Slice of Life #13: A Different Kind of Writing

(Yes, I’m posting just after midnight).

My boyfriend is writing a book. Or rather, he has finished a first draft: 85,000 words of a novel.

Tonight he is editing. Or so he says.

I’m settled into bed, charging my Kindle and scrolling Instagram until the e-reader is ready.

I see a post from afropreppybookworm signaling her followers that My Sister the Serial Killer is only $3.99 on Kindle. “Because… #sharingiscaring” she writes. I type out a quick “Omg THANK YOU” before swiping over to Amazon to buy the ebook.

Purchase completed, I guiltily look over at my boyfriend. Predictably, he’s not editing – his computer is laying untouched on his lap… yet he seems to have some sort of word processing app up on his iPad, similar to my WordPress app’s format. My pulse rises. After my many muse-alouds, did he join Slice of Life? IS HE SLICING?

My cat joins me on the bed, settling in on my chest, allowing the perfect cover for me to sneakily monitor his activity.

I look closer: it’s Reddit.

He’s sitting there, a looooong comment open, a gray-typefaced “reply” inviting him to write… yet he doesn’t.

I return to my cat petting, and remove one of her claws from my shirt – the product of an over-zealous knead.

I glance over again, to see if he’s writing – editing, commenting, anything – and now he’s reading an article titled “Socialism and Black Oppression” on Jacobin. Hm.

I open My Sister the Serial Killer and begin an engrossing opening scene of a sister cleaning up blood in an apartment in Lagos, while her sister sits, balled up, on the toilet seat.

Distantly, I hear an iPad case close.

“Well, just sent out one more Reddit argument, then deleted the app.”

I can tell a conversation and/or rant is on the horizon, so I put down my Kindle in anticipation. “About…?” I prompt.

Off he goes.

I guess he was writing after all.