There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
– Maya Angelou
It was Autumn and the turn of the century. Life had just begun for her, or at least, a new chapter of it stretched out before her eyes. Newly wed, she gazed at the stars with hope and watched her dreams unfold in a million different ways. The sense of energy gave her the confidence that she could do it all. Knowing her, she wasn’t about to draw back from a challenge.
So, she did what she did best. She plunged into the whirlpool with vim and determination. A new job beckoned and she followed willingly. He offered to buy her a car to commute to work, but she waved it away, saying she would walk the 2 miles from home. At work, she was welcomed with so much warmth that she felt right at home. With relaxed and practised ease, she fell into the routine as if she had been there all her life.
Back home, household chores beckoned. He said it would make sense for them to hire a maid. She scoffed at the idea and picked up a load of laundry with one hand while wielding a dust cloth with the other. He said nothing more but chipped in wherever he could.
Winter rolled around and with it came a growing sense of exhaustion. Deadlines loomed bigger than ever at work and the circles under her eyes grew larger. The house started falling into disarray while she battled the balance between her needs and her wants. Food became
secondary as did sleep.
She didn’t know it yet, but she was losing something which was priceless, unique and irreplaceable.
She was losing herself.
{To be continued…}
©Shailaja V
Read Part 2 here and the concluding part here.
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This is written in response to the Writing 101 prompt for Day 4:
Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more.
Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.
This is also written in response to the Write Tribe Wednesday Prompt:
Choose your favorite Maya Angelou quote on writing. Use it as your prompt to write a post.
gripping start. somewhat story.of every modern girl these days!
Beautiful tribute to Maya Angelou and eager to read next outing..hope she find her real coz this is what matters:)
http://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/wednesday-prompt-2014-18-my-thoughts-on-inspiring-maya-angelou/
That’s an interesting start and I can relate to her as I did the same in the initial years of marriage and new job. Hope she finds herself soon again
Let’s hope she learns to shed some of her load. Nice start and look forward to the rest.
interesting start waiting for the next part
Insult
Many can relate with your story, Shailaja!
Wonder what the future parts have in store 🙂
I am wondering that myself 😉 Thanks for reading, Anita <3
That challenge she posed on herself that cost her to loose the self! Wow, you kept me hooked till the end and the effect shall remain till part III 😉
I am so glad to know that! Thank you 🙂
This story is off to a great start. Eager to read what happens next! ♥
Thanks Kathy!
am eager to read the next part.Very interesting
So happy to know you like it, Kalpana. Coming from you, that’s a huge compliment!
Nice job of hooking – I want to know what happens next!
Thanks Wendy. Do come back and check for the update 🙂
I shall!
Oh, intriguing!
Glad you agree!
True it’s not uncommon for a woman to lose herself like this, I liked the first part… waiting for more.
I will count that as a win 🙂
The start is really good 🙂 Waiting to see how she copes up with all these!
Thank you, Swathi!
Wow impressive! And this is a 3 part story….can’t wait!! 🙂
I was so unsure about taking this leap. Glad I did though 🙂 Thanks Aditi!
Ah sounds interesting… waiting for part 2 to unfold now. You do have a knack of springing pleasant surprises Shailaja 🙂
I certainly hope that sustains, Vinodini 🙂
Ooh.. nicely begun :).. looking forward to the next part!!
Yay! You made it to the blog. Thank you so much!
The start is fantastic! Looking forward to the next part now 🙂 And a really powerful quote from Maya Angelou there. It is so cool how you have combined the prompts here!
Thank you! I had a bit of trouble with the prompts last night, so decided I would work on them this morning, with a fresh mind 🙂
Enticing…Looking forward to more.
Thanks, Naima! Welcome to my blog <3
This is one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes. I am eager to read part II.
Hope it turns out to your expectations, Vidya