wal23
04-03-2012, 08:31 AM
Hi, my first story any feedback is most welcome. Thank you
Suicide by Dictation
Friday afternoon at three o’clock was the end of week meeting with the board. The prospect of this meeting stirred emotions within the law firm’s litigator Stephen. Not because it is always the same ritual, the same boring people, the same sense of despair and the same office politics, but something more serious.
Buzzing his secretary Amanda, he tells her to bring the notes for the meeting at two fifty seven exactly. Closing the shades in his plush office, walking towards the balcony, and pressing record on his machine, so he begins his final dictation:
“Its two forty five. At two fifty five, I shall kill myself. Below are my reasons, not for people who will listen to this dictation but for myself. To build courage by the words I speak and realise all hope has gone”
“My childhood was normal, simple in fact. My parents worked hard and provided best they could. I did well at school then university and had the talent to pass law exams. I was a brilliant litigator”
“I cheated on my wife and deserved what I got. I lost my house, kids and ultimately the shine of life.”
“A strange change has taken place in me. The hopes and dreams of work and my future have started to fade and drain away from me in the last few months. It is hard to carry on with this. My dearest twin brother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and will die soon”
“I once had lust for life but now it all seems repetition. I am alone now; I eat at the same time, same meals and wash the same dishes. Much like I did when I was single, but it seems harder now. The loneliness is unbearable, I feel so small in a large world.”
He replays his dictation, which brings tears to his eyes. Looking at his favourite family portrait on his mobile phone sorrow turns to anger. His voice now shaking.
“As the final curtain call approaches, I feel a sense of relief. It will not be long now; three seconds perhaps to reach the bottom, I hope it’s not painful…”
No hesitation, he jumped.
At precisely two fifty seven, Amanda knocks on the door as instructed, knocking harder every five seconds; she finally walks into the office with notes for the weekly meeting.
“Stephen… Stephen”
Amanda walked to the open door leading to the balcony and witnessed the commotion below. Immediately she telephones security to ask what has happened.
“Someone has jumped from this office block. It’s a real mess; I can’t recognise who it is”
Amanda knows, of course its Stephen, everything points to it.
Crying, Amanda replies, “I think its Stephen, I am in his office now, the door to his balcony is open and I did not notice him leave the office, he was just not himself today”
Meanwhile, the three o’clock board meeting is about to start, all attendees seated and ready, but one place is empty.
“Where’s Stephen, it is imperative he is here. Get him in this meeting now,” demands Marcus the senior partner.
The junior member of the meeting runs furiously to Stephen’s office. Out of breath she asks Amanda where is Stephen.
Amanda opens her mouth, hesitates then replies, “He has jumped, look down there”
The junior member phones the boardroom. Panic-stricken she informs Marcus “Serious problem … Unbelievable … Stephen jumped…..he must be dead”
Marcus informs the board what has happened. No emotion from the senior partners, a break in the silence comes from Harry, who is angry.
“I could not care less about Stephen, what about the missing 10 Million from the main account. I know Stephen has been funnelling the money abroad in the past month. I told you to get the police involved earlier, we will never recover this money now. It could be anywhere.”
Another board member shouts, “Why did you not stop it Marcus. We all know you had a soft spot for Stephen, you insisted we did not inform the police. You said you could handle it yourself”.
Marcus appeared upset “Please gentlemen, I have just found out one of my friends has jumped to his death. Life is not all about money. The man is dead. Show some respect”.
An investigation followed it was found Stephen took his own life while in a depressed state. The law firm lost millions the money was never recovered. Stephens’s twin brother went missing; the police assumed he committed suicide the same day when his clothes were found the next morning by a lake. The body never surfaced. Two weeks later, Marcus resigned from his job at the law firm before he was sacked.
After six months, rumours and theories circulated in the office and press. Did the twins switch identities that day? One rumour suggests Stephen was in Brazil, a photograph on the internet showed a man who looked like him dancing at the Rio de Janeiro carnival, and another appearing on TV in the crowd watching the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Two things that everyone knew Stephen always wanted to do. But the strongest evidence was a photograph which apparently showed Marcus and Stephen together at the Berlin Gay Pride, everyone agreed it was them.
Suicide by Dictation
Friday afternoon at three o’clock was the end of week meeting with the board. The prospect of this meeting stirred emotions within the law firm’s litigator Stephen. Not because it is always the same ritual, the same boring people, the same sense of despair and the same office politics, but something more serious.
Buzzing his secretary Amanda, he tells her to bring the notes for the meeting at two fifty seven exactly. Closing the shades in his plush office, walking towards the balcony, and pressing record on his machine, so he begins his final dictation:
“Its two forty five. At two fifty five, I shall kill myself. Below are my reasons, not for people who will listen to this dictation but for myself. To build courage by the words I speak and realise all hope has gone”
“My childhood was normal, simple in fact. My parents worked hard and provided best they could. I did well at school then university and had the talent to pass law exams. I was a brilliant litigator”
“I cheated on my wife and deserved what I got. I lost my house, kids and ultimately the shine of life.”
“A strange change has taken place in me. The hopes and dreams of work and my future have started to fade and drain away from me in the last few months. It is hard to carry on with this. My dearest twin brother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and will die soon”
“I once had lust for life but now it all seems repetition. I am alone now; I eat at the same time, same meals and wash the same dishes. Much like I did when I was single, but it seems harder now. The loneliness is unbearable, I feel so small in a large world.”
He replays his dictation, which brings tears to his eyes. Looking at his favourite family portrait on his mobile phone sorrow turns to anger. His voice now shaking.
“As the final curtain call approaches, I feel a sense of relief. It will not be long now; three seconds perhaps to reach the bottom, I hope it’s not painful…”
No hesitation, he jumped.
At precisely two fifty seven, Amanda knocks on the door as instructed, knocking harder every five seconds; she finally walks into the office with notes for the weekly meeting.
“Stephen… Stephen”
Amanda walked to the open door leading to the balcony and witnessed the commotion below. Immediately she telephones security to ask what has happened.
“Someone has jumped from this office block. It’s a real mess; I can’t recognise who it is”
Amanda knows, of course its Stephen, everything points to it.
Crying, Amanda replies, “I think its Stephen, I am in his office now, the door to his balcony is open and I did not notice him leave the office, he was just not himself today”
Meanwhile, the three o’clock board meeting is about to start, all attendees seated and ready, but one place is empty.
“Where’s Stephen, it is imperative he is here. Get him in this meeting now,” demands Marcus the senior partner.
The junior member of the meeting runs furiously to Stephen’s office. Out of breath she asks Amanda where is Stephen.
Amanda opens her mouth, hesitates then replies, “He has jumped, look down there”
The junior member phones the boardroom. Panic-stricken she informs Marcus “Serious problem … Unbelievable … Stephen jumped…..he must be dead”
Marcus informs the board what has happened. No emotion from the senior partners, a break in the silence comes from Harry, who is angry.
“I could not care less about Stephen, what about the missing 10 Million from the main account. I know Stephen has been funnelling the money abroad in the past month. I told you to get the police involved earlier, we will never recover this money now. It could be anywhere.”
Another board member shouts, “Why did you not stop it Marcus. We all know you had a soft spot for Stephen, you insisted we did not inform the police. You said you could handle it yourself”.
Marcus appeared upset “Please gentlemen, I have just found out one of my friends has jumped to his death. Life is not all about money. The man is dead. Show some respect”.
An investigation followed it was found Stephen took his own life while in a depressed state. The law firm lost millions the money was never recovered. Stephens’s twin brother went missing; the police assumed he committed suicide the same day when his clothes were found the next morning by a lake. The body never surfaced. Two weeks later, Marcus resigned from his job at the law firm before he was sacked.
After six months, rumours and theories circulated in the office and press. Did the twins switch identities that day? One rumour suggests Stephen was in Brazil, a photograph on the internet showed a man who looked like him dancing at the Rio de Janeiro carnival, and another appearing on TV in the crowd watching the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Two things that everyone knew Stephen always wanted to do. But the strongest evidence was a photograph which apparently showed Marcus and Stephen together at the Berlin Gay Pride, everyone agreed it was them.