The Great Gatsby Alternate Ending Essay

I couldn’t sleep at all last night. The nightmare of the past events haunted me all throughout the night. The visage of the body being laid out and defiled in the middle of the cold, barren road was still within my head like looking at myself in the mirror. I was near the brink of collapse, unable to bear what had just happened. I stayed in bed till about midday when I woke up from my slumber, my face dry from tears. I wanted to know if Gatsby had come back and ask what happened when he was still standing there. I hasten to get dressed and ready to go over. Gatsby answered the door half resuscitated, half unconscious from the hours of sleep deprivation. I inquired Gatsby to what happened when he was still standing outside Daisy’s house.
“Nothing
happened” he said exhaustively. “I stood there till about quarter past four looking up at into Daisy’s window. She turned off her lights around two in the morning. But I stuck around to make sure that nothing happened.”
I couldn’t help but feel like I had to warn him about the incident.
Warn him about the chance the police might suspect it’s him. Tell him that Tom might confess of who really did it. I had to tell him, even though I was sobbing all morning about it.
“You have to go away, lay low for a while” I said.
“I can’t go away, not when I’m so close old sport.” “They’ll eventually trace it to your car.”
He wouldn’t hear it. Not until he can finish his desire. He spent so long to retain the connection he had with Daisy so long ago. He just couldn’t let her go. For a fluttering moment, I felt some form of pity for him, having spent years of his life, chasing after his obsession of a girl he knew and grew affection for. I then disregarded this feeling thinking on how he can still maintain that childish, idealistic viewpoint of her.
After my discussion with Gatsby, I visited Mr. Wilson to check on his condition. A hardened, bronze man was there helping to console Mr. Wilson from his recent loss. “Ah, hello, my name is Michaelis” said Michaelis, pulling me apart to another room. “Did you hear about what happened to his wife?” “Yes, I was actually present when his wife
died.” “So tragic.” Michaelis began to discuss how he’s been here supporting Mr. Wilson after the whole incident since this morning. He was his neighbor, dozing throughout the entire accident only to here about it in the morning news. Ever since the he has been trying to pull Mr. Wilson back to reality, even though reality has been so cruel to him all throughout his years. After seeing Mr. Wilson I could no longer bear to see this husk of man. So, I bid my farewells and hoped for the best to the apparition sitting in George Wilson’s garage. After driving up to my house, I decided to visit my neighbor to check to see how he was doing.
Once I reached the door, I realized it was still open since midday. I came inside and heard just the wind breezing through the entire house. I thought it strange of him to just leave without announcing of his departure. I walk around suspecting him to be asleep after going up, not realizing he has left his property unlocked. I search about looking for him, but to no avail, until I reached his study. The room is lit by a single lamp hunched over the desk, peering into a note that was left. I read it with such caution that I thought the note would disintegrate in my hands the moment I let my eyes off it. The note that Gatsby had left me
read: “Dear Nick,
I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about this while you were still here, old sport. I just didn’t know how you might’ve reacted. I’ll be short since I’ll have to leave soon. I’m eloping with Daisy. She came over to my house to apologize for what Tom did that night. She also couldn’t stand for what happened. I then remembered what you said to me. I pleaded her to go away with me, to leave this past behind, to get a fresh start on us. She was reluctant, my lifestyle and choices, having to leave Tom as well as her child Pammy, leaving everything behind. But, she just couldn’t go on living here anymore. It was such a joyous moment for me. Finally, my life long desire was finally realized old sport. I just hope we can meet each other someday on a different day. And hopefully we’ll have this long behind us. Yours Truly, Jay Gatsby I was baffled from what I just read. I wouldn't have imagined that Gatsby would listen to my advice. But taking my advice to result in this just completely took me aback. I had to digest what had happened for abit. But I came to my senses realizing that people will give up everything for a sense of security from a dire situation, especially one like this. After fully grasping what happened, I thought of Tom and how he’s alone now, with just his fortune, his belongings, and a single child. He lost his mistress, almost regained his wife, but lost her to a man who she met earlier. Now he was alone, all alone in a vast, cruel world. I decided not to visit to check on his well being as he can be unstable when provoked. I just hope that Tom will be fine and not injure himself or his child. After gathering my thoughts, I returned home and felt fully ladened from pondering on what transpired and from exhaustion. I sprawled across my couch to rest my eyes for a bit. But before I could relax, the telephone rang surprising me from my tranquility. I received the call and heard Jordan’s voice on the other line. “Hi Nick, it’s me Jordan. How are you?”
“Fine. How are you?”
“I’m grand. I was wondering if you would join me for dinner and discuss with you about something.”
“Yeah… that sounds fine. What time should we meet?”
“Does quarter after four sound fine?”
“Yes, I’ll see you then.”
She hung up the phone before I could even say bye. I was worried since I wished not to enter Tom’s house after the whole incident. I was still hesitant to go meet with Jordan but, despite my displeasure, I readied myself and got myself cleaned and in a new set of clothes. I met Jordan at an Italian bistro off the corner of 10th Avenue. It was a grandiose restaurant and quite popular around the area. We entered in, sitting at our table with exceeding awkwardness. I hoped to pass the time with some small chat.
“How was your day Jordan?” I asked tensely.
“It was fine.”
“Have you seen the news lately? It’s all over now.”
“Nick, I’m engaged to another man now” she said nonchalantly. I had no doubt in my mind that she could marry off to an innumerable list of men. I nonetheless acted surprised to hear the fact. After talking about us and how we were to continue, we finished our meal and left to the front of the building. We stood there looking at each other for a couple of seconds that seemed to be an eternity. Her face glistening from the light of the restaurant, her dress flowing from a summer breeze.
“Well, I bid you farewell Nick, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Those were the last words we ever exchanged to each other. A week later, I packed my belongings and returned back home. I would never know where Gatsby left off, but wherever he is, he is at the least happy with Daisy.