Why did I write The Hero Dies in the End?

I wrote “The Hero Dies in the End” for a handful of reasons.

One) I've always been obsessed with telling stories and how to tell stories. And then I had one of my own to tell.

Two) The characters of The Hero Dies in the End just sorta showed up one day and wouldn't leave me alone. There was a story there that needed to be told. I wanted to tell the story of a person that was resilient to the point of insanity. A person that attacked their problems head on without hesitating, which could then end in a good way or bad. Often bad. A person unafraid of a little risk. A person who seemed to not care about themselves or others, but through subtle actions observed that supposition would prove to be wrong.

Three) I wanted to write a story that showed the struggle between doing what is morally correct and doing what is necessary to stay alive. And how there are very real consequences for our actions. Many people go through these crossroads by living in this sinful world. It's not easy. But people are people, and sometimes the only choice to make is the one where they get to wake up the next morning. All this is mixed into the day-to-day life of a college student who simply wants to graduate and go home. A story that shoes how easy it is to be a danger. How slipping away from your faith and who you are can happen without even noticing.

Four) I wrote this story during a time when I wasn't doing so well physically or mentally. I had just been injured after a running a half marathon and was faced with the very real possibility that I would never run again. I could barely walk for months, even sitting was painful. There was a lot of pain and frustration and I had to figure out what to do with it all. So in a way this story is a process of recovery. I was forced to discover who I was without things I thought had defined me.

-themesswrites