The Writers Christmas Vacation

Chapter 1

It was a day in mid-December, and Maine was starting to look like it might have a green Christmas-the first in three or four years. The wind was brutal, but a lot of people were walking around in short sleeves anyways. While many people spent their time outside in the cold, walking around and preparing for their Christmas season, Melissa sat in front of her computer, her hands rubbing her temples.

Melissa peeked through her fingers at the screen. Her last paragraph left her stuck in a daze, unsure what to add next. She was finishing up her manuscript of three years. This manuscript, unlike most of her others was a little too close to her own life. It was about a girl who felt ignored by her parents and so, created a world of her own.

The deadline for when the story was to be to the publisher was in five days and she still had failed to send the last three chapters to her agent, or even her editor.

A longing passed over her. As she started out her apartment window, she dreamed of visiting the beaches that she found in her stories. She imagined the sand between her toes, and the sound of waves crashing in front of her. She fantasized of breathing in the scent of saltwater and of gazing at the brilliant hues of the sunset reflecting off of the horizon. She looked away from the window and stared at the notes that lay in front of her. Perhaps that's where she would go after her story was finished. Or perhaps not, seeing as she was pretty much broke at the moment. Maybe if her book sold enough copies she could.

In all honesty, she didn't know what she would do once this manuscript was finished. She had been working on it for three years. Three excruciatingly long years, which finally seemed to be paying off. Now her story had about ten pages to go, and her editor was awaiting them eagerly to meet the deadline.

Her phone rang, startling her and practically forcing her to jump in her seat. She got up and checked who it was, and took a deep breath before answering. She knew that it would potentially be an unpleasant conversation. The voice on the other end was her editor.

"Melissa? Are you almost ready to send the chapters? I need them soon." Aliza demanded. That was all Aliza had been doing lately - demanding Melissa to do this or that. Of course, it made sense, considering that both of them had the stress of deadlines weighing on them. Even so, it made her want to scream.

"I can't send them." She breathed out after a long moment of silence. How could she admit that she hadn't written more than a few more pages since they'd last spoken?

"Why not?" Aliza spat, before adding in a fairly stressed voice, "Your deadline is right around the corner. Surely, you must be close to finishing."

"Not quite..." Melissa sighed. " I barely even started the next chapter, Aliza. I'm only on chapter 10 out of 30. The family is coming up to visit tomorrow. I've been getting the house ready."

"Maybe you need a vacation, Melissa. I can talk to your agent and see if she can find a writer's retreat for you. But before we even think about this, you've got to get back to work. Alright?"

Melissa sighed again, wishing the words would write themselves. "Alright. I'll work on it."

Aliza hung up.