I Couldn’t Write Their Story. Can You Dear Writer?

I can only tell the story that I create for them

Shocking, right? A writer is not able to write a story.

I never thought I would rethink this and especially put myself in his shoes. Whenever the story comes to my mind all I can feel is anger and all I can think about is punching him in the face.

Let me provide you with some context, our main character is a police officer in my hometown, for the sake of this story we’ll call him Kamel. I met him while applying for my passport. I had to wait for him in his office for 10 minutes. The moment he entered the room, I sensed the boredom and tiredness in his look and his walk. He sat on his desk. Then, looked me in the eyes and asked “What are you here for?”

I replied with all the excitement I got left in me at that day, at that time, at that moment: “I’m here to apply for a passport, and here are the required papers,”

He started looking through the papers over and over again.

“Is there anything wrong?” I asked.

“No… But, you took this picture in November, right? and used it for your identity card as I can see on 23rd November. Well, by the end of this month (January) as we get to work on your application, it will exceed 3 months and so you need to take a new photo and come back to me”

I was in a total wow! What the heck! Even by the end of January that wouldn’t exceed 3 months and what is it with 3 months, I don’t get it.

And of course, all I said was “okay” being the petite obedient girl in front of masculine authority.

Today I won’t tell you much about my story, my feelings, but rather his story. What was he thinking? Let’s go back to the start.

I walked into the room and this little girl was sitting there.

What does she even want? Is she lost? maybe.

Well, another passport for the day. Let’s check these papers. This is okay and this and this… Hmm, let me recheck. I need to be quick though. I wonder what did she cook for dinner.

Ughh I couldn’t get into his mind. I couldn’t see his perspective. All I can see is his dysfunctional thinking that I assume from my side of the story. Maybe he has a belief that to do his job right, people should earn it as if it’s not their right and work hard to get it. I don’t have to find him excuses though or make his story a good one, but at least he needs to be a good person from his side of the story, right? Or, shouldn’t he? How do people sound in their own stories?

Isn’t this my writing, my perspective, my side of the story, the way I see the situation more than anyone else?

Can I see his perspective truly without projecting my own perspective?

No, I’m sorry dear prompt, I failed you.

The only way I believe a writer can write the true story of someone else is when they hear it from them and try to paint it using their words. Even when doing so they will tailor it to their own perspective. They will connect to the feeling of it. They will imagine: how does it feel to feel that certain way? What does it look like to be that person?

The stories we write are ours, the characters, the feelings. We create it all. We make it up and maybe we even live it.

What do you think? Can we write the other side of each story we live? Or are we already writing it to fill up the gaps in our minds? Isn’t that what our minds are constantly doing: making up stories?

This piece is in response to Amy Shearn’s # write here prompt, the ex’s pov.