http://slow.writerscafe.org/KDVal The original writings of author K. D. Val en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776033761 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 “Home sweet home.” I stood on my doorstep and fumbled with the keys. I didn't really want to be here, but I had to. In a way, I hoped for Darleene to greet me at the door with a warm embrace. Make me forget about Lotte. I opened the door. “Darleene? I'm home!” No r.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522541/ “So, are you going to visit her one more time before we leave?” Gerard had brought me some clothes to change into when I got discharged the next day. Lotte was also being prepared for her discharge. I knew I was going to miss her. “Of course I am, Gerry,” I smiled. &.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522540/ I saw the Duplicate again. It was in my dreams. He stared at me with those mournful eyes, as if nothing could console him. He did not say a word. He just stared. It was horrifying. Somehow, he still existed. What did I do wrong? Perhaps, the choice had not been made yet. Maybe there w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522539/ I knew that she wasn't really asleep. I knew the whole time. I sat next to her and pretended she was asleep anyway. She was so beautiful. I could tell from her tear-stained cheeks that she had been crying all night. I wished I had been there to comfort her. I should have gone in the room .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522535/ The electrodes still itched a lot. I felt as if I would never get used to them. I think it is something you would need much more than a year to get used to. I wouldn't have that luxury. I plugged the electrodes into the memory card. It actually wasn't that big, and it was possible to plug t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522534/ Gerard had pulled me away from Lotte's bedside later that evening. It was odd having Lotte sleep in my arms.  I didn't want to let her go. It was as if I had been holding Jamie in my arms again. Her smile when she realized I was really there was intoxicating. There were some tears shed, .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522532/ I walked down the hallway, carefully so as not to stumble. I couldn't push myself, but I wanted to see Lotte. I had only been awake for two days. I needed to be careful. I held onto the wall for balance. Room 515 seemed so far away right now. I was still weak and dizzy from the pain meds, but I d.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522232/ “HEY!” I shouted angrilly. The Bird-Gerard smiled at me. “What the hell is going on?” I asked him. “Finally, Doug. Taken you a week! How're you feeling?” He laughed as he began to look more like Gerard. Old Gerard. What. The. Hell. “Listen, bird-f.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522231/ The bird looked as if it belonged in the time of the dinosaurs. The feathers were long and vibrant and its tail was made of pure energy. Its wing feathers were fire red and its eyes were a vibrant gold. It tilted its head at me and grinned a toothy grin. It was extremely unsettling. I wondered .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522229/ “Lotte? It's Doug. I don't know if you can hear me, but I need to tell you something very important, okay?” I was sitting next to her now. The doctor had honored my wishes that I would be able to talk to her before I died. I didn't know for sure if my words would get through to her, I.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522227/ “Dear Darleene ...” I had to write a final letter to her. She was my wife, I had to let her know. Why was this so hard? I felt ashamed to admit it, but I didn't really want to say anything to her. It's not that I didn't care, it's just that I knew she wouldn't. Why should she ge.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522225/ I looked around. I was no longer in the desolate wasteland, but rather I was in my hospital room. On the bed. Still unable to move. That was when I noticed the restraints. No wonder. I looked up to the heavens. How long had it been? Was Lotte alive? Had they reached her in time? &ldqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522223/ “Mr. Kerrigan, please calm down,” the tired nurse said, annoyed. “Something's wrong!” I cried out. I tried to move. Dr. Larsen and the tired nurse were just standing there, as if there was nothing to worry about. They didn't realize that Lotte was dying. They had no id.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/522221/ “Don't worry, Catherine ... I'm sure that everything will be fine.” “How do you know, John? Radiation has worked for everyone else ... what if you don't survive?” “They've tried this before, and it made their test subject live twice as long as he would've.”.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521767/ I don't like hospital rooms. Not one bit. This one was no different, especially since, for a while, I did not know why I was in there. It took a while for me to find the voice to call out for help. “Nurse? Nurse!” No response. Ah the wonderful medical system we have. A couple .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521766/ The door was a pretty normal, white door. It didn't really seem like something that should belong in the afterlife, but rather something that belonged in a nice suburban house. It seemed to be the only thing that existed in this dark, empty space. Weird. I felt compelled to pull on the door's h.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521662/ She fell, limp, into my arms, causing me to stagger backwards. I didn't understand. I looked up to see Gerard leaping over the table towards a young man. He tackled him with incredible force. I could see him prying something out of the man's hands and toss it off to the side. Gerard then proceede.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521173/ It really was a nice ballroom. Nice ceiling tiles. Gerard was being kept busy by a group of school children who absolutely loved his series for younger readers. And he loved the attention. He grabbed his thermos and poured a green sludge into a cup, drinking it rather quickly. What he cal.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521172/ Hello, I'm Douglas Kerrigan, star of the film Artificial Romance ... And a Guinea Pig. Well, figuratively. I'm not actually a guinea pig. I'm a human. Two arms, two legs, forward facing eyes. Flesh and blood ... for now. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I suppose this all started June thi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521171/ Douglas Kerrigan, an aging actor, has one thing he wants to do this June third. Unfortunately, he has to sign autographs. Things take a turn for the worst when his biggest fan is shot at his table. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/KDVal/521170/