As long as I've been here I know that time is short. There are the people who run and battle life like a dragon- sword swinging against the constant flame. There are others who run and hide but the amazing thing is that life is how you perceive it. If you see life like an impossible journey, your fate will be altered. Come to life with open arms, excited for the wonderous future that lies before your very feet. Your life won't be perfect. It could be tragical, hopeless, and depressing at times, but life is always ready for fresh starts and new beginnings. The Earth only has so much time to offer you on this beautiful land. Make the best of it.

She felt it all that one fall afternoon, but at the same time she was numb. She laid on her bed buried into warmth, gazing out to the shining winding river just beyond the place to transport her soul. The dead leaves swirled around the ground in the wind howling louder than a sad wolf. Her eyes went back to the blankets, an offwhite cotton blend. She tried to cure her boredom; the monotone beeping being her only company. She knew what was coming; she felt it but first her mind got taken into a dream, a fantasy where she saw her child blowing out candles on his birthday party. The whistling wind caused the fantasy to disperse.

The room was bland and despairing but her incredible visions lightened the room. She imagined him sitting next to her. Her grown child, holding her hand as the one above comes down to take her to her true home. Her dreams danced around the room like a movie, one that she wished so bad to come true. She reached out to her baby and in a mist, he vanished.

As fast as they vanished, new thoughts appeared but they seemed to be an evocation and she retrospected on the souvenirs she brought into her mind. At first they were happy. The thrill of christmas morning, the freedom of her first car. She then saw her stomach, rounder than normal. She went to her parents in elation only to come back regretful and banished. She beared the child solitarily, and he was beautiful and pure only for him to be taken away from her right away. Pain washed over her body like a tsunami; drowning in her own tears. The waves were so intense, she felt the earthquake under her feet. She wept over her baby whose life had expired too soon and then like a snapping rubber band, reality came forward, revealing the plain walls and stale air. Again, new memories flooded back to her.

She realized something was irregular during one of her nightly baths. There was something abnormal right under her left breast. In the memory she can see the transformation of herself. Her gorgeous blond locks that once left girls envious was clumping and collecting in the cracks of her old wooden floor. Her greatest sadness was finding it in places around her home like a dreadful game of hide and seek. Her pillow, favorite hat, her brush. Her face had sunk, her healthy youth had been held hostage by the ribbon. The ribbon seemed to have her tied up like a puppet, completely controlling every movement and breath. She cried in reality along with herself in the memory, consoling with her past self.

Her breathing became heavier, like she was slowly getting pressed to death. Although she was crying, she had the most beautiful grin on her face. She was delighted for the future, the future that would be so short, but so long. Her eyes became droopy, her eyesight was blurry with tears resting in her eyelids.

She got lifted out of her bed, and her eyes widened more than they ever had before. The gray dreary room turned a blinding white, but it did not burn her eyes. Her face was frozen for the force carrying her was the strongest force that she had ever dealt with. Every memory from birth to the moment just a while ago flashed in her mind like a jumbled animation and before she knew it, she was transported to a whole new setting. Before she opened her eyes, she knew it was perfect. Her Goldilocks hair had grown back to length, her baggy sunken eyes had returned to their proper places. She opened her eyes which revealed a room of pastel, and she was comfortably seated on an oak rocking chair. She looked down and sleeping in her arms was her beautiful baby whom she will finally be able to meet.

I am followed by a monster. It chases me in the dark. It chases me in my dreams. It laughs at my pain. I've tried to get rid of it. Many times. In fact, I have an acqauintance to help me do so. It never works. It fills my head with bad, horrible thoughts that I would never want to have. It makes me want to do something bad. Not to anyone else, just myself. It makes me think I'm ugly, fat, stupid, not deserving of life. It creeps into my insecurities and makes them worse. It finds it's way sneaking it's way into what makes me happy, and then it ruins it. I wish it was easier to get rid of, I really do. The only hard part is that the monster is me, and the only way to destroy it is if I destroy myself.

One day I'll walk through these halls for the very last time

One day I'll never talk with my friends at my locker again

One day I'll say goodbye to the people that I've been with for the last 13 years of my life

One day we will all gather in the gym for graduation

One day I'll hug some of my best friends for the very last time

One day I'll watch some of the best people I've ever met walk across the stage for their ticket to freedom

One day we will all be together for the very last time

One day I'll pack up my room

One day I'll kiss my dog goodbye

One day I'll move away

One day I'll have to grow up

One day, my family will drive me to college

One day they will come home without me

One day I will live without them

One day all of us friends will get back together but it just won't be the same

One day I'll look back at the memories and wish I could go back

One day I'll wish that I could forget all the responsibility and go back to the best days of my life

Go back to the days when sports and band were the only real stressors in my life

Go back to the days where we would sing in the dressing room before the fall musical

Go back to the days where I would laugh so hard that I couldn't breathe

Go back to the times when everyone was hyped up for the homecoming football game

Back to those time

But of course we can't dwell in the past

I can't wait for the day I graduate college

I can't wait for the day I finally get my dream job

I can't wait for the day where I start a family

I can't wait till I cant travel the world,

live freely,

enjoy life,

feel amazing,

and have the life that I've always wanted to have

And I know it all started at my school

Dear Abby,

I think about you every day. Whenever I do anything, I think of how amazing it would be if you could be there too. Everytime I bake, I imagine you sending the flour into a flying white cloud in the kitchen. Everytime I read a book, I imagine your little hands bringing me your favorite picture book to read. Everytime I laugh, I wonder what you laugh would've been. I imagine your smile. Your adorable little baby teeth. I imagine them smiling at me. I always thought that you would be a joyful baby.

At first I worried about you. I worried that you would be by yourself, and possibly scared, but then I remembered that you are not alone. You have Grandma Pearl who I'm sure would love to share her amazing snickerdoodle cookies with you. You have Uncle Mark who would have a blast teaching you the proper techniques to fishing. You have my old dog Birdie, who would love to run in as many fields with you as you possibly could. And of course you have the most important of them all, God.

Feel free to visit me anytime. Possibly in the form of a butterfly. Land on my window everyday and I will know that you are watching over me. Let Grandma Pearl and Uncle Mark know that I am doing alright. And of course, make sure that Birdie is getting all the sticks in the world. I love you. Fly high angel.

Love,

Your sister

The look on his face was sinister. Mad.

I knew what he was going to do to me

Or at least what he wanted to do to me

The mountainous waves thrusted back and forth again the tension of the boat

It was being thrown like child’s toy

Water pelted my face like bullets

I held onto the wooden beam for dear life, but the man seemed to not be affected

He came closer to me and grabbed onto my arm

I fought against him while screaming into the storm; harmonizing with the roaring thunder

Without a blink, I was plunging into the mysterious blue

Falling

Falling

I fought against the waves

I struggled against the current

Ravenous for human blood

Falling

Falling

I didn’t choke

I didn’t feel pain

I didn’t struggle for air

I just fell

I lived a young life of suffering and pain. I was too young. The pain and disease outweighed any happiness I ever had. The doctor gave me a gray ribbon. That's what he said I had. I was too young to understand what it meant or what was going to happen to me. I didn't understand anything about what the doctor said, but I heard words like, "malignant" quite frequently.

One night I wasn't feeling good at all. The pain was intense and scary. My mom cried on my bedside, and held my hand. I didn't understand what was going on. I never did. More and more people came to my room to cry beside me. I wondered why they were always so sad. I was hurting so bad, and I felt so tired. I closed my eyes to fall into a serene sleep.

The next time I woke up, I quickly realized I felt no pain. Before I sat up, I called to my mother but she never came. I sat up and I realized that I was no longer in my bed anymore. I looked behind me and I had the most beautiful pair of white wings. At the time I didn't understand where I was, but I knew that it was peaceful, and I was welcome and loved.

Sometimes here and there I still like to check up on my mom. I tell her that I am okay, and that I love her. Sometimes she doesn't get the message right away, but it comes to her eventually. I told her that I am waiting here with my wings, and someday she'll get her's too.

I felt blood trickle down my throat and my head was throbbing. I heard the never-ending sound of the waves throwing themselves onto the rocks. I was supposed to be in my luxury hotel in the heart of beautiful Cancún, and not on a beach. Where was I? I realized that I had no clue where I was, so my eyes shot open and I quickly sat up. I felt a wave of nausa wash over me, so I carefully laid back down in the sand. I stared up at the breathtaking azure sky scattered with little white whispies that acted like accents on the vast above. I wanted to enjoy the bewildering sky for a little bit longer, although I had to figure out where I was first. I punched the sand beside me, not wanting to believe the reality.

“Hungover.” I whispered to myself. I shook my head in disbelief, trying to remember the events that lead up to that moment. I couldn’t remember anything. Not even a single memory or thought.

“Dammit. Where am I?” I rolled over on my ride side, and pain shot through my body like a bullet. I let out a quiet yelp, and I examined my arm. I had several shallow cuts. none too deep, except for the one closest to my shoulder.

“What the hell did I do?” I frantically patted myself down trying to find my phone. I pulled it out of the pocket of my sandy jeans. I clicked the power button mulitple times, but it wouldn’t turn on. I yelled in anguish, and threw the phone in the sand next to me.

I was stranded on some beach in Mexico and I had no phone, no food, no water, and I was hungover. I tried to stand up; pushing through the pain in my legs. Bruises appeared on my thighs and calves that made me look like a Van Gogh painting. I was finally standing, although I was weak. I needed to eat something. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate anything but I didn’t know if it was because I was hungover, or just forgetful. I looked ahead of me, and the breath was taken away from me. I was standing on the most beautiful beach that I had ever seen.

The water sparkled like diamonds, and the sand was whiter than paper. Shells embellished the shore, along with alge that was more green than emeralds. The water was so clear that almost appered invisible. It was truly beautiful.

“You’re awake.” The man said. I screamed and jumped, and franctically turned around. Standing behind me was a hispanic man, probably in his early twenties. He was definitely the most attractive man I’ve ever seen in my life. His stylish black hair blended perfectly with his dark caramel skin, and his dark eyes looked like the mysterious night sky. Even though he was absoluletly beautiful, I needed to figure out where I was, and who he was.

“Who are you?” I asked. He started coming closer to me, and I backed up a few feet.

“I’m Jose. Remember me?” He asked curiously. His accent was strong, but I could still easily understand what he was saying. I shook my head trying to remeber anything. I hoped that his name or face would ring a bell, but there was nothing.

“No, No. I don’t remember anything, I’m hungover. Why am I on this beach? Why am I here? Who are you?” I started talking faster and faster, and my words were finally racing with my brain.

“You don’t remember this?” Jose asked. From his pocket he pulled out the largest, most beautiful diamond I had ever seen.

“No! What is that? Did you steal it? Did we steal it? Where did you get it from? And I still don’t remember you!” I yelled. I was scared. Not just because of him, but because of what we could’ve done together. Did we steal the diamond?

“Kate, Kate, it’s okay.” He started walking over to me. He tried to put his hand on my back to console me, but I pulled away.

“First of all, my name is not Kate. It’s Mia. Second of all, I still don’t remember you or your diamond.” I said. I stared at him and crossed my arms expecting him to explain what is going on.

“Stop yelling,” he whispered, “We need to get out of here.”

“What?! Get out of here?! I’m still supposed to be in my hotel room probably far from here. I need to go home. I have to.” I protested. I scrambled trying to find my things in the sand. I grabbed my jacket, dead phone, and purse, trying to get out of there as soon as possible. Jose ran up behind me and gently grabbed my arm.

“Kate, Kate, please stop and think about this. Remeber last night? How you said all those things to me? Don’t you want it to come true?” He asked.

“I have no idea what you are talking about! I don’t remember you! I don’t remember last night! I have not even the slightest clue as to where I am! Please just tell me what’s going on!” Jose took a few deep breaths, and I looked right into his beautiful dark eyes.

“Last night, I found you sitting outside the bar. I don’t know how much you had to drink, but I could tell that it was a lot. You were angry, mad in fact. You said something about a man stealing something from you I don-”

“Wait, someone stole something from me? I was at the bar?”

“Yes, you were outside the bar sitting on one of the chairs that they sit outside of it. Anyway, you asked me for my help-” Suddenly, Jose stopped talking. He looked around him as if he was paranoid of something.

“What is it? What are you doing?” I whispered.

“They’re coming.” He said.

“Who’s coming? Why?” I could feel my face getting hot, and my already existing migrane was stronger than ever. I thought I was going to throw up or pass out. That’s when I heard it. Police sirens.

“What do we do? Jose!” I yelled. Jose was stading still. I could tell that he was trying to brainstorm, but this was not the time for deep thoughts.

“We can’t run. They’ll find us.” He responded. He started pacing back and forth, and the sirens got louder, and louder, and louder.

“Jose! We have to do something! I should be in my hotel room! My flight to go back home leaves tomorrow!” I yelled.

“Shhh! I know that this will be stressful, but we have to work with them!” Jose put his hands up in the air, and so did I. Tears were streaking down my red cheeks, and my hands were shaking. I heard the sound of car doors slamming, and I heard yelling that kept getting louder and louder. The policemen ran up to us and drew guns that were bigger than guns I’ve ever seen.

I heard all sorts of yelling, all of which was in Spanish. I closed my eyes, hoping that it would transport me into a different place. It didn’t. I felt handcuffs being tightened around my wrists, and I let out a little yelp. I opened my eyes to see what was going on. What I saw made my stomach drop to my toes.

“Jose! Why are you handcuffing me?” I yelled. He pulled out an F.B.I badge, and the shiny metal glistened in the hot Mexican sun.

“You can stop pretending now. We know what you’re apart of.” He dropped the fun accent that he had before, and then he had a straight American accent with a very serious tone. I was so confused that at first I couldn’t make words.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! I was just on vacation!” I protested. Jose looked at the other policemen and laughed.

“Kate, we know that you’re apart of the Los Deplorables.” He crossed his arms as I began arguing again.

“What! No! I don’t even know what that means! I don’t even speak Spanish! What is going on? My name is not Kate!” I fought to get out of my handcuffs, and one of the officers tightly grabbed my arm. I began crying again.

“Kate, you don’t just steal the Joja De Merium on accident. It is a 325 carat diamond that is worth over 250 million dollars. You don’t just do that by mistake.”

“But it wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! I have no desire to steal a diamond! I don’t want to go jail!” I was so aggrivated. I had no memory of last night which was the most frustraing thing, aside from the fact that I was about to go to a Mexican prison for no reason.

“Let’s go.” Jose said. The policemen dragged me to the car, but I fought.”

“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” I screamed. My lungs felt like they were collapsing, and my voice hurt from screaming. I was so upset. I had no clue what was going on. Why did they think I stole the jewel? Why was I hungover at the beach? I guess some things you just never figure out. The officer forced me into the car and slammed the door. I remained screaming from inside the vehicle. The window started rolling down.

“Kate, if you keep screaming, then we will increase your sentence. Shut up.” Jose demanded through gritted teeth. I was crying so much that my eyes felt swollen, and tired. An officer got into the car that I was in and began driving off. I pounded on the windows, hoping that someone would help me.

Through the window, I could see the beautiful beach that I had somehow woken up on. The water still projected the azure sky like a mirror, and the water rippled with the gentle breeze. The sand was still softer than a pillow, and whiter than paper.

“Goodbye beach. You are the last beautiful thing that I will see for a long time.” I whispered to myself. The police car drove off into the steaming Mexican street, and I had no idea where the road was going to take me.