The Price of Desire
The Price of Desire
The Gift Revealed
Sarah stood in the living room, gripping the handle of the old vacuum. Its whine filled the air as she pushed it across the carpet. She paused, wiping sweat from her brow.
Her gaze drifted to a magazine on the coffee table. Glossy pages, immaculate homes. A sleek vacuum dominated one ad, promising effortless cleaning.
Sarah's fingers tightened on the worn plastic. She imagined how easily it would glide, its powerful suction leaving nothing behind. The desire grew.
She closed her eyes, picturing every detail.
Sarah's eyes snapped open. There, gleaming in the afternoon sunlight, stood the exact vacuum from the advertisement. Sleek lines, pristine white casing. She reached out, touching the cool plastic.
A chill ran down her spine. Something was wrong.
Sarah's mind grasped at wisps of memory, searching for something. There was a void where something important should be. Mark. Their first date. She knew it happened, but the details were gone. All erased.
She stumbled back, colliding with the couch. Sarah's breath came in short gasps as understanding dawned. Somehow, she had traded a memory for this.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. The pain grounded her, a counterpoint to the hollowness inside. Sarah's gaze darted around the room, landing on other items she'd longed for. What would happen if she wished again?
She trembled as she reached for the catalog on the table. Her eyes locked onto an emerald dress, its price tag astronomical.
She closed her eyes, picturing herself draped in silk. When she opened them, the dress hung before her, tags still attached.
Another void yawned open in her mind. Sarah's hands shook as she caressed the fabric.
One by one, Sarah summoned objects of envy. A diamond necklace. Italian leather boots. The latest smartphone. With each, another piece of her past vanished.
She stood surrounded by luxury, feeling hollow. The initial rush faded.
Her reflection caught her eye. Designer clothes adorned a stranger. Sarah struggled to recall the woman she had been mere hours ago. The weight of her choices pressed down.
Yet even as regret bloomed, Sarah's eyes drifted to the catalog once more.
Temptation and Loss
The Ultimate Price
Sarah leads a content life as a housewife with two children. But she harbors a secret - the ability to manifest any material object by sacrificing a memory.
The catch? She can't choose which memory disappears. It could be a cherished moment with her family or the face of a passing stranger.
As Sarah grapples with the temptation of her gift, she must decide what truly matters. Are fleeting possessions worth the risk of losing what's most precious?
A spare, haunting exploration of desire, memory, and the intangible wealth of human connection.
Blurb:
A housewife discovers her power to obtain anything in exchange for memories, but at what cost?
Back Cover Text:
Sarah leads a content life as a housewife with two children. But she harbors a secret - the ability to manifest any material object by sacrificing a memory. The catch? She can't choose which memory disappears. It could be a cherished moment with her family or the face of a passing stranger. As Sarah grapples with the temptation of her gift, she must decide what truly matters. Are fleeting possessions worth the risk of losing what's most precious? A spare, haunting exploration of desire, memory, and the intangible wealth of human connection.
Sarah
32-year-old housewife. Loving mother. Struggles with the burden and temptation of her mysterious ability.
Mark
Sarah's husband. Unaware of her power. Notices her occasional forgetfulness.
Emma
Sarah's 8-year-old daughter. Perceptive and curious about her mother's strange behavior.
Ethan
Sarah's 5-year-old son. Energetic and demanding, often the catalyst for Sarah's use of her power.