Novel 1st Draft Excerpt

On the morning of his 21st birthday, Erik Johnsen was awoken by a bad dream. He glanced over at his alarm clock, the digital 9 segment display cast a dim red light across the room, the time read 04:05. Erik tried to recall what happened in his nightmare, but as dreams are want to do, it had faded to nothingness. He lay his head back down on the pillow and was asleep again almost immediately. When he was awoken by the soft light from the sun filtering through his curtains, he had almost completely forgotten about the nightmare he had had a mere 4 hours ago.

As he shuffled through the house into his kitchen to make himself a coffee, a small envelope caught his eye on the cluttered table. Curiosity piqued, he picked it up and turned it over in his hands. It was made from a rough yellowed paper, and looked as though it was a hundred years old. With a shrug he tore open the envelope, expecting some junk mail, or a bill.

When he read the letter inside, he was left with more questions than answers. His eyes scanned the neatly scrawled writing on the page.

“Dearest Erik,

if you are reading this letter then things have become

most dire, we need you back. Meet me at Old Anders’

coffee shop today, if you want to know the truth of

who you are.

Show this letter to no one.

Best Wishes,

LC

P.S Happy Birthday”

His thoughts swirled as he read the letter, the truth of who he is, something he had yearned for his whole life. Erik had lost his Family around 5 years ago, and now he could scarcely remember them; what they looked like, sounded like, smelled like, it was all a distant and foggy memory. Despite his initial trepidation his curiosity won out and so at 3PM he found himself pushing open the heavy wooden door of the coffee shop. Erik had always loved this café, it had an ancient feeling to it, as though it were part of the earth itself. As he stepped through the threshold a wave of warm air hit him, along with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. The interior was bathed in a soft golden light emanating from the fireplace in the corner, it had a way of beautifying everyone who it touched, casting flickering shadows that seemed to dance across the tables. Smooth Jazz melodies, drifted through the air, a soothing rhythm helping you to forget the bustling life of the city outwith the doors. Erik made his way to an empty table near the window, as was always the case he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something different about this place, it almost felt like magic. He reminded himself that it was just an ordinary coffee shop and the feeling was just a result of the haze, the fire and the jazz. Little did he know though, that within the walls of Old Anders’ Coffee Shop, there was magic and destiny, and truth — a truth that would forever change the course of his life, and determine the fate of the universe itself."

A Short excerpt from my first draft. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated