Elliot put on his writer's mask and glared at the computer monitor. The text cursor blinked in and out of existence, demanding additions to his opus. Squinting, he typed in a small bit “The man reached for the pistol, his hand shaking.” Sighing, Elliot deleted the words. All the text tonight was just coming out crap after all. Leaning back, he pushed the chair back and spun it around. Maybe the nausea would give him some inspiration.

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The chair slowed to a stop facing the wall of book selves. Elliot sat up and leaned forward. Maybe he could get some inspiration from a real author. Standing up, he steadied himself on the desk. Stretching his back, he felt the lingering effects of the spin work themselves away. Elliot crossed the room and pulled the first book he saw off the shelf.

The book weighed heavily in his hands. A collection of stories of Heinlein’s, bound by leather with gold leaf text. The collection wasn’t a rare book, though Elliot claimed it to be the best book in his collection. He thumbed through the pages, stopping on several of the stories. The stories screamed out to be read, demanding he stop skimming the pages. He continued to turn the pages, nothing inside the tome getting his attention. Sighing Elliot put the book back on the shelf, and looked around for another.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Turning back to face the screen, Elliot blinked. The book didn't look to be getting any more done tonight. He saved and quit, standing up to leave the room. The bookshelf taunted him again, "I was always told to beware becoming the mask. What do I do when when that's all I want, and it doesn't happen?" Its possible the liquor cabinet would know the answer.

The cabinet stood empty, he drank it all last night apparently. Elliot couldn't be sure whether the blackout drinking or that it happened more and more frequently alarmed him more. "I suppose the cabinet gave me my answer. No retreating from this tonight." Since additions to the manuscript were a no go tonight, he could at least actually read something to ease his mind.