“Exploring life through fiction, together.”

I always wanted to be part of a secret club. The closest I got was one summer when my cousins and I made the ultimate den in a patch of wasteland. We nicked the scissors from my aunt’s kitchen and spent days fighting brambles armed with only their flimsy blades and our bare hands. We carved passageways and ‘rooms’ until we had our own palace in the scrub.

Fiction Bite - Click

John snapped the revolver shut. Dave trembled as the cold barrel pressed between his eyes.

Click

“One down.”

Henry grinned too wide. Fucking toad was high again.

Click

He fell over laughing, and John kicked him for good measure.

Charlie was crying. Tears streamed down his red, crumpled face. John smelt the tang of piss. Poor sod.

Click.

Charlie screamed. Dave screamed. Henry laughed harder. Charlie ran hands over his intact forehead and faded to a whimper.

“You did good,” said John. Charlie smiled through snot as he patted him on the shoulder. “Just me now.”

He put the barrel in his mouth, letting the cold metal burn away the sour beer.

Click.

Later, when the others had passed out in dank corners of the shed, he cracked open the gun and eyed the empty barrels. Next time, he might put a bullet in.

Quote of the Week

“No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself.” - Seth Godin

Book of the month

Courage is Calling: Fortune Favours the Brave by Ryan Holiday

Every time I read one of Ryan Holiday's books it’s like I level up in my soul. He blends philosophy and history with clarity and humour. Not to mention heavy hitting philosophical punches. This time, he’s instilling courage through many examples of what that does (and doesn’t) look like. Truly, a book that will make you braver.

Final Words

But it didn’t really count. I was ‘in’ with them anyway. I hadn't made the cut. I hadn’t passed any test. Nobody had reached into the mob and picked out this diamond in the rough. Because that’s what I really want. I want to be picked. I want to be special, but I want you to make it so. Sure, I could step out of the boat and get there myself, but that’s scary, so won’t you fix it for me instead?

I dream of winning the lottery. Of landing a book deal. Of a million ways to get external validation that I’m worth something. And the hours I spend dreaming, they’re not helping me get there.

What’s the secret club you’re pining over? Could you pick yourself instead? What would that look like? Would you be willing to hit reply? It’d make my day to hear from you.

Hat tip to Seth Godin for introducing me to the idea of picking yourself.

With Love,

Josiah

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