text: Hey so below is my first attempt at a short story. Any tips or advice would be muchly appreciated. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ The old man smiled with his yellow crooked teeth, taking a seat opposite you in an equally plush high back armchair. "Where to begin.... Hm?" He scratch his chin, "Well the start would be the best place I suppose." He rested his feet upon a small foot rest, "Our story starts around 150 years ago underneath the smoke filled skies of victorian London, truly the technological and cultural capital of the time. You see these items all belonged to a Miss Harriet Beechwood. The Beechwoods were a prominent family in Victorian high society. Her mother Phillipa a common fixture at gala's and parties, mixing with who's who of the day. Harriet's father, Oswald, was a successful London banker. It was during a visit to her father's workplace she met the strapping young adventurer Godwin Whittock. She had her many tales of his daring feats from her father, who had overseen the fiance of many expeditions led by Godwin into the heart of Africa, at the time regarded as one of the last great untamed wilderness' yet to be tamed by the white man. Needless to say it was love at first sight, at least for Harriet. This initial meeting was quickly followed by a whirlwind summer romance of secret rendezvous and lengthy letters professing each others undying admiration and love. Yet it was not to last, you see Oswald knew of Goodwin's womanizing ways and upon uncovering their relationship Oswald forced the randy adventurer to propose in an attempt to save his dear Harriet from heartbreak and his family name from humiliation. Harriet was of course overjoyed when her darling Godwin proposed, her heart filled with joyed, her spirits never higher as she counted the days til they were wed. But alas this is Harriet would never get her happily ever after as on the eve of her wedding she received a letter written in Godwin's hand, it explained how he had never loved her and that the whole marriage had been forced upon him by her father. The message also revealed the extent of Godwin's promiscuity, listing a whole slew of mistresses including Harriet's own mother." The old man paused for a second, drawing a slow steady breath as if to calm himself, he continued, "Upon hearing the news, Harriet immediately set out to confront her parents, who at the time were staying at their country estate in the peak district, a good two weeks outside of the city. The heartbroken young lady would spend the next two days in her carriage mulling over each betrayal. Her lover, who she once idealised, revealed to be naught more than a womanizing lathero. Her father, her daddy dearest, a man who she believed would always protect her had humiliated her to save himself from embarrassment. Her loving mother, a woman who had always preached the values of a good marriage and fidelity, was in truth a hypocritical harlot, willing to drop her bloomers even at the cost of her own daughters heart. It was during these long hours of solemn contemplation that Harriet's once pure and kind heart grew darker, stained black by spite, hatred and malice. She no longer cared for others, why should they feel happiness and joy, things she had been robbed of. If she could no longer feel joy, she would ensure no one else ever would." &#x200B; "Unfortunately Harriet would never reach her parents. Around midday on the seventh day of her travels, a terrible accident occured. As the carriage wound its way along a particularly craggy path, one misplaced foot from one of the horses result in the carriage to tumble down the valley, and into a the thicket of bushes below. The carriage driver was killed instantly, the horses managing to bolt free, yet poor Harriet remained trapped, bleeding out and barely conscious. Passerbys by were unable to hear her cries for help and so she died, slowly, cursing the world for how it had wronged her with each breath." &#x200B; "Her remains weren't found until 3 weeks later, by which time her blood had soaked deep into her luggage, carrying her curse and hatred, binding it to those her few earthly possessions. Those that found the carriage each of course took a souvenir, only to find their loves soon drained of happiness and joy, needless to say many tragic tales like Harriet's have followed these items down through the years. Stories of young newly weds driven to suicide on their honeymoon upon receiving an ornate brooch as a wedding gift. Tales of bankers going broke, losing it all after purchasing an antique ring.