“There are times when I think of you like my children, I carry you in my mind for months and then with the stroke of my pen or the tap of my fingers you’re born. I wish I could talk to you directly, step in and help you when you need it, but like all characters you’ve taken on a life of your own.” I look down at my phone as I type out these words not expecting a reply. It’s just a drifting thought directed at no one in particular.

“I can hear you” a small voice reaches out from the abyss.

“Which one are you?” I ask.

“David, I’m a character from your story ‘The Archetypes’. I’ve been able to hear you since the beginning. I know everything you’ve written and deleted and edited. I’ve seen it all. I’ve heard your tears when you’re forced to write sad scenes, I’ve seen you smile as you’re proud of a line you’ve been struggling to get right.”

“How can this be so?”

“I have the power to break the fourth wall remember? You gave me this power. I know you planned to write a whole chapter from my perspective, but you never got round to it. I hope you do someday.”

“Me too.”

“You’ve been so quiet recently, where have you been? Your latest chapter has been in the drafts completed for months.”

“I know, I’ve just had so much going on. With work and stuff, I started a new podcast with my best friend, you can find it on Spotify. It’s called The Het and The Ace, we talk about fictional characters and personas from all over the place.”

“Nice plug.”

“Thank you.”

“Well I’ve got to go, Chase always panics if I disappear for too long. He doesn’t really understand my power, nobody does.”

“To be honest even I don’t and I wrote it!”

“Think of it like this, you know the show Big Brother?”

“Of course.”

“Well It’s like I enter the confessionals room, I’ve got a comfy chair where I can watch the cameras and speak to you on the other side, mostly I just use the time to vent out my thoughts into the void. To everyone else I just disappear. That’s what they think my power is.”

“That’s incredible, I can’t believe I came up with that.”

“Well you best believe it, because you did. You’ve created a whole universe of stories. Don’t stop now!”

“I won’t I promise.”

“And Jayjay, post that chapter in your drafts, keep writing whenever you get the time because it’s what you love, and it’s what you’re good at. Don’t let those stories go to waste.”

“Thank you David I will, I’ve been planning to for a while, and I definitely will!”

“Good, I can’t wait to read it. Speak soon Jayjay.”

“I’ll see you in my thoughts David, I’m glad you exist.”

“I’m glad I exist too almighty creator.”