CAPTIVATED: A Short Story

by R.J. Simpson

San Francisco. April, 1906. The dark and twisted short-story of obsessive love in the years preceding the San Francisco earthquake. In 1900, Edward Allan Moore thought he had the world by the tail. He had a perfect family situation. His father-in-law, who had become rich during the Gold Rush, provided a nice standard living. His wife, while not the passionate sort, was willing to look the other way during a plethora of love affairs. His son was growing up to be a young man who he could be proud of. The newspaper business he had started in the 1880s was thriving. San Francisco was becoming a world class city. Some referred to as the Paris of the West because of its beautiful landscape AND its emphasis on the arts and culture. Moore took great pleasure in the knowledge that his efforts were largely responsible for the growth of his beautiful city. He was happy and content with his life in every area. But everything changed when he met the beautiful Victoria. Victoria Smart, a stage actress who came to town with a traveling theater group to perform in a play that would be staged at the fabulous new playhouse, captivated Edward from the first moment he met her. She was beautiful, a former Gibson Girl. She was brilliant, the first college-educated woman Moore had ever met. Strong, independent and articulate, she was enchanting and he fell madly in love with her. But his enchantment soon turned to obsession and he was determined to never let her go. This is a short story, told from a first person narrative. It is approximately twenty-nine pages long, and it is a dark story about an obsession which eventually leads to murder, and a gypsy curse.

55 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2019