Jenni, I've just gotten caught up with "The Forgotten" and can only say I'm sorry I hadn't read it before this afternoon! You've crafted such a haunting, heart-breaking story, and your writing is just gorgeous.
... she had made a promise to herself that she would keep the memory of Superman alive and the work they had embarked upon together -- to try with all they had to make the world a better place. Clark was gone. Now Lois would carry on alone for his dear sake.
She had known life would be a difficult, but she'd never expected it to be this hard.
Oof. In just four sentences, you've rendered Lois' loneliness and longing in a way that is just so beautiful but so painful to read.
Later, as Lois watched her child sleep, she drew in a deep breath on a silent cry and closed her eyes. She wouldn't return to her big empty bed tonight, but would spend the night with Vicky. Step by careful step, she'd survived another day in the rest of her life without Clark.
Again, beautifully heart-breaking prose, Jenni.
Then, moving back to the testing facility, Adrienne and Janik begin to show us the true measure of their characters. Their fear and indecision, but ultimate intent to do the right thing is so real:
Adrienne stood too, and reached out to touch Janik's arm for the first time ever. “Don't apologize. I'm not very courageous either. If I was, I would have tried to put an end to this whole nasty business long ago.”
Even if it is past the eleventh hour, at least they're doing something now!
And the pictures you paint with words are simply outstanding, Jenni. I know Ann's already quoted this one, but the imagery here is simply too wonderful to go without mentioning again:
But the nightmares had claimed him, and again that night they came for him; vague outlines of people he felt he should know, but their faces always remained in shadow, their presence merely faint sketches on the pages of his empty mind.
And here:
He wished he could keep hold of the dreams, but always they slipped from his mind like desert sand through a sieve.
Such a vivid, melancholy image.
I could go on quoting, but I'll stop rambling! Seriously, amazing writing, Jenni — can't wait to read the next part!
