Judith Otibho Atambi

Sample Fiction Story (500 words) Title: The Last Message The rain hammered against the window of Clara's tiny apartment as she stared at the old typewriter on her desk. It had been her grandfather's, a relic from a time when words were pressed into paper with force and intention. She hadn't touched it in years. Not since his death. But tonight, the keys seemed to call to her. Clara sat down, rolling a fresh sheet into the machine. Her fingers hovered, trembling. Then, without thinking, she began to type. "If you're reading this, I'm already gone." She froze. Those weren't her words. They were his. Her grandfather had been a novelist, a man who believed in fate, in signs. He used to say, "Stories don't end. They just wait for the right person to tell them." Clara's breath quickened as her fingers moved again, typing faster now. "There's a box buried under the oak tree in the backyard. Inside it, you'll find the truth about our family. About you." She ripped the paper from the typewriter, heart pounding. The oak tree had been cut down a decade ago. But the roots… they were still there. Clara grabbed a shovel and ran outside into the storm. Mud splashed her legs as she dug, r ain mixing with tears. Then—thud. A rusted metal box. Inside, wrapped in wax paper, was a manuscript titled "The Girl Who Wrote the Future" and a photograph of a child she didn't recognize. Herself. But the date on the photo was 1972. The typewriter clattered from the desk inside, keys moving on their own. Clara turned, watching as a single sentence formed on a fresh page: "Keep writing. The story isn't finished yet." She could hear her grandfather’s voice, as though he was right next to her........