Writing Exercise #5

Why is it that I see nice, sweet prompts and turn them into something darky and angsty? And yet, when I see a dark, angsty prompt, I turn it into something sweet?

Yeah, I know I'm weird. You don't have to tell me.

We're jumping into Harper's Island for this week's exercise. Fair warning: this little vignette spoils the end. Do not click the jump if you haven't seen the whole thing and think you might want to someday.


Prompt: sunset
Fandom: Harper’s Island (set during 1x13: “Sigh)
Character(s): Henry Dunn

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Henry admitted that the plan had taken a few turns he hadn’t anticipated. And really, he’d expected roadblocks. There were so many variables in something like this, and it was almost impossible to predict how everyone would react. Pretty much everyone surprised him, as a matter of fact. They’d all stepped up to the plate, some much more than he’d ever expected.

But Abby putting two and two together, figuring out that he and his dad had been working together? He really hadn’t anticipated that.

It was pointless to try to figure out where and when the stage had been set for that little roadblock. What was done was done, and how it happened made no difference. The only thing he could do now was perform a bit of damage control.

Not that he was really worried about it. After all, he didn’t get this far without being able to adjust. He knew he could make her understand if she’d just stop and listen. If she’d quit arguing for five seconds and let it all sink in. If she would understand that he did this for her, to give her what she wanted. What she’d asked for all those years ago.

So he tried to make her understand. He calmly explained, laid all his cards on the table, and waited for light to dawn. But the wrong light dawned, and suddenly she was looking at him like she didn’t even know him. Like he was a monster.

Like she was afraid of him.

Suddenly, he realized that he might not be able to salvage this plan. He and Abby might not get to ride off into the sunset, might not get to have their happily ever after. Not if she didn’t calm down and listen to reason.

So when she ran from the room, he let her go. Let her close herself in the bedroom. He followed behind her and tried to explain one more time. Then he told her that everything would be okay and that he’d be waiting for her when she was ready.

He knew she’d come downstairs once she’d had a chance to calm down. Because she was his now, and she would eventually see that all he ever wanted was to make her happy.