EOI Carabanchel Writing Awards: "The Other Side"

Dearest student Andrés Puente Matesanz, sharing 1st prize for NA, is the author of "The Other Side". Enjoy your reading!

"The Other Side"

The reddish fat spooky moon was shimmering in the sky like never before.
At least, this is what Jake could glimpse between the sharp high cypresses and the thick fog that blurred his vision. He was driving a 67 Chevy Impala on an endless rain-washed road, and the pitch black night didn’t take the sting out.
Jake had always been successful, at his only 23 years, he had already won more than ten literature awards, and several influential publishing companies had offered him great deals. However, Jake’s only worry was Vicky.
They had been meeting for a long time, and Vicky unconsciously turned into the center of Jake’s world. They had always been a perfect couple, no argues, no fights. Doubtlessly, Jake gave up everything and threw himself into her. Even though, Vicky began to work as a war journalist and after one year of living separately she decided to split up. He used to call her and argue, but that night he overstepped the mark.
-Where are you, Jake?
- I’m driving, I’ve just crossed George’s Bridge. Vicky please come back, I can’t…
-Jake, we have now separately ways, we have talked about it…
-I know…but I can’t go on, I’d take my life before living without you.
-Oh! please… Jake, calm down , pull over the car, just pull over.
-Jake?...Jake!
Communication failed. Jake was so absentminded talking with Vicky that he was not able to dodge the stag that appeared on the road out from nowhere.
The collision made him swerve and the car spun out of control. It flipped over and rolled. Jake stroke his shoulder against the door. Although everything happened in the twinkling of an eye, he felt the pain as a bunch of needles covering his spine in slow motion. In fact it was so intense, he could feel them scratching his bones and burning his muscles.
The car went off the road ending up side down in the river. Now there was an astounding soundless in the air. Everything was motionless, so perfectly calm.
Jake was hanging down because of the tight safety-belt. His nose was bleeding and his tongue was rough and dry. Fear instantly cleared the fog from his head. The windows had shattered and water was flooding the car. He tried to unfasten in vain.
He was trapped. He knew it and he refused to fight just because he realised he was not afraid of dying. He was afraid of being alive, afraid of his loneliness and of his boredom and empty life.
This revelation overwhelmed him with an intoxicated madness. He was ashamed because of being a weak-willed, a egocentric and selfish man. However, he was truly hurt because he knew he had been nothing but a disruption in Vicky’s life.
Water rose up so he held the air in his lungs.
He closed his eyes and waited.
It was hard to believe he was going to die this way.
But he did.
He embraced darkness and reached the other side.


A sharp voice resounded in Jake’s head.
-Open your eyes Jake.
He couldn’t open them wide because of a white sparkling light which was blinding him. After a few seconds his eyes adapted and he saw a vast extension of white emptiness, there was no horizon, no sky above, no ground below, just a cold emptiness .His ears hear nothing but a lifeless silence.
However, Jake got fluster when he realised he was balancing on a tightrope. Unbelievably, he was in the middle of nowhere, staggering in a frayed rope that was floating on the air.
Suddenly, another rope appeared beside him, and Vicky was walking subtlety on it. When she arrived to Jake’s position , she waved his hand slightly. Jake was spellbound and slack-jawed.
-Hello Jake.- said Vicky softly.
-Where are we? What are we these ropes?.
-Calm down Jake. You are on the other side.
-The other side?- Answered hesitant.
-Yeah…The other side is a place where everything is possible but nothing is really what it seems. You are submerged in your subconscious, I am nothing but a visual representation of your conscience. Jake, I am not going to beat about the bush, you had an accident, the “real Vicky” was frightened and call an ambulance. They dragged you out from your car and now you are comatose in a hospital.
Her careless and cold words shocked Jake.
-I understand…I am dead and this place is as empty as my life
- Not yet. We all are walking on ropes, balancing all the while. Our ropes are unique and they change its colours as we walk through the stages of our lives. You are on a frayed and black rope right now, because you are weak and unwillingness to walk on.
-But if Pain is the line that connect me whit life, why should I hold on?
Vicky held out his hand with a gleaming scissor on it.
-I know you are dead beat and sick of pretending you are fortunate, Jake. If you want to stop walking just cut your rope. You will definitely fall into this side being free of mental pain. Nevertheless, if you are strong to walk on, I swear you that your rope will turn into a firm and colourful one. However, you will have to cut my rope and free me from your mind, accepting that it’s time for me to live my own life.
A silence reigned the air.
-Jake, will you be able to judge yourself when the sentence is your life or my loss?
-My life or your loss…- Jake muttered.
Finally, he knew the answer, he couldn’t kill himself because he hadn’t the guts and Vicky would have felt guilty of his death. Jake fumbled for the words.
-I have to walk on.
It was hard to believe he was going to cut Vicky’s rope.
But he did.
He embraced brightness and reached the real side.