choice of breaking a vow to his dead wife, finding success in his career, or giving himself a chance to love again. He is forced to consider what is most important in life and what he really wants.

Progress

37 pages; 10,720 words.

I'm estimating this at about 14% complete. I can see this running to 75,000 words and actually hope it does. This is what has been capturing most of my writing time recently.

2013 Goals

1. 50,000 words by the end of the year. I would like to have the manuscript finished, however, if I am going to balance all the other projects that doesn't seem feasible. To complete this by year end I would need to write 430 words a day for the rest of the year. Not impossible, but prohibitive of other writing especially when my time is limited.

Excerpt

Mark presented the paper to him. At the top he could see the department letterhead and at the bottom was Mark's flamboyant signature. In between were several paragraphs. Hank could see a couple of key phrases like "dedicated" and "meticulous" and he reached out his hand to take the paper for a closer look. It was immediately pulled out of his reach and Mark shook a single finger at him.
"Ah, ah, ah. Not until you're back from the date. Now tell me, where are you taking her?"
Hank took a sip of his coke and then stared into its blackness as if he was contemplating.
"I figured we'd start with a bag of burgers from Louie's. Then we'd head on over to the Kit Kat Club."
Mark nodded serenely at first, accepting the wisdom of the plan. Then he stopped as the words actually seemed to reach him, and a smile crept onto Hank's face, the first of the night. While he had Mark on the line he couldn't resist reeling him in a little further.
"If things go well there I figured we might go to Clear Waters shore and...well, you know." Hank winked at this last part. Clear Waters Lake was the notorious make-out spot for the local students. Mark's eyes were fairly bulging from his face and he began shaking his head.
Before Mark could say anything another voice interrupted.
"No, I don't know. What would we do at Clear Waters?" The voice was confident, serious, and at the same time held a definite tone of mockery. "Should I have brought my swimsuit?"
Mark turned around sharply. He stepped back and Hank could see Maddie standing arm in arm with a young lady who he guessed was supposed to be his date for the evening. She had a sardonic grin on his face and Hank could feel himself beginning to blush. That's what he got for trying to be funny and not attending better to his surroundings. Still, the look on her face was challenging him, and maybe if he alienated her early enough the date would end and he could get back to his life.
"Of course not," he said and matched her gaze. "Skinny-dipping only requires a birthday suit. I have the towels in the car."
"Well okay then. Can we do that first? I don't really want you to see me naked when I have a belly bulging with burgers."
She looked completely serious. Hank briefly wondered how Mark and Maddie were reacting, but he refused to glance away to check. Mark was probably apoplectic. Hank didn't know Maddie well, but he guessed that she might be blushing to her bangs. Even so, Hank refused to back down.
"Brilliant plan, I don't want cramps anyway. Plus, if we go know there will still be enough light to take pictures by." He winked at her.
Her smile never diminished, but she abruptly snapped away from him and looked and Maddie "I like him. Good job." She leaned forward and gave Maddie a quick hug. Then she crooked a finger at Hank and beckoned him with it. "Come on. We don't want to lose the light and I think these two need some time to recover from their shock."
Hank frowned. He felt like he had won their little exchange, but it had not had the intended effect. Instead of discouraging the woman he seemed to have had the opposite effect. It looked like it was going to be a long night. He sighed and hoisted himself from his seat. He handed the glass of coke to Mark.
"You'll want to shut that or you'll catch flies," he told him. He gave his date a formal bow with his left hand across his front, his right arm behind his back. "Mademoiselle." He returned to erect and pointed with his left hand towards the exit, indicating she should lead the way. "Shall we?"
"Let's," she replied and turned towards the door. He followed her out and when he pulled the front door closed behind them all of his bluster deflated out of him. What had been a briefly enjoyable moment now became squashed by the apparition of the rest of the evening. She seemed nice enough and the banter had been reminiscent of flirting from when he was younger, but he still didn't want to be on this date. He figured it would be best if he was honest upfront.
"First rule of blind dating," she said, before he had a chance to say anything. "Don't be boring."
This simple statement surprised him and instead of telling her what he intended, he muttered the inarticulate, "What?"
"Don't be boring. You're doing good so far."
"You go on enough blind dates to have rules for them?" he asked in surprise.