The Weight of a Wish: The Story of Long and Graceful
Welcome to this special edition of the Dispatch. I recently released the multimedia narration for a story that represents a major milestone in my career. Long and Graceful was my first professionally published piece of fiction. It was the first time an editor decided my words were worth a payment. While the check from Every Day Fiction was small, the validation was immense. It was the moment I realized my stories could reach beyond my own desk.
An Echo from the News
The seeds of this story were planted in 2011. I read a harrowing news report about a young boy whose mother had driven him and his siblings into the Hudson River. The boy managed to escape through a window. He was ten years old and suddenly alone. The story gained national attention when Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis reached out to support the child. As a native of Baltimore, that connection stayed with me.
I found myself thinking about the long-term burden of such an event. The boy who survived that day performed a miracle by simply finding his way out of that window. There was no other path available to him. His survival was the only success possible in such a dark reality.
A Fictional Meditation
Survivor’s guilt is a heavy and often irrational burden. This story is a fictional exploration of that weight. I suspect that many survivors eventually have a restless dream where they wish they could change the unchangeable. They might dream of a moment where they could have saved their family at any cost.
This story is a “wish fulfilled” for the subconscious. It is a simplified, fictional study of the heroic scenes we dream of during the night. I changed the details and focused on a brother and a sister to maintain a distance from the real tragedy. My goal was to explore the narrative agency we often wish for in our most desperate moments. I have immense empathy for the boy who survived that day. This story is a glimpse into the impossible dreams that can haunt a resilient heart.
The Multimedia Narration
I chose to narrate this story next because it captures the heart of my work. The visuals focus on the claustrophobia of the car and the eventual grace of the escape. I have combined atmospheric digital paintings with cinematic narration to bring the emotional weight of the prose to life. You can watch the full immersive narration below.
Explore the Archive
If you are new to the Dispatch, I invite you to explore my full history of professionally published work on the Published Works page. You can also download my exclusive Heart & Havoc starter collection by joining the mailing list. This sampler includes two other stories that showcase my range between grounded sincerity and farcical spectacle.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support allows me to continue exploring these fractured realities.
Michael Patrick Coady
Author
www.michaelpatrickcoady.com