Example:

Opening my eyes seemed hard as if my lids were glued shut, but finally as they slowly pried themselves open, all I saw was a huge blur. Nothing seemed a bit clear. I could see shadows and such, maybe even a floral patterned curtain to my right covering a window where a definite light was shining through, but that was it. I kept hearing this beeping sound every few seconds, faint, but still there. About then, I heard footsteps. Several figures walked towards me. Even though I couldn’t make them out, or focus very well yet, I could still speak; or so I thought. A hundred words were being muttered by my mind, but my mouth said nothing. I tried harder and harder, feeling my eyes beginning to water, I knew there were tears making their way out to show the confused state I was in.

“He’s awake,” the person said. “I don’t know how much more we can expect.”

Still trying to yell and ask what in the hell was going on, still silence surrounded my lips, my voice. Then those same footsteps that made their way in, made their way back out. Closing my eyes, I prayed it was just a dream.

He came into the room carrying a pistol in his right hand, and his eyes fluttered from left to right, like he was unsure of what to do next. It was obvious he wasn’t meant to be a robber, or so it seemed to me, but still I was a little scared of what this inexperienced man might do next. Then everyone slung themselves onto the floor as his gun swung in their direction. Everyone wanted to get out of the line of fire. Me, on the other hand, stood there straight and as calm as I could be. He looked at me as if he was wondering why I hadn’t joined the rest of the hostages, but it was pretty easy to see that I wasn’t the type that feared much. Yes, he was carrying a weapon, but his eyes didn’t show a killer. Instead, they showed someone only pretending to be one. If no one else saw through that, I did in a glance.

After the accident, I wasn’t the same. My mind always wondered to an earlier time wondering what I could’ve done to save her and what a coward I was to have done nothing. The rescuers reassured me that I was blaming myself for no reason, but there was something that kept me wondering just the same. Another thing, was the fact that I never saw her body. It was like the flames disintegrated her, like she vanished into thin air. I didn’t even get to tell her the love I felt for her before she was gone. That was my main regret. Still, her face lingered in my heart and in my mind. Somehow I knew she always would. Then, as I stood up and started to leave the small diner on the corner of fourth and Lynn, I saw something that had to be an impossibility. I rushed outside and when I looked towards the corner, I almost passed out in disbelief.

He led me into the living room which was decorated in an elegant, but still comfortable way. The burgundy satin drapes were tied over to the side with a bow exactly the same color and a hint of light was shining through the tall, narrow window. His hand clasped mine gently and led me to the velour couch sitting in the middle of the room. My nerves had taken me over inside and out, and it was hard to think of what words to say.

“Marie,” he whispered.

“Yes,” I replied, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

He leaned over and took a small box out of the drawer that was in the end table. It was wrapped beautifully, and on top was a tiny red shiny bow with small streamers coming from it, like a spray of colors.

“What are you up to Gene,” I said playfully, trying to calm my anticipation.

All he did was put his finger up to his puckered lips and said, “shhhh.”

Finally, he put the box in my hand. A part of me wanted to rip it open in a hurry, but another part of me, wanted to take my time. I didn’t want to assume anything, but I was hoping with all I had, what might be in that exquisite box in my hand.

With his eyes staring at me tenderly, I carefully unwrapped it, trying my best not to tear the paper too badly. And when I took the top off of the box, my expression changed instantly.

After being in that house that was full of some sort of spirit that made it clear we weren’t welcome, my fingers clung onto Johnny’s arm for protection. Jennie and Adam were playing around as if the entire thing was a joke, but I knew better. The happenings that went on inside that house, were too spine-chilling to make me think it was any kind of joke at all. The noises that came from the walls and moving objects for no reason, just about scared me out of my pants. The sad thing, was that it was a house left to me by my grandmother. I never did like visiting her because of the house, and suddenly, the very thing I feared the most, was a mine to fear from then on.

From a distance I heard a noise that sounded like her voice speaking to me. The sound was fading in and out. And as I looked around, then up to the attic window, there it was.

Carnies were everywhere as we walked around our state fair. There was music in every direction and so many types of people, it made the night an interesting one.

“Let’s ride the Ferris Wheel,” Amy said enthusiastically.

“But…”

“Oh…come on…you scared of the Ferris Wheel?”

In a deeper tone, I replied quickly, “Of course not. Let’s go.”

As we climbed in the wavering car, I felt my stomach began to turn flips. I didn’t want her to know, but since I was very small, I’d always had this fear of heights. It consumed me especially when I tried to fight it. And it was a moment when I really needed to fight that fear.

“Here we go,” she hollered aloud. Then the car wheel began to go up and around.

Closing my eyes would’ve been too much of a give away about me being so petrified, so I kept them open. And with every pass by the ground, all I wanted to do, was jump out and land both my feet on solid ground.

Finally, the ride was over, but we were the ones stuck at the top as they were letting others off.

“Breathe… just breathe,” I said to myself, my heart racing from pure panic.

Then an earsplitting sound rang clear as the huge crowd below stopped what they were doing, looked up in our direction and let out a gasp in unison.

With these ending, the reader has to turn the page to see what happens next. As the writer, you can make the story go any direction you like. But your job is to keep them guessing and make them have to turn the page and get enthralled into another chapter, then another, until they find the end (the only place, they can truly stop.)

“The Perfect Ending”

It’s funny, there was a time when I thought life was being so horrible to me. I thought nothing would ever go right. I thought I was doomed to years of misery just because of a few misfortunate happenings. I learned something though. Most people spend a lifetime trying to find one person to love and that love them back. I was lucky…I found two. To me, that’s a miracle in itself.

Our travels had been wretched, crossing such a terrain and taking in such circumstances that made us wonder at one point, if we would even make it. There were a few times when I thought dying would be better. Then I said, “NO!” And there we were, in a small, but cozy cabin with the fireplace blazing with all it’s glory, forcing the heat throughout the room. I didn’t want to think about what we’d been through. It was like a nightmare replaying itself in my mind over and over again. But when Trevor came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, his warmth was more than overwhelming. That one action from this man I learned to love in such a short time, was slowly erasing all the bad memories that seemed to run rampant through my tired mind. And yet, I didn’t want to forget the hardships. To be honest, I knew that the person I’d become, was because of what I’d been through. And even though it was a painful memory, it was a memory just the same. Our travels were hard, but they ended while we still had a breath in us and we still had a future to look towards. So that was that. I didn’t want to dwell on what terrible things may have happened, but instead, I knew I’d let those things mold my future. And as I looked deep into Trevor’s eyes, I could see that future…no more fear, yet many more miles to travel…only this time, not alone.