Creative+Writing

media type="file" key="Erika's short story.mp3"1. 5 positive consequences

great minds living on and creating more never have to say goodbye to loved ones no graves no need for medical science endless time for projects

5 negative consequences

overpopulation depleted resources wars over space and resources apathy mental insanity

2.

3. Setting: Can't decide yet. 4. Main conflict: Main character has all the time in the world, now time is running out.
 * 1) **What do you know about this character now that s/he doesn’t yet know? **Their time will be over.
 * 2) **What is this character’s greatest flaw? ** They are indecisive.
 * 3) **What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit? **
 * 4) **What is this character’s greatest asset? **They have
 * 5) **If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be? **Someone with a purpose.
 * 6) **What music does this character sing to when no one else is around? ** They don't sing.
 * 7) **In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith? ** They have faith in karma.
 * 8) **What is this character’s favorite movie? ** The gods must be crazy.
 * 9) **Does this character have a favorite article of clothing? Favorite shoes? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The classic jean.
 * 10) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does this character have a vice? Name it. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Spending entire days staring at the ocean.
 * 11) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Name this character’s favourite person (living or dead). **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">John Lennon.
 * 12) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s secret wish? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">To have a purpose.
 * 13) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s proudest achievement? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Finding a purpose.
 * 14) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment. **
 * 15) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s deepest regret? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> To have not done something.
 * 16) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest fear? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Dying with nothing to look back on.
 * 17) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s most devastating moment. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Watching their family die.
 * 18) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest achievement? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Finding a purpose.
 * 19) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest hope? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> To find something that makes life bearable.
 * 20) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does this character have an obsession? Name it. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Balancing stones towers.
 * 21) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest disappointment? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Not succeeding in life.
 * 22) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this ch <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">aracter’s worst nightmare? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Dying.
 * 23) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Whom does this character most wish to please? Why? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They just want to believe going through life was worth it.
 * 24) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s mother. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Classic homemaker.
 * 25) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s father. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Owner of a grocery store, brightspirited.
 * 26) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Their sibling.
 * 27) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> only child
 * 28) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> none
 * 29) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s bedroom. Include three cherished items. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Simple, small, with photographs all over the walls. 1 a stone from a special beach from their childhood. 2 a camera 3 their great grandfather's watch.
 * 30) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his/her astrological sign? **
 * 31) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If this character had to live in seclusion for six months, what six items would s/he bring? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 1 a notebook and pen 2 a camera 3 their great grandfather's watch 4 their favourite movie 5 a good novel series 6 a flower
 * 32) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why is this character angry? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> they can't be like others, and live normally
 * 33) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What calms this character? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> looking at pictures of nature
 * 34) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have. never getting better, dying young **
 * 35) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> rapid aging condition
 * 36) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">List the circumstances over which this character has no control. **
 * 37) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What wakes this character in the middle of the night? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> any little sound.
 * 38) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How would a stranger describe this character? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> always questioning
 * 39) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What does this character resolve to do differently every morning? be like everyone else **
 * 40) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who depends on this character? Why? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> no one depends on them
 * 41) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If this character knew s/he had exactly one month to live, what would s/he do? **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> try to see the world
 * 42) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How would a dear friend or relative describe this character? quiet with large eyes and a bald head **
 * 43) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s most noticeable physical attribute? their large eyes **
 * 44) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character hiding from him/herself? the fact that they will die young **
 * 45) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write one additional thing about your character. **

Plot outline: Main character (male, name undecided yet) has been drinking from the fountain of youth for 200 years, suddenly, the fountain has dried up! He has been drinking the water everyday at dawn to keep his youth, as advised by the local quack. He has only one day to do all he wants to do before he dies. Unfortunately, for these 200 years, he has not gone anywhere or done much because he needs to be near the fountain everyday. This one day, he's trying to get his bucketlist done.

Changed!! Character has Progeria, a condition that causes you to age rapidly. Their parents desperately try to find a cure before it's too late.

5. How does the main character change over the course of the story? The main character, changes physically, from having progeria and being aged, to being young again. 6. Describe the use of Irony in your story. It's ironic that their doctor has long hair, since they have none. It's also a little ironic that they hurt themselves while their parents are getting them something to heal them.

7. What symbols are present in your story? The disease itself is a symbol for a problem or predicament, one that cannot be changed. The main character doesn't stop themselves from doing anything because of it.

8. What is the theme of your story? The theme is survival, not from elements or the wilderness, from a disease.

Erika Lowlind Midnight I was born with Progeria syndrome, a genetic condition that occurs in about one in eight million births. This condition makes you age rapidly; hair falling out, loss of sight and ability to walk. I was unaware of my condition until one day when I was five. A lady with lovely long shiny hair, black as midnight, came to the door. She introduced herself as Dr. Rhodes. I was fascinated by her long hair; my own mother had pale blonde hair and my father did not have very much as all. She told me she was there to help. Dr. Rhodes was very nice, giving me a present every time she came; sometimes something small like a shiny penny, sometimes a beautiful photograph of animals from faraway places, fascinating creatures I had never seen. Unfortunately there was a price attached; a shot in the arm, a blood sample, and shining bright lights that hurt my eyes. I always asked her what these were for, and she would say “because you’re special.” For three long years she would come and test me every day, sometimes bringing others with her who would do tests too. Every morning after I had seen her long hair I would look in the mirror in the morning and see if I too had grown long beautiful hair on my bare head. During the fall of that year, I started to lose function of my legs; and soon I was confined to a wheelchair for transportation. I had always loved to run outdoors, just to feel the wind in my face and see the plants and animals. After the wheelchair, I was no longer allowed outdoors. The house air suffocated me, the walls solidly imprisoned me. Since I was not permitted to go outdoors, I would content myself with looking out the window. I had never had any playmates, not even pets, and I was very lonely; l desperately wanted a friend. One afternoon a few years later I was sitting on the window ledge, watching the children walk by who went to a school not far from my home. I had seen them many times, walking at exactly the same time on certain days of the week. At that time, I did not know they were from the school, or even what school was for that matter, but they looked friendly. Suddenly, a boy caught sight of me looking out the window. l waved to him and smiled, and told him to bring his friends and everyone can come and play. The boy acted rather strangely, as if he did not realize what l was saying. He started walk faster away, then speed up to a run, shouting at the other children to do the same. At that time l figured maybe their mothers were calling them, just as my mother wants me to come to supper “this instant!!” l did not think much of this incident, until that very evening, my mother started sewing the drapes together, then nailing the sides to the wall. I asked her why she would do such a thing, quite upset that she would take away my precious view to the world. She moved on to the next window, working quickly, almost as if l wasn’t there at all. This was starting to make me a little more than ruffled, so l asked her louder. She held a tight face and the needle kept whipping large uneven stitches into the drapes. I was used to my mother always tending to my every whim, so l screamed at her, my tiny body writhing with the force of my anger. I screamed with all my might, using all my eight year old lung power. But my lungs were aged, not working quite as a normal child’s should, so l burst into a fit of hacking coughs. When the coughing stopped, l noticed the tears running down my mother’s face. She looked at me for a moment, and then left the room, not saying a word. My face burned with shame; I shouldn’t have screamed at her. The very next morning l could not find my mother, or my father. They had never left to go anywhere without telling me. l was very worried, that my temper tantrum the night before had prompted this. I went to the window and the needle still dangled from the remaining thread on the drapes. l went into the kitchen to find no one, no one in the entire house. I had never fended for myself at home, so I decided I needed some breakfast, as I missed dinner the night before. Everything in our kitchen was meant for a normal adult to be able to reach, not an eight year old. I remembered my days climbing trees a few years back, and figured cabinet handles would make excellent climbing. I had not anticipated the deterioration of the movement of my legs. I managed to pull myself up the counter, an enormous feat! I still had to get the food out of the cupboard. I turned my position to sitting, then opened a cupboard and reached for the closest box. I found breakfast cereal! I was elated that being by myself was working out so well. All I needed now was a bowl, and possibly a cup for a drink because my throat was parched. I scooted along the counter a bit; suddenly realizing balancing was a little harder than I thought. I opened the cupboard and found a nice big cereal bowl. I wrapped my little hands around it, holding on tight. As the bottom left the cupboard, and rested in my hands, I noticed how heavy it was. The bowl was like an avalanche, slowly tipping me to one side, then gaining speed and getting heavier and heavier. With one hand clutching the bowl, my other hand waved frantically to catch my balance, and crashed right into the glasses in the cupboard, sending them all down to the blue tile floor. The bowl threatened to tip me right off the counter, so I held on tight to the cupboard. My hand was wet with blood, cut by the broken glasses. The pain forced my hand to let go, and before I knew what was happening, I was lying on my back staring at the ceiling. I lay there, dazed, for a few minutes, and then felt something warm on my neck. A piece of glass was stuck in the back of my neck, gushing blood. I tried to reach back to pull it out, but my arm screamed in protest. Suddenly a wave of burning pain swept over me. I passed out. Around half an hour later, Dr. Rhodes came to see me for my daily testings. I had regained consciousness but was still lying in a bloody mess of glass in the middle of the kitchen floor. Dr. Rhodes knocked on the door, and when no one answered, slowly opened the door and came in. She called to me, but I couldn’t get my lips to move. She walked around the house a little, calling my name. I could hear her shoes walking closer to the kitchen, and then I heard her scream. I was in almost a dreamlike state, suddenly, the world blurred, the pain dulled, and I could not hear her scream. I watched as she looked around the floor, and then called someone on the phone. As she talked she started to cry. The world dulled even more, a warm, almost euphoric feeling came over me. I blinked to see more clearly in the fog. Dr. Rhodes noticed my movement, and a painful smile came with more tears. She was screaming to me to not fall asleep, but the warm, fuzzy feeling was like a soft blanket, and my heavy eyelids closed. A few days later I woke up in my own bed, with wires and tubes stuck into my arms. Pain instantly rushed to my head, it was almost unbearable. A nurse standing nearby injected something into my arm, and the pain dulled and the world cleared. I begin to notice the numerous bandages all over, and the especially painful one on my neck. I try to sit up, but my body betrays me. It will not move. I try moving my hands, and they too are unfeeling and useless. The nurse has returned with my parents. They brought a glass of water for me, holding it as if it was gold. They told me to drink it, and I would be better. This sounded simple enough for me to do, so I drank the whole glass, with the nurse pouring it down my throat and some dripping down my neck. The water was refreshing and delicious. Over the next few days, I made a rapid recovery. I later learned that my parents had found out about the fountain of youth the night before, they had it shipped immediately, then picked it up at the post office in the morning. In reality they had only left me for about a half hour. After a week, my cuts had all healed, and baby soft skin replaced them, not a hint of a scar anywhere. I was able to get out of bed. Two weeks after that, my arms and legs found feeling. Two months after that fateful day I broke my neck, I could run. Now, it has been seven years since that day. I now have hair down to my waist, shiny and smooth, black as midnight.