Topic: “Suzanne Henderson and Mitchell Johnson meet at a funeral after many years…. “

You can make it a love story if you want.

 Double-spaced, 2,500+ words

Grading Rubric:

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOpening Paragraph and/or sentences: Opens with an outstanding image/idea/dialogue to capture the reader’s interest.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory

0.5 ptsDeveloping

1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOriginality, readability, and interest: Original ideas and fresh approach to the topic.Organization: Lead grabs reader’s attention by describing the character “in action. Lead connects to conclusion.  Content gives a clear, precise opinion of the character.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConventions: No grammar, syntax, or spelling errors.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDialogue: Correct dialogue format is used. In addition, the dialgue is natural and appropriate to the story.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWord Choice: Writer uses vivid words and phrases that linger or draw pictures in the reader’s mind. The choice and placement of the words seems accurate, natural and not forced.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGuidelines/formatting: All elements are present in an outstanding manner. Paragraphs are present and clear, double-spacing throughtout, a title is utilized, and so on.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePlot: The plot is evident and easy to follow (this doesn’t mean it’s not complex).

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSetting: Setting is clearly drawn and appropriate to the story.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCharacters: Characters are sufficiently developed and believeable (believeable doesn’t mean they have to be “real”) for the part they play in the story.

1.0 ptsSatisfactory
0.5 ptsDeveloping
1.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStory: The story is engaging and does not succumb to the cliche (note: the professor realizes it’s impossible to create something completely new!)

FRIENDSHIP OR LOVE 2

FRIENDSHIP OR LOVE 2

Running head: FRIENDSHIP OR LOVE 1

Short Story: Friendship or Love

Suzanne Henderson and Mitchell Johnson meet at a funeral after many years, where Mitchell finally got the courage to say hello to Suzanne but there was tension in his tone which could cut the glass at that moment. He excused the folks and said, “Hi, it’s been awhile”. “Hello, yes it has been a long time since we saw each other,” Suzanne responded and excused herself to meet Mitchell’s sister, Aria, and Rebecca’s mother to pay her respects. Suzanne could not ignore when she heard from their friend John that Rebecca died after living with lung cancer for two years. Rebecca and Mitchell were married for six years. Suzanne was in town after seven years when she left to pursue her career in Europe, right after completing her university. Suzanne could remember each turn, each road and each café of the town and remembered her sitting with her love interest at that time or her friends Rebecca and Aria. When she crossed Mitchell and Aria’s house while going to a funeral, she could remember the last time when she left that house and tears came rolling down on her flushed cheeks which showed her nervousness at that time because she knew she will have to meet Mitchell and Aria there. She lost contact with everyone from university when she left the town because she never wanted to stick to these memories, but she never knew that this place could not leave her.

When Mitchell saw Suzanne in her black dress coming out from the car, he could not believe his eyes because he made peace with the fact that he would never see Suanne ever again, especially after all these years. He still found her as attractive as she was in her teenage years with the same innocence on her face. Her curly hair was as fresh as it was before. When Suzanne met everyone from Mitchell’s home, she left and stopped at the cafe where she used to sit with her friends. It was a gloomy afternoon and there were only a few people in the café. When Suzanne took the first sip of coffee, memories rushed back to her mind about the day when Rebecca, Suzanne, and Aria first met in school. Rebecca, Suzanne, and Aria were best friends in high school, and they chose a similar degree of Medicine to pursue their passion. They always dreamt of working together as doctors in a hospital, but fate decided something else for them, which no one imagined. Suzanne could listen to those laughs which she enjoyed with her beloved friends. She remembered the night staying at Aria’s home where Mitchell used to be with the whole night, talking about random shows. Especially, I can never forget how Nana used to make amazing cookies that I can smell throughout the house. Suzanne hardly could get permission from her home as she belonged to a conservative and humble household and her mother used to remind her each day that she cannot afford such luxuries of partying with friends. She has to make a career and stand on feet. Her mother told her once “Never be friends with people you cannot afford to be with, because one way or another, you will feel that you do not belong to their world”. She never listened to her mom and said that “Mom, you do not know how much world has changed. Aria and her family considered me part of their home, why do not you accept

it”?

Rebecca also used to live in a neighborhood of Aria, but she was different than her and often made Suzanne feel about the class difference. Aria, on the other hand, would take her to eat outside or for shopping now and then. Mitchell was two years older than Aria and was studying Architecture engineering at that time. Rebecca always used to make jokes about how handsome he is and would ask Aria to call him to all their get-together parties. Because of her superficial personality, her relationships always remained short-timed. Mitchell was a kind and soft-hearted guy who was not superficial and always appreciated Suzanne. I would encourage her to follow her dreams no matter what happened and that I will always have her back. Mitchell was never a relationship kind of guy, but Aria has a boyfriend, Mark from childhood and they wanted to be together even after these many years. It was understood in a group that Rebecca liked Mitchell, but Mitchell never showed any interest. However, once at the start of their final year of Medicine, Suzanne came to Aria’s house, but she was away at a club party with her parents.

Mitchell invited her in and asked her to stay. They started talking to each other until Mitchell confessed to her that he liked her and wanted to have a relationship.

Suzanne was drowned in her thoughts until she heard raining outside and two hours already passed. She could see the darkness outside, and she wanted to reach her home because her son, Carson, must be awake by now and would be irritating her grandmother. She got up and reached her car. She drove with a heavy heart because it was a similar night like that night when Mitchell first proposed her. Suzanne talked about their class difference and how Aria would not like it but Mitchell reassured that he will take care of everything. He said while tucking her curls behind the ear, “I only want you and I will fight all the odds which may come in our way”. He was the dream boy anyone could have so Suzanne reluctantly approved of his idea. Mitchell gently kissed her, and they spent two hours together until Aria came home with her parents. After that, they started to spend more time together, either secretly or when Aria was with them. He just wanted her presence around, and she wanted him to take care of her. Rebecca started feeling that they do not invite her with them and also saw the love of Suzanne in the eyes of Mitchell. She could not bear it and start talking against Suzanne in front of Aria. At Suzanne’s birthday, Aria arranged a party at a high-end restaurant and bought a beautiful bracelet for Suzanne. Rebecca at that point said that “why do you think Suzanne always comes around your house or pretends to be your friend”? “What do you mean” asked Aria. Suzanne replied, “She wants your brother and your money”. Aria laughingly ignored her comments.

At the party, when everyone arrived and gave her the gifts, Aria was last to give her that beautiful bracelet and after some time, Mitchell came with the beautiful painting which was very famous from the popular artist. Everyone was stunned because that painting was very precious.

Suzanne reached the home and saw that painting in her hallway. She never noticed it before and the glance at the painting made her uncomfortable because she thought that it is the reason behind everything that happened after that day. She took off the painting from the wall and put it in the storeroom beside her bedroom. She went to her mother’s room to see her son Carson sleeping in the arms of her grandmother. Carson was six years old and was excited to see her grandmother after so long. She kissed both of them and went to her bedroom to find her diary. It was dusty and in very bad condition laying round in her old closet. She found the date when she got that painting. She had written “I cannot believe my fate that Mitchell could be my life partner. He has everything a girl can hope for. I will keep this painting forever with me. I will tell about us to Aria as soon as we are ready, and Mitchell approves. I always knew that mom only thing in her way and cannot comprehend the changing times”. She drew a small drawing of a heart with a happy face at the end of the diary. She could not stop her tears while reading it.

It was 11 at night when she fell asleep, but she got a call from her Hospital in Paris, and they were inquiring about her return. She told them that there will be another two weeks until they come back. Now that she is up, she could not sleep. She made coffee for herself and sat at the cozy cushion outside in the balcony. From there, she could see the rooftop of Aria’s home and she remembered how Mitchell used to call her from the top and they would talk for hours and night seeing each other from the distance. She remembered the necklace which Mitchell gave her as the symbol of his love which was made of diamond with a beautiful heart-shaped pendant. She went inside to find her and saw it in her old drawer. She took it in her hand and fell asleep in her bed late at night.

Mitchell did not want to go to the empty apartment that night, so he went to her mother’s place where Aria was also staying with her kids, because her husband was on the trip to Europe. He was usually not in the town. Mitchell and Aria were sitting in their living area having coffee when Aria asked him if he met Suzanne and he told her about the encounter. There was complete silence after it and Mitchell fell asleep there. Aria started remembering the past when she found a necklace on the table of Mitchell years ago and she thought that Mitchell will gift it to her but later after two days; she found it on the neck of Suzanne. She got disturbed over the fact that how her best friend cannot share it with her, especially when she is in love with her brother. She discussed it with Rebecca, and it was the time when Rebecca started pouring the seeds on negativity in her mind. The consecutive events of painting and necklace and on top of that, Rebecca’s ideas started polluting her mind, but she never confronted Suzanne. Neither did Suzanne tell her about it but it created a distance between them. Suzanne came to her house many times, but she felt that she is not welcomed there, especially in the absence of Mitchell. Rebecca and Aria distanced themselves from Suzanne and Aria started believing this fact that Suzanne was only with them for the money and her brother. In exams, they all got busy especially Suzanne who was the topper of the batch which further increased the doubts of Aria. Suzanne at that moment thought that she will talk to Aria after exams.

After their exams, Mitchell told Aria about him and Suzanne. She was not happy because she thought that Suzanne is using them, but she could not do anything. Mitchell told everyone at home. Suzanne was already loved in that home. Their family met for setting the engagement data and in the meantime, Rebecca further polluted Aria’s mind and Aria was not talking to Suzanne at all. Suzanne, herself was on seventh sky those days on dates with Mitchell, shopping and traveling. She tried contacting Aria, but she never talked to her. Suzanne thought that she must be busy with her boyfriend. On the other hand, Aria was not in a state to accept this fact. She wanted to stop this engagement, and no one was aware of this fact. She fell asleep while thinking about it. The next day, Suzanne woke up and took Carson to the café and park beside it where she met Mitchell.

Mitchell was depressed because of his wife and also because of seeing Suzanne after so much time and his wounds again started hurting him. Mitchell was surprised to know that Suzanne has a son.

He further asked her about her husband, but she told that she is single. She took a cup of tea until Mitchell asked her why she betrayed her. Suzanne could not believe the question and excused her and took Carson to her car. On the way home, she cried the whole time. Carson asked her again and again, but she never replied.

She made Carson sleep in bed upon reaching home and started remembering the night when Mitchell took her to the lakeside barn, and they knew that they will have to spend some time apart because of Mitchell’s courses in New York before engagement. He kissed her and one thing leads to another and there was the voice of their giggling and they both were sweating the whole night. The next morning, Mitchell left for New York and when she woke up and she saw a call from Aria. She got up happily, had breakfast and reached her house where Aria was alone. She was sitting in her lounge and had a packet of money on the table in front of her and gave it to Suzanne. Suzanne was confused until Aria started speaking “That is what you want? Is this money enough to leave my family alone? My brother thinks that you love him, but you only love his money”. Suzanna was crying when Aria further asked her “If you still have even little bit respect for our years’ long friendship, take this money and leave us, I do not want to see your face or see you near my brother”. Suzanne tried to explain but Aria left the room. Suzanne left the money on the table and left the home.

She could not believe her ears and cried for two days straight until she received a call from the European medical institution where she applied for specialization. She told her mother that she wants to leave and told her to tell the Mitchell that she wants to pursue her career first so do not wait for her. Her mother could not understand a word, but Suzanne left in a few days. After she arrived in Europe, she fell sick and after tests, she found out that she was pregnant. It was Mitchell’s son. She kept the baby and raised her with love and care and never married again. She told her about their son to Aria hoping that it could change her mind, but she did not get any response. On the other hand, Mitchell was devastated by this news upon his return. She called everyone and asked her mother but could not receive any answer as if Suzanne vanished in thin air. After two years upon Aria’s insistence, he married Rebecca. He never lived life the way he wanted and also, he and Rebecca had a huge personality clash and it was just a marriage of compromise. After meeting when Mitchell reached home, he cried for hours and days asking Aria again and again about Suzanne. Aria was also facing difficulties in her marriage. One day Aria told Mitchell everything with her apologizing hands. She took her to Suzanne’s home and told them everything apologizing about everything. Suzanne could not believe it and she never wanted Mitchell in her life again until she became tired of Carson’s questions about his father. “I will repay for each moment and will love you forever,” said Mitchell when they moved into a new apartment.