Dirk always enjoyed free-form writing. Said it gave him an “instant creative outlet,” whatever that was.

The blank screen beckoned to him. So he started with the first words; which, fitting to this tale, were “The End.”

Why did he type those words? He began to think. About his three failed marriages. About the son he really didn’t know. About the daughter he refused to acknowledge. His business partner. The missing money. The pool of blood. About his “new life” behind bars.

About the failure his life had become.

His life now became his inspiration for his story. A man looks for love and acceptance in all of the wrong places. In the end, he has neither.

It’s not a really happy story. Won’t be a summer beach read, that’s for sure.

He re-read his story over and over, and his plan took form in his mind. But not on the screen.

Dirk’s last, final plan ended up being his last true action on Earth. Except for the shiv to his wrists, of course.

“Instant creative outlet,” indeed.