The Trojan War

Endless years ago, there was a war between the Trojans and the Spartans. This war was fought by Gods with different powers and purposes. It all began when Paris, the prince of Troy, abducted the wife of Menelaus of Sparta, Helen. When the Trojans wouldn't return Helen, Menelaus conducted the war. Another contributor to the start of the war was the commotion between the goddesses, Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. These three all wanted to be the fairest, but only one goddess could hold the golden apple, or Apple of Discord, which would indicate the fairest by possession. After ten treacherous years of war, the Greeks decided to create a Trojan Horse to try and conclude the war. The Greeks dropped off the horse to the Trojans with a secret force of Greeks were hidden inside the horse, then sailed off. Finishing off the war, the secret army unlocked the Trojan gates, letting in the rest of the Greek army; this finally ended the Trojan war.

As a parody to this tale, a modernized version was written. This version was written as a play and used language that is more casual. I think that the characters in this play were emphasized to be more extreme than what they really are. Doing this, it helps the audience get a better understanding of what's going on. Additionally, the story was different due to the Trojan horse not being apart of the script. After I read this, I found that the original version was much more serious and contained far more troublesome language. I think that these changes were made because from generation to generation people have become less intelligent and creating a stupefied version of this story helps the audience relate and comprehend the story thoroughly. 

Begin Again

Author's Note: I wrote this creative piece for my last conference of the year. I wrote it on a summer romance with conflicts occurring through the summer. There were some things in this piece that I tried to use as symbolism, so look for things like that. For example, I tried my best to make the ending sort-of symbolic with tying the "small shoe" and creating final peace for the end of the summer. Hope you enjoy. (:

There was once a time when I thought love was just a game. Where the players in it would make their move, but in the end, celebrate their own victory. I thought that enchantment was only for fairy tale stories. But don't believe what I used to think, for I was shown otherwise. The summer of 1982, I turned 17. I soon found that this summer at the age of 17- the age where freedom fought sanity- led to never before seen love and adventure.

*****

It began in a tucked away village, Thunderbolt, Georgia, holding just under 3,000 residents. Charms glowed through0ut the village, like the picturesque river that drifts into the Pacific. When these charms are observed for the first time, visitors find Thunderbolt irresistible. Raymond Peterson and his family did. The Petersons found the small village in Georgia so delightful, the family of four moved into a comfortable riverside home the summer of 1982.

To kick off every summer, there’s a graduating class party at the shore of the Wilmington River. As you would imagine, the class of ‘82 never really grew; if there was ever a new student, the world would fall on its backside. While Raymond came to town in the beginning of summer, the party was basically framed around him. Nearly all of the girls were spinning their hair about their fingers and displaying a flirtatious smile towards him. Despite the fact that Dakota Cambern was a ways away from the group of people, she was attracted to this new boy in town as well. Although, she wasn’t the type of girl that would throw herself out there like the others. During the beach party, Sarah Tucker accompanied Dakota; they were inseparable from birth. Of course, they were conversing over Raymond, they were talking about his radiant blue eyes and tossed blond hair. Amidst the chaos around the new guy, there was a spark; this was surely the start of something that was soon never to be forgotten. His glance caught her eye and they both seemed to be captivated by each other for forever in time.

Carrying out this trance they were locked in, Raymond divided himself from the flood of girls and glided towards Dakota. She was ecstatically frightened as her knees buckled and she felt her heart batter as if some wild thunderstorm was going on inside her chest. Though with every storm comes its damage and she began to wonder how this boy suddenly had the audacity to approach her. Dakota could only imagine how many girls he played with his beauty.

“Hey there, my name’s Raymond,” sticking his hand out, he beamed without a single care in the world, “I noticed you looking over at me and I just thought I might say hi.”

“Well…” Her nerves jumbled into tremendous awkwardness and she was awfully uncomfortable at this point. She had never really talked to many boys before, especially those she was fond of. Sarah waltzed off, leaving Raymond and Dakota alone and her voice started to give out, crackling on every word. “Hi, welcome to Thunderbolt,” she met his extended hand, “We’re all real close here, so, I hope you like it.”

“Thank you, I hope we do become closer. I think I’d like that,” he said with a wink.

“Well, I better go. Uh, my mom is expecting me.” She tightened her lips and bowed her head daring him to find the hidden secrets that were disguised beneath her black cardigan on the first day of summer. Dakota’s hair revolved around her neck as she took Sarah by the arm to escort her back to the house.

“Wait, um, it’s pretty early to be leaving, don’t you think?” Suddenly he appeared to be just as nervous as Dakota was. His cowardly face vanished just as fast as the morning dew on Southern ground. Once he noticed Dakota shifting her body back to him and presenting her interest, he lifted his arm and said, “Maybe you could show me around town, and then we could grab some food somewhere. You know, it would be good for me to get to know the place.”

Warming up to the situation, Dakota said softly, “Yeah, I guess I could show you around, give me a call on my home phone. Here, I can just write it on your hand, do you have a pen handy?” Raymond handed her a blue ink pen from his back pocket and she layed his hand over hers as she printed her digits in his calloused palm.

“Thank you, uh…” He raised an eyebrow, calling for her name.

“Dakota”

“Raymond, well, see you later then,” he waved and stared her down, already in love with every breath she drew and every step she took.

*****

As they sat in the front porch of the Cambern’s house, Dakota replayed the conversation in her head over and over until Sarah interrupted her repetitive thoughts.

“You like him,” Sarah said grinning and rubbing her elbow into her.

“Oh be quiet, I’m just helping him get to know the town,” she confirmed with herself, “that’s all I’m doing.”

“Sure, I saw the way you looked at him. Were we not talking about him before he came over, too?”

“I suppose, but didn’t he seem too arrogant and self-concerned? And I did not handle myself well. Certainly he doesn’t like me in return.”

 “I think he’s in love with you. His eyes were doggy and longing. I’m positive he’ll be calling shortly.”

The conversation ended when the telephone rang through the house. Sarah and Dakota took each other’s arms with anticipation and were at the phone before the third chime. Butterflies swarmed Dakota’s stomach and her mind was so crowded with thoughts in what to say, but she simply took a full breath and said, “Hello?” And for a moment, her heart stopped when she heard the voice on the other end of the call.

“Hey, it’s Raymond, I was just calling to see if you gave me the right number and to ask when are you free to show me around town.”

Dakota twirled the phone cord around her finger, like the pretty girls did with their hair, and reviewed her empty schedule saying, “Friday. I’m free on Friday. Is that alright?”

“It’s perfect, I can swing by at five o’clock. Will that give us enough time?”

            “Yes, it’s a small town and won’t be too long, so, I’ll see you then. Goodbye,” she said and on the inside, a smile was traced across her heart. For the first time, based upon one visit, Dakota was in love. Nothing compared the way her heart ached to see Raymond once again, and after their brief telephone call her heart established that this wasn’t solely a silly little crush.

*****

Friday morning, Dakota woke in the fresh sheets of her bed squinting at the rays of sun peeking through the blinds. In the light of the sun, she skipped off the bed and lead herself down the stairs for breakfast. 

“Good morning mom, what lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?” she couldn’t seem to put a cap on her excitement for this afternoon, the words leaped right off her tongue.

“Well, aren’t you in a good mood this morning!” her mother replied, “perhaps something farther than the weather is happening today?”

“Oh yes, I'm showing a boy around town today” she waltzed around the kitchen dancing to the silent music in her head.

Her mother grinned seeming to recall her High School days and responded, "That sounds like fun, why don't you go up and get ready now."

Continuing to dance, Dakota nodded and snatched an orange from the fridge.  She never had a boyfriend before and she prayed that Raymond would be her first one. This gave her the reason to dance, so just in case he asked her to, she'd be prepared. The palms of her feet bounced off the oak floors while her arms remained around an air figure. Advancing up the stairs, she played around carrying her arms among her pretend partner. Now in her room, all there was left to do was prepare for the event that she'd been waiting for.

Dakota's bedroom was a portrait to her life. Everything square and perfectly in line for her. When she walked in the room all that she needed was in sight. Her closet was just to the left. Her bed was positioned in the corner. Her nightstand was just bedside. And that was all that she needed.

Today was everything but the ordinary for Dakota. She threw on her favorite white blouse and blue-jean shorts and jumped on her bed, scattering the pillows. Anticipation was eating away at every living thing in her body and thinking about her first date never left her mind. It was around 4:40 when the doorbell gave her a comforting embrace. Dakota tumbled down the flight of stairs blind to the innocence of true love and what capabilities it withheld. Although, when she lifted her head, she saw Raymond in the doorway and her breath ran away from her, all she could do was widely beam.

Raymond made sure to arrive early to not disappoint or have her waiting. When he walked into the foyer he was awestruck by Dakota. He seemed to have lost his breath as well, but pulled through and managed to speak, "Hi Dakota, you ready?"

While he spoke, she almost lost her ground again; it was the first time he said her name and it sounded glorious. She gathered herself enough to say, "Yes, let's go."

Although it was a clumsy start to the afternoon, the visitation validated their fondness for each other. Raymond and Dakota left the house and headed for the one and only cafe in town. Throughout the evening they only grew closer by unveiling secrets and stories. The two were so insanely in love after only a few hours, they lost track of what they came into town to do. Buying one chocolate malt, they stayed at the cafe for the remainder of the night. As they engaged even farther in conversation, Raymond slipped his hand in hers. The stickiness of the malt rubbed off on their hands, but neither of them seemed to notice because they kept their hands together as if the ice cream was the kind of cement paste where diamonds sparkle at certain angles in the sun. Emotions in the room sang like the angles of Heaven above came down to introduce themselves to a small town in Georgia. Love tied their eyes together and the tour ended exactly where it began, exclusively due to time's sake.

Exiting the cafe, Raymond and Dakota were named a couple without even saying a word. His hands moved around her waist and at that moment she began her summer how other girls did four years ago, with a first kiss. However, Dakota didn't fall for Raymond because he made her feel like she was on cloud nine, she simply loved the way he made sure she knew that he felt the same way. He never once let her think for a second that she was anything but beautiful. And for their second, third, fourth, and many more dates, they couldn't get enough of one another.

It was nearing the end of summer and Raymond and Dakota lasted the whole while. One afternoon the two walked down to the river and sat on the sand overlooking the current. The comforting silence accompanied them while they had nothing to talk about. Enlacing their fingers, Dakota realizes that their love was stronger than the start.

Surrounding them, the weather was brewing up something hideous and they decided to walk back inside. As they entered the living room, Dakota's mother appeared quite startled at the news on the radio. 

"What is it?" Dakota asked, deeply concerned by the looks on her mother's face.

"We have to leave town very quickly. There's a massive hurricane coming, and the traffic is going to be backed up for miles," her eyes seemed dazed and she wasn't even making eye contact as she spoke, "as for you Raymond, we better get you back home."

So, that's what they did. Mrs. Cambern and her daughter dropped off Raymond to his house and then quickly stopped to pick up Mr. Cambern from the office. From there, the family of three hit the road and didn't look back.

*****

It was like the world was set on a ticking time bomb, only Dakota's was wound two times as fast. It was like a confused collage in her mind that took form of a cold-birthed tornado. Only, this tornado whipped of letters in the alphabet, molded together to single-handedly address her first relationship that she newly began. Devouring the life of the town, this definitely wasn't a tornado Thunderbolt was starting at; this monstrosity was a hurricane.

By the time the Cambern family returned to their home safely, they couldn't bear to observe the stolen scenery in their town. Homes were torn to pieces, leaving wood plates dispersed over the land as if they were dandelion snow lingering in the air after their homeland shooed them away. Neighbors were in each other's arms attempting to hold in the devastation that was crying out as far as the eye could see. Tears flowed just as high and rapid as the river did and there was no one around to save us in our hidden and old town, but God. 

As some amount of days passed in mourning, Dakota stopped by Raymond's house to reunite after the largest happening in Thunderbolt since the last hurricane before she was born. Her mind jumbled as she headed over to his house and the thoughts of the waves eroded beneath her. All at once, emotions ran too high and the white sun milked over everything in sight. Dakota's balance became just as puzzled as her vision and her feet gave out beneath her at the front porch of Raymond's house.

*****

The fog sat like blankets over the demolished, sleeping town. Houses remained splattered under the sun. Volunteers crowded over the land trying their best to assist the state of Georgia, clambering together like a hive of bees. Amidst the chaos, Dakota lie in a hospital bed silently waiting for answers that weren't promising. An IV chord was locked into her arm and her eyelids sat heavily over her eyes. While at rest, she was clueless to whatever happened, she awoke to a blurred picture of doctors hovering above her. They asked Dakota endless questions that she couldn't seem to find the answer to. What was her name? How come she couldn't think of her birthday? Missing information became too complicated for her and she drifted back to sleep.

A few hours later, she awakened to the bleached sun in the light of noon. Dakota gradually peeled open her eyes and to her surprise, she found Raymond waiting at the foot of the bed. Despite the fact that the couple only knew each other for a very brief amount of time, they shared the kind of love some never encounter. For the first time since she has been admitted to the hospital, her face lit up with joy fighting a proposed sickness that was supposedly defeating her. Their harmony for each other was found once again held hand in hand as conversation easily flowed. The simple reunification was enough to give her confidence for her consultation with her doctor to find what really happened not long ago. 

Time came for the meeting with the doctor and her mother grasped her hand, like her life depended on it. Although the town was going through their own tragedy, all was left outside the door and the ghostly white room became solidified, and the consultation began.

*****

Concluding the meeting with her doctor, there was nothing to fret over after all. Ultimately, what the radiologists, doctors, and neurologists discovered was a fluke and disguised what was really a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder.  This event was exaggerated to such a massive extent due to her heart's condition and limpness of her body; they considered her moment of fainting to be more than the simple solution of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. 

News flowed through the town, ear to ear, people became increasingly overjoyed with the results. Despite the  gloominess of the town, with recovering from the horrendous storm and what not, a surprise party was assembled for Dakota. The whole town celebrated in the midst of distress, simplistically rejoicing in the single lasting backyard from the hurricane, Raymond's. Ironically, Dakota found, this yard was just behind the porch that unlocked the previous confusion and almost composing a chronic disease.

Partying carried on through the light of the moon and the smile returned on Dakota's face beholding the presence of a town coming together, as they did in the start of the summer.

Breathing in the sense of contentment, she bent over to tie her white converse shoe on the tiny foot of hers. The loose ends dangled in the dirt and she lifted them to carefully cross the strings into a fit knot. And the knot held for the remainder of the night.

Between the Games

Author's Note: This essay was written to judge the way the novel The Hunger Games was transformed into a film. My goal was to identify how certain things used in the movie helped stay true to or depart from the novel.

Interpretation on a novel varies from person to person, which is why converting a novel to a film has mixed reviews. For instance, take the novel The Hunger Games that was transformed into a movie, some individuals were not happy with the final product, while others thoroughly enjoyed each aspect. I, for one, thought that the producers created a fantastic visual for the book. Although every little piece wasn't put in, the timing of the movie would have been too long and would lose the viewer's focus. Few of the many contributors for excellence in this film were background music, setting and props, and the makeup and costumes.

 Initially, I thought that one stand-out key to the movie were the different sound effects and background music. Scene to scene there are unique musical points that complete the display for the amount of intensity that is represented in the book. For example, when the contestants rose from their tubes, and the bloodbath began, there was an eerie pitch that carried out to a sort of violin playing in quick pulses which gave the viewer the sense of a rush that was explained through the novel. Another case of intense musical tones would be when Katniss is stung by tracker jacker wasps- which are deadly wasps that can cause severe hallucinations and occasionally death. In this scene, or section of the book, I think that the author wanted to make the reader uncomfortable and through the rattlesnake noise in the film, the producer was able to get viewers to cringe at that noise. Continuing on is another intensified scene where Katniss blows up the pyramid of supplies that the careers are keeping to themselves. The music in this scene plays an immeasurable part because it displays that she accomplished a lot by destroying those several items. Sounds like the ringing pitch that you hear at the top of your head and the muted voices she hears after the aggressive explosion give off that effect.  Lastly there's the scene where Rue- who Katniss thinks of as her sister- dies, the music helps the tears fall in the audience. From the angelic tone to the soft guitar playing, the music helps this movie jerk tears, like the book does, and informs the viewer that she's in a better place now.

Although, without the setting and endless props, the background music has no effect. Throughout the movie, all of the scene setting was spot on according to the novel. District 12 was just as dirty, grimy, and impoverished as the novel described; the Capitol was filled with buildings touching the sky and thousands of snotty rich people with technologies more advanced than we have today. Few of the many noteworthy props and elements were the older looking individuals in District 12 and their ragged clothing. When aged people with not a lot of money are added to the scene, viewers have sympathy for them which brings up the poor status. Additionally, how the producers included the rugged wood on houses and no sorts of technology anywhere extended that increased poverty. Old wood indicates an elderly town and everyone not being able to modernize anything. The non-existent technology, as simple as a shower or telephone, also represents how poor they all are. On the contrary, the Capitol is exactly the opposite. With all buildings and decretive items being cleanly cut and shining, it's easy to tell that the Capitol is for the rich. In every area of the Capitol you can see modern technology. For instance, the game makers' control room is so advanced with the floating touch screen and the way the area is set up. The props that make the control room seem so technologically advanced are the glowing blue color and the clean circular shape it's formed in. Found in another futuristic movie, Avatar, blue was a color used in the holograms to display the envisioned future. Overall, the settings and props were truly advanced whether it be in poverty or wealth.

With the set carrying out its role exceptionally well, what our eyes really draw attention to are the characters in the movie. The makeup artists and costume designers really showed their best work in this film, especially when they decorated the Capitol actors. Inside the novel, these characters were described as insane and filthy rich. How they were dressed and designed really displays how they were so rich they didn't know what to do with their money other than spending it on clothing and obnoxious accessories. Costumes were unique to every single person, as well as the hair and makeup. Whether it be women's hats twice the size of Lincoln's, or dresses that weigh more than a bag of mulch on a steamy Sunday, the Capitol was complete with these costume designs. Furthermore, in District 12 the children wearing respectable clothing to the reaping really set the mood for not only the poverty in that district, but the high emotions as well. The teenage girl's dresses were button down and revealing nothing with cupped sleeves over the shoulder. These dresses were all appropriate because that was all they had and fashion at a reaping was not a priority. Outside of the reaping in District 12, there were miners, with torn and greasy clothing representing their hard work, and elders, with battered clothes and slouched backs exhibiting their long and worn life.

Makeup and costumes were apart of the many aspects that were able to phenomenally dress the movie according to the novel. Whether people are able to see it or not is in their behalf. Through the background music, settings, and makeup and costumes, The Hunger Games was a true beauty when transformed into a film.  In the reader’s eyes, criticism may be around every corner. Although, if you look at the general emotions and symbolism through the novel, The Hunger Games film has a true connection with the novel it was based off of.

After You My Dear Alphonse

Mrs. Wilson made assumptions that Boyd is poor and has little to no clothes. She offers him things that make reverse racism obvious. Some of the things she offers are a lot of food, clothes, and questions about Boyd's family's work situation. When she is asking Boyd these questions her son defends and says no he's like us too, but his mother doesn't understand. It's different compared to Pewaukee because everyone treats people equally. Although in the world as a whole, many people are disrespected through reverse racism. I think that the lesson that Shirley Jackson is trying to get through is that people cannot just assume someone is one thing or another because those assumptions may not always be right.

A Clean, Well-lighted Place- 2 paragraph

From the short story to the film, I think that there were both similarities and differences in the storytelling of each. Initially, I thought that just by looking at the aged man in the film it didn't replicate the old and lonely man in the short story. Certain things that could contribute to this is the lighting. Emphasized numerous times in the written story that the eldest customer always sat in the shadowed area of a tree that was just outside in the cafe's outdoor space. In the short story, they always said how it was light, clean, and put together in the cafe, but the man chose to sit in the only shadowy part of the cafe. This helped show the old man's lonliness and depression.

Furthermore, there are some similarities within the short film and stories. One thing I thought they did really well on was making sure that the difference between the bar and the cafe were significant. The cafe was obviously well lit, orderly, and everything was perfectly in tact. In the cafe the floors were shining and all of the chairs were set perfectly with a polished bar. On the contrary, the bar that the middle-aged waiter went to was dirtier and filled with people. This shows that there needs to be a place for people to go, into a clean and quiet environment, that doesn't have the people, noise, or dullness.

A Clean, Well-lighted Place

How does Hemingway use light and dark as symbols? How do the shadows fit in?

In this short story, the light and darkness of the café really carry throughout this piece. Initially, the lighting in the café represents life and being able to, or allowed to, provide for strangers. The older, and wiser, waiter constantly mentions the fact that the café is very well lit, clean, and pleasant for visitors. He also mentions the fact that people may want to come into the café at a late hour for the comfort of the lighting and warmth of the café. This is interesting, though, that the younger waiter mentions nothing about the lighting because all he wants is to go home. Lighting in this piece could also represent grace and lovingness towards others due to the care that the older waiter is showing while mentioning the well lit café often, compared to the younger waiter who does not bring up that fact. Additionally, the darkness symbolizes what they are discussing. The older, drunken man that was sitting in the only shadowed place in the café symbolizes the topic the waiters were discussing. The two waiters were talking about the man, specifically about the fact that he is always showing up drunk late at night when all they want is to head home to sleep. If it wasn’t for the shadowy corner, there would be no man and no topic to talk over. 

Poetry

Author's Note: I wrote a collection of poems for one of my goals. I actually had a lot of fun putting these together because I normally don't write a lot of poems so it was fun to experiment. These poems share the similarities of ending with a depressing tone. I tried to make these poems so that anyone could relate to it. Personally, I relate to each of these in specific ways, can you?

Waiting For the Future
Near in the future,
The wind breathes warmth.
Where the flowers are blooming,
And the grass is rising.
When the children are laughing,
And smiles are beaming.

Though for now we are stuck,
With our feet sticky in the mud.
Washed into the silence of daily life.
Dark clouds haunt mornings,
While tears streak windows.
All we can do is wait.
Until the storms clear,
Until our heads are straight,
Until right meets wrong,
All we can do is wait.

---

 
Don't Return
Warm wind brushes my cheek,
Though, you see, each day is unique.
Some days it's pouring,
Leaving me in mourning.
Some days there's sunshine,
Leaving all the pain behind.
But either way I go,
I always know,
Its return is near,
Now I'm here,
All in fear.

---

It Was Clear
Clear and there.
If you ask me,
That’s what I saw.
Broad as daylight.
Arising from the dust,
We all made it.
We were right there,
So close,
I thought I was grabbing it.
But somewhere in time,
Those last ticks on the clock,
My hands became too sweaty,
I slipped.
Finger by finger,
My grip loosened,
And loosened,
Until all I arrived for,
Was gone.

Migraines At Their Finest

Author's Note: This piece is a research essay and I chose the topic of migraines because I've been having migraines. My type of migraines were complicated and confusing, though, and I figured if I established the basic knowledge of it, I could be more understanding of what's going on in my head. The footnotes I used carry on throughout the specific body subjects because I used one website per paragraph. Unfortunately, the footnotes got a little messed up when I tried transferring them onto my blog.

The pain kept drilling within my head. Mornings came and went, and it was still there mocking me every time I looked in the light, or even hearing the sound of the water running in the bathroom was torture. No one understood the knives that were in my brain, how horrendously it hurt to simply smile, or the thought that veered into my mind that maybe this won't ever go away. What's the secret behind migraines? Why are they so complicated and unique to everyone? There must be a solution to the complications of migraines; where can we find those answers?

Migraines aren't simply headaches, they are excruciating pains to one or both sides of your temples. For most types of migraines, they can be described as a throbbing pain that may cause vomiting and nausea, along with sensitivity to light or sound. Lasting from 4 to 72 hours, headaches like these cause 90% of sufferers to not function correctly during an episode. Among the top 20 disabling illnesses, migraines can cause depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Personally, I become extremely annoyed with events that are uncoiling around me, even if it's someone talking casually. This neurological illness majorly affects day-to-day lifestyles; engaging in jobs, completing school work, providing for family members, and partaking in pleasures become next to impossible.[1]

While comprehending the basic outline of this disability, arrive to the idea of likely causes that demonstrate potential. Although each person presents their own exclusive headache, there are countless possibilities for the cause. Foods, sleep patterns, sensory stimuli, and genes are only a fraction of the many catalysts. Typical food suspects are alcohols, aged cheeses, chocolates, aspartame (artificial sweetener), caffeine overuse, Asian foods, and processed foods. Skipping meals or dieting can generate monstrous headaches. Furthermore, too much or not enough sleep can disrupt your head along with extravagant changes in your sleeping patterns. Jet lag can be a factor as well. This is the drowsiness felt after a long flight through multiple time zones. As strange as it may seem, your senses can also play a role in migraines. For example, disturbing smells, paint thinner, secondhand smoke, pleasant smells, sun glares, strong lights, and loud noises can activate attacks. Finally, headaches are genetic. There's a possibility that if you have a problem, it could be coming from your genes, too.[2]

Though pinpointing the source of a migraine is essential, if or when you have one, it wouldn't hurt to have a few cures up your sleeve. Medications used are categorized into two: pain-relieving and preventive. Pain-relieving is for acute problems and fast relief. Preventive is taken daily and helps to keep headaches and their brutality away. Ibuprofen is listed under pain-relieving, but if this medication doesn't cover the severity, there are a few heavier prescriptions that might. Few of the many pain-relieving medications are Triptans and anti-nausea drugs. If Triptans are successful, they should eliminate all of the symptoms migraines provide. The pain, nausea, light and sound sensitivity should all be decreased completely or become very minimal. Even if you don't have the vomit-related symptom, the anti-nausea medication still helps relieve the pain or dizziness that may be prevalent. Suppose the pain is reoccurring, or under the preventive category, some medications could be cardiovascular drugs or antidepressants. Cardiovascular drugs are usually used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, but can also reduce the amount of headaches and their pain levels. By affecting the serotonin and other brain chemicals' levels, antidepressants do a fantastic job at erasing migraines. Keep in mind that you do not have to be depressed in order to take an antidepressant. This drug can really help dreadful conditions of headaches.[3]

To this day neurologists still struggle with the meticulous aspects of migraines; the definitions, causes, and cures here are only the basis to what advanced doctors know. Endless mysteries still linger, but the more people that diagnose their problems, the more we can come to understand the confusions. Leaving behind the disastrous stages of a migraine is as if I was a feather. I felt light and free, where smiles came naturally and laughter wasn't a punishment. The cage was set free for me, and while I'm in high hopes of no return, I plead to share the news wishing for no one else to experience this agonizing illness.

---

[1]Migraine Fact Sheet

[2] Migraine: Causes

[3] Migraine: Treatments and Drugs

Works Cited

"Migraine Fact Sheet." Migraine Research Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html#top-wholepage >.

"Migraine: Causes - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=causes>.

"Migraine: Treatments and drugs - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.   <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs>.

MLA formatting by BibMe.org.

Revealing Horrors

Author's Note: This essay contains the analysis of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and the connections with society. My goal in this piece was to score high in text analysis.

Marked down in history our history, six million Jews were murdered. Through the 1930's and 40's, Adolf Hitler had a plan- a very sick and evil plan- where he plotted to destroy those communities which were filled with Jewish people. This was called the Holocaust. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas written by John Boyne, follows the story of a nine-year-old boy named Bruno who used to live in a charming and expensive home. When Bruno has to move from his five-story home in Berlin, to a three-story home many miles away, he proceeds his life without friends. Nonetheless, this house had not one neighbor up nor down the street. Due to Bruno's voluminous imagination, he searches for a playmate along the never ending fence in his backyard. What he winds up discovering reveals truths that he was never told, and are never to be forgotten. Within this novel, the subtleness overcomes your heart and leaves you to consider the messages of innocence, irony, and consequence.

Innocence is displayed through not the writing alone, but symbolism throughout the novel as well. Authored in the perspective of young Bruno, he is clueless as to what his father does for work, or in other words, the idea of the Holocaust in general. For instance, this quote defines his lack of awareness to the world's situation, "'Hey, you!' he shouted, then adding a word that Bruno did not understand. 'Come here you - ' He said the word again, and something about the harsh sound of it made Bruno look away and feel ashamed to be apart of this at all." (page 75) Not only does this quote scream the obliviousness Bruno has, but his discomfort of how the Jews are being treated on top of that. Bruno's uneasy feeling indicates that he doesn't like the Holocaust and what the soldiers are doing, whether he knows anything about it or not. The novel as a whole showcases the mind of a nine-year-old and the innocence in this situation leads to massive irony.

From the eyes of an innocent boy, the irony takes a large place in this novel basing off of the innocence. Said in the text of this novel is that Bruno's father works a major role in his job which is also referred to as a soldier. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Bruno felt very displaced when he noticed one of the soldiers spitting his words at the fellow maid. Here in this case, it's ironic because Bruno's father is very dignified with what he does and Bruno is looking down upon the whole idea of despising these types of humans. An additional example of irony in this book would be how Bruno dreads being all alone on the non-Jewish side of the fence. Along with this situation stands the irony of the thousands of people who only want to escape the trap they're in; the place where Bruno thinks he wants to be. Jealously, Bruno asks how many boys are there on the other side of the fence to his newfound companion, "'Are there many other boys over there?' asked Bruno.     'Hundreds,' said Shmuel.     Bruno's eyes opened wide. 'Hundreds?' he said, amazed. 'That's not fair at all. There's no one to play with on this side of the fence. Not a single person.'" (page 130/131) Ironically, this quote aims at the fact that Bruno wants to be on the other side of the fence with Shmuel where the conditions are worse. Although Bruno doesn't know about the Holocaust, the author intended for him to act eager to be on the opposite side of the fence for symbolic reasons. For example, with the father being a high-class soldier, it's symbolically ironic to have the son of the soldier want to join the so-called "enemy", as well as the pure irony of walking right into the evil of what his father was truly doing. Bruno only discovers his father's true occupation in death.

While the irony is heavily present, Boyne unveils a series of consequences unfurling page by page. Early on in the book, there is a flashback written to when Bruno's father and grandmother were in a stressed conversation about the father's job and duties, "'It makes me so proud to see you elevated to such a responsible position. Helping your country reclaim her pride after all the great wrongs that were done to her. The punishments above and beyond--'     'Oh, will you listen to yourself!' cried Grandmother. 'Which one of you is more foolish, I wonder?'" (page 91) Obviously from this text it is evident that the grandmother is petrified to see that her son is apart of the more superior soldiers. With that, farther into the book, it mentions the grandmother's death which ties into the consequence of the novel. With her death, all voiced opposition against the father's job dies too. Revealed in the closing pages of the book is Bruno joining Shmuel on the other side of the fence where the both of them are murdered standing amongst many other Jews. Ironically, the son of a upper-class soldier was murdered within his own plan, ironically -- which would lean with the suggestions that the deceased grandmother was targeting for. Signifying that since the grandmother was ignored, not only was her death a penalty, but additionally the death of the soldier's son.

What makes the Holocaust so frightening is the fact that it wasn't that long ago, and this book keeps its horrors fresh in our minds. It helps us understand what happened and it helps us to see the different perspectives of the people involved in the Holocaust. Most importantly, we see what it would be like to be someone who had no control over their fate. Bruno is proof that not everyone on the non-Jewish side of the fence was supportive of the Holocaust. As an innocent child he is stuck around people, like his father, who support the Holocaust. He isn't fully aware of what is going on, but he is always uncomfortable when people talk harshly about the Jews around him. Like many people in our own society, Bruno is someone who has found himself stuck in the middle. On one side he has his father, and on the other he has his friend Shmuel. His father stands for everything Shmuel would be against, afterall his father is the reason Shmuel is there in the first place, but Bruno is so desperate to have a friend and doesn't think about the terrors of the concentration camp. In the end, Bruno chose his side. He chose his friend over his father, and his father incidentally took his son's life. Not every instance in society is this extreme, but it goes to show that one day we will all have to pick a side and stand by our beliefs and their consequence.

Boyne's book does a marvelous job of encompassing the aspects of innocence, consequence, irony and society so that it catches a place in our heart. He does well to tug at our heart strings, push our patience and help us to feel the different agonies suffered by different characters. Through each of these viewpoints we learn more about the value of perspective and the universal need for friendship in any form. A child's love is blind, but it is stronger than almost anything else in this world. Maybe Boyne meant to suggest, through all of his literary tactics, that we should all be more like Bruno. He does not suggest that we should walk through life blindly, but rather we should not limit our friendships because of a wire fence. If we fight the stereotypes we help society form, we can avoid another Holocaust. This book was written for us to remember, feel, and learn from the past.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud- Figurative Language

Analysis: Despite the shortness in length of this poem, it sends different tones through each of the lines. Within the first two lines the author sends off the tone of “a cloud” or himself being passive, “floats on high o’er vales and hills”, and lonesome, “I WANDERED lonely” making we readers feel almost hopeless. I interpreted this as him (or I in this poem) not looking up to Christ in one of the main character’s hardships. “When all at once I saw a crowd,” I think of this is as God and the Heavens outreaching towards the suffering man. Daffodils, I suppose, symbolize something happy or joyful, hence the following line, “A host, of golden daffodils;” and this would represent a glorious sensation of rejoice that this person must be feeling by the presence of God. This feeling is resembled in the readers eyes as well. In the final two lines, it is saying how these daffodils are everywhere, “Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” When you’re in touch with Christ, He is always everywhere for everyone, even places not seen, for example the “breeze”, “beneath the trees” and, “beside the lake”. These last lines are written with the tone of inspiration and delight.

Bees

Author's Note: With this essay my goal was to analyze the text for am advanced novel. The novel that I used was The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Throughout the essay I show the symbolic references in the book.

While Lily was a small child, her mother passed away and her father, T. Ray, grew sour. The sourness spread over his soul, and he started to believe that it was okay for him to release his anger by abusing his daughter. When Lily turned fourteen, she was tired of the constant malice her father fed her with, so she took her courage and left with the nanny and housekeeper, Rosaleene, to search for her mother, who Lily believed still existed somewhere. With a few items to help them through their journey, they hitchhike to a city, Tiburon, S.C., written on the back of a photo that her mother kept with her belongings. Winding up at a pink beekeeping house, owned by black women, Lily learns how to keep bees and grow in love for others. In the novel The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, the symbolism and messages throughout the story are tremendous, portraying the meaning of the bees in the story, the beehive, and racism.

The leadership of bees in this story is displayed through the entire novel. Dawning at the beginning of the book, Lily's room is crowded with bees, as it consistently is at nighttime, and whisper to her how she should leave T. Ray's house on her own. Farther into the novel, she follows a label on a honey company to Turban where she is then lead to a beekeeping house. As the women that own the house welcome her in, they make a pact to teach her how to keep bees. Every decision Lily makes in the novel has to relate to bees in one way or another. Even the title helps support the symbolic reference to bees, The Secret Life of Bees. This would mean the "secret" guidance, or job, of bees outlining the novel.

As bees direct us over to our next symbolic source, we come to the reasoning behind the beehive. Gather the common knowledge about beehives. It upholds a community of bees that all eat, breathe, and work in the same air; there is ultimately one queen bee. Similar to the atmosphere of the beehive is the running of the pink house owned by August, the queen bee. This home is contains August and her sisters as well as Lily and Roseleene that were lovingly welcomed in. Additionally, the work that everyone contributes benefits everyone in the household, or beehive. Without the business, they would all suffer financially. Without the love, the unification would collapse.

Rounding out the beehive with the people that work for it, is noticing the racism woven in the storyline. Way back in the foundation of the novel, while Lily accompanies Rosaleene to cast her vote, a fight broke out between Rosaleene and white men, showing the hatred for colored people. Afterward, when Lily and Rosaleene arrive to their destination, they notice the owners of the home are colored women. Lily is a bit perplexed at how these women can be just as intelligent and loving as any other white woman. A further example of how racism was characterized through this novel is when Lily meets and falls in love with a colored boy, Zach. The numerous occurrences of race in this novel show that the author wanted to get across to the reader that race is no object and people shouldn't be judged on whatever skin tone they have.

Pulling together the loose ends, there are endless ways for symbolism to be shown in the beautiful novel, The Secret Life of Bees. From the navigation of bees and their hives, to the future of racism back in the 1960's time period, Sue Monk Kidd pieced together a marvelous novel that many will love in upcoming generations with countless symbolic references and meanings that are read between the lines.

What Defines Fear?

Author's Note: This essay's purpose was to include text evidence from a novel in a piece, so I wrote a theme essay with supporting quotes from the novel Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.

When a mysterious twig of a woman that goes by the name of Katie suddenly shows up in the close knit town Southport, North Carolina, the small town begins to question her past. Praying to not make any personal connections with anyone, Katie finds a home that's tucked away in the area. With the fear of her past continuing to haunt her, prayers were answered with a man named Alex who teaches her the real truths of love. Katie slowly lets down her guard, but she can't escape the fact that her abusive relationship will always be a threat. Throughout this novel, Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks, Katie, who previously went by the name of Erin, presents the theme of self-reliance in her earlier life which transitions into overcoming fear once her escape from her past is accomplished. This universal theme can follow the novel A Winter Dream, by Richard Paul Evans and Woods Runner, by Gary Paulsen.

Primarily, with the first theme of self-reliance, which focuses on Katie’s past, has her entwined in a relationship with a severe alcoholic and abusive husband, Kevin, who works as a police officer. While the hits from Kevin progressively increase, Katie, who is known as Erin at this time, develops her plan to escape, "In the bedroom, he was snoring within minutes, oblivious to her hatred of him, her hatred of herself. Oblivious to the money she'd been stashing away for almost a year or the hair dye she'd snuck into the grocery cart a month ago and hidden in the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink. Oblivious to the fact that in just a few days, if all went the way she hoped, he would never see or hit her ever again." (Page 147) Though this process is several times more difficult given her husband is a detective who prevents her from leaving the house in general alongside her meeting new people. Kevin refused to let Katie learn how to drive; he was her only means of transportation. Not only that but if Katie bought something herself, Kevin demanded the receipt and exact change. Discussing her past with her neighbor Jo, Katie talks about a "friend" who is constantly frightened due to the involvement of an abusive relationship, "'He used to drive by the house when he was supposed to be working, just to make sure she was there. He monitored the phone records and called all the time, and he wouldn't let her get a driver’s license.'" (Page 65) Lastly, Katie impressively poses that she still loves Kevin to drive her through the day with the least amount of hits possible, "She inhaled before offering a contented sigh, because she knew he wanted her to make those kinds of sounds." (Page 145) Overall, the clear point from this paragraph is how she showed her self-reliance skills by gathering enough resources, even with the challenges she was put against, to separate herself permanently from the relationship.

From one theme to another, the universal theme of self-reliance is transferred over to another universal theme of overcoming fear. When Katie arrived to Southport she was a toothpick, skinnier than imaginable. At night, nightmares arouse and day by day she lived hoping Kevin wouldn't show up at her door. Further example of her fears are in this quote, "The act was so familiar- putting two cups away after coffee in the morning- and for an instant, she felt engulfed by the life she'd left behind. Her hands began to tremble, and pressing them together she took a few deep breaths until they finally stilled." (Page 12) Katie had to overcome the fear of Kevin and his reappearance. This quote shows that she's went through these flashbacks many times before, and there will be times in the future that she will as well. At the time when she was at Southport, Katie met a man named Alex who helped her conquer her understandable fear. Alex was one of the contributors that allowed Katie to accept her past and overcome the fear to look forward to her future. Coming to simplistic terms on how Alex provided help, he loved her with all his heart. When she needed someone to cry her emotions to, he was there. Alex says to Katie, "'If you want to tell me about your past, I'm willing to listen and help in any way I can, but I'm not going to ask you about it. And if you don't want to tell me, that's okay, too, because, again- I never knew that person. You must have a good reason for keeping it a secret, and that means I'm not going to tell anyone, either. No matter what happens, or doesn't happen, between us.'" (Page 122) For other times when she wanted to enjoy a gratifying day with Alex, he was also there to love and support her. Katie is thinking to herself the how she loves Alex while they're out on a date, "This is what it feels like to love someone, she thought, and to be loved in return..." (Page 129) Alex's desire to be with Katie and have her defeat her fears are essential points in supporting the theme of overcoming fear.

Strengthening the theme of overcoming fear, another person was very important to the triumph of Katie's fears. After a few months of Katie's arrival to Southport, she met a new neighbor named Jo who was also there to talk with Katie, showing up miraculously at the times when she most needed someone to talk with and listening better than anyone she's ever known. Shown in this quote is her remembering her time with Jo, "The steady rhythm of her footfalls set her mind adrift and she found herself reflecting on her conversation with Jo." (Page 41) Additionally in this next quote where Katie invited Jo over for a bottle of wine, Katie needed to get her story off of her chest to someone she trusts and she considered Jo trustworthy enough to hear it, "Katie could feel something twisting and tightening in her chest. 'Maybe they want to talk about it but they know there's nothing you can do to help,' she whispered." (Page 63) Almost as if Jo were the other half of Alex, she spent time with Katie through the tears and the laughter. Being a true friend to Katie, Jo also consulted Katie's relationship with Alex and encouraged her be with him. Jo and Katie carry a conversation about Alex where Jo is reassuring Katie that she's interested in him; the text begins with Katie speaking, "'What's his story, by the way? I take it he's divorced, right?' 'You should ask him.' 'Me? Why would I want to ask him?' 'Because you asked me,' Jo said, arching an eyebrow. 'Which means, of course, that you're interested in him.'" (Page 39) Through friendship, Katie is supported and learns to outshine the darkness of Kevin in her shadows.

Following the supporting evidence on how Katie's friends helped her overcome her fears, is knowing that she actually overcame that fear; this is vital to recognize as well. Near the ending pages of the novel, Kevin returns for Katie and attempts to kill her and Alex as well. Although when Kevin appeared, he was intoxicated and could barely walk a straight line; this didn't help when he was trying to fire his gun at Katie, "Kevin's eyes were feral, his movements jerky. He took a step toward them, almost losing his balance. The gun swung back and forth. Unsteady." (Page 312) Through the struggle that Katie and Alex went through to get rid of Kevin, it came to an end when Katie shot Kevin and once again the alcohol in his system only fought against him. The powerful act of Katie defending herself and killing Kevin raged with emotion. She felt relief and sadness all at once and Katie's brain went into a perplexed mental state. Even though her emotions were confused, it was clear that she has overcome her fear of Kevin. Through the point of view of Kevin, he describes the pain of the bullet Katie shot him with, which would symbolically represent how Katie overcame the fear of him, “He felt something then, burning in his stomach, fire. His left leg gave way and he tried to stay upright, but his body was no longer his own. He collapsed on the porch reaching for his stomach.” (Page 321) Continuing to support the new confidence of Katie, she thinks to herself, “No, she thought. I’ll never go with you. I never wanted to go back.” (Page 322) Moreover, she rose above all of the other fears of everything else she might’ve been fearful of. Though the quote is brief, it gives a strong message, “She knew what she saw. She knew what she believed.” (Page 341)

While comprehending the themes in the novel Safe Haven, identifying the comparisons between these universal themes in other novels is crucial as well. Other novels I read, A Winter Dream, by Richard Paul Evans and Woods Runner, Gary Paulsen, have the theme self-reliance that's moved to overcoming fear. Within the covers of A Winter Dream, the main character, Joseph, was kicked out of a large family business to hope he would struggle in the large city, Chicago. This required self-reliance because of the abandonment and unfamiliar surroundings Joseph had to deal with, all over the more challenging job that he was transposed to. The overcoming fear comes in when Joseph has to constantly hop places where he works and then finally return to family business to come face to face with his brothers to consult purchasing their business. In the next novel, Woods Runner, the main character, Samuel, finds himself all alone in the Revolutionary War when his parents are captured by the British. He relies on himself to find his parents and reunite with them. Simply explained, Samuel overcomes his fears by diving into the British's territory to steal back his parents.

After showing the relation of these universal themes in other novels, we realize that maybe the life we have isn’t too awful after all. Imagine being beaten by one you once loved, then finally escaping, yet, still having to live with the possibility of its reoccurrence hangs in the air you breathe. Thankfully, in this piece, the once self-reliant woman conquers the terrors of her past. Though it is a fictional story, the messages sent through the universal themes of the novel provide wonderful examples to people around the world.

Willow

Standing tall and strong, I am a willow tree.

Though my roots beneath me remain hidden,

I outreach my arms to others,

All the way to their base.

Whispering of wind flows in my ears.

As my sways illustrate their song,

My branches embrace too much.

Until the end of me,

I will love.

Blackness

Author's Note: This piece I wrote in the point of view of someone with severe depression, and what could be the worst of it. This piece is ficticious and is a creative piece.

With school folders in hand, the muted hallways scream in my ears and I wonder why I was born once again. While passing the couples that swear they're in love and friends that sound like a broken record reciting their times together every time they meet eyes, my mind wants dissolve and my stomach begins to eat away at itself. Inside me, my gut rumbles as it's calling for food, but I know better than to give in to the pain. One day, I hope, my starvation will pay off towards a leaner body. Nonetheless, I deserve the suffer my diet is punching me with. Continuing to walk face down, I lunge for my locker ignoring the laughter that I'm sure is aimed at my obesity. I feel my cheeks flush and as soon as I open my locker, I tug at my backpack and slop in my textbooks and journal. Wrapping my bag around my shoulders, I follow the tiles on the floor that lead me out of the school.

Throughout the bus ride home, my heavy heart only drops farther to the ground. My head leans on the fogged up window being rejected with every pothole the bus encounters. Amidst my thoughts, we pull up to my beaten up ranch style home and I step off the bus with the lingered bus exhaust surrounding me. Both of my hands are grasping the straps of my backpack with my fingernails digging into the stitching. Lining my driveway is a salty brown mush that blends into the blanket of snow layering over the ground. All of the trees are weighted down by thick buckets of white. Though I admit nothing compares to the weight I carry wherever I go, whatever I do. By the time I reach my front door, I stand there and come to a full summary on my life and how in the next few hours, I won't be in existence any longer; it's not like anyone will notice or care anyway. Examining the front door, I notice small details I haven't before. The moss green paint is peeling around the edges of the door and cracks are quite obvious in the molding. Precautiously, I turn around and scan up and down the road making sure no one was watching me and no one knows where I am. When all is silent, I acutely snap back to the door and shove my hand into my jean pocket grabbing a hold of the house key. Sticking the key in the silver handle, I whip my shoulder into the door and listen for the door's creak that gradually screeches louder.

"Hello?" I throw out into the blackness of the room and absorb that my voice sounds so alien to me for not using it the past few days. No one responded to my call, so I turned on the lights and ripped open my backpack for my journal and my black ball-point pen. As of now, I will proceed to paint a pleasing picture for the world by removing myself and all of the disgust that follows along with me. The pen, equal to the weight of my body, draws out my faintest memories from when I didn't know better than to be happy. Numbness surfaced my face when I noticed a damp part of the paper, where the words blurred together as if they were confused. Crowded in my throat is a lump of pain I let out in awkward hiccups. Outcrying to no one, my vision becomes disoriented and my cheeks are drenched with lonely sadness while the tears continue to rain down uncontrollably. I sign off my last farewell then drag myself over to the bathroom.

Last year, I was diagnosed depression pills for my constant bleakness. Instructions indicated that I'm highly recommended to swallow one pill right before I go to bed. Fearfully recalling this discipline, I stood in front of the mirror with knees that couldn't stay straight and with my eyes focused on the orange bottle of recently filled depression pills. Shaking like I have a terrible case of Parkinson's disease, I manage to wrap my hand around the bottle and twist off the cap. Attempting to quiet my tears, I set the bottle down to tie up my hair. For once I am grateful to be alone, for no one to see the mess of sobs and my last moments. Wiping my face I scoop up the medicine and spill out several pills, enough to do the job. Staring intently at the pills in hand, I listen to the silence of the house that helps drill in my decision. My elbow bends. My hand snaps. My throat swallows. Dropping the medication bottle, I fall to my knees and collapse on the ground, just laying there. Embraced by the cold floor, it pinches my skin and I realize that I can't move, but my eyes and ears are slightly functional. The bathroom entrance begins to appear fuzzy to me as I stare blankly out the door. When suddenly I hear something familiar, a door's creaking.

With the moments left I have to live and my rapidly decreasing knowledge of simplistic things, I recall who this person entering our house should be, my mother. I knew she would come home at one point. Confusion erodes my brain and I feel myself slipping away from reality even more. My mom calls out my name, as she would normally do, and her voice is left ringing in my ears over and over and over again. Dizzily I make out two brown shoes at the foot of the bathroom tile and hear a puzzled tone of voice coming from my mom. Once again, she repeated my name.

All at once, blackness overcame everything I ever knew and ever was.

Rewriting My Past-- Point Of View

Author's Note: This is a piece that I wrote for point of view on the song lyrics "Not Over You" by Gavin Degraw. I wrote in the girl's point of view where she really didn't want to break up with him, but she was faced with someone who didn't want their relationship to continue so she was forced to end the relationship and not be seen with him.

My arms limply fell through my raincoat's arms, and I push my way out the bulky restaurant door. Rain collects in my hood and mats up my hair, though, I don't acknowledge the mess a bit. My head is spinning, and no matter what I tell myself, I know I will never forget this day. Reviving back to just a few minutes ago, his eyes were glossed and red patches formed on his cheeks. Between each word of letting down the relationship with much sorrow, he clenched his teeth and tightened his jaw that featured the muscles on his face. I never wished for this to happen, I love him, but the threatening force I was challenged with prior to our break up demanded the worst.

Memories strike back with the same racing heart, and same bewildered mind. Shrinking back even farther than the break up, I recall the writing on the wall that threw my life off-guard. The few seconds that the villainous I was faced with had to threaten my life were used well, and were very effective for her. Although, my memories that are hoarding my mind aren't coming in flashes, rather raw throwbacks to the entire scene. If it weren't for the criminal that I have never met, and had she not threatened my life and relationship, I would have continued my life happily with my boyfriend. Nevertheless, she did interrupt my life, and now I'm expected to live with the one person I can't live without while he knows none of the notion.

Every step I take is a hum for help that no one can recognize and my heart aches for how he's taking the hit now. Knowing him, he will probably take the blame, which I know is unquestionably not his fault. I want to approach him and tell him everything, but it would be the end of me if I did so. Each move of mine is being stalked as if I were legendary, but the attention I'm receiving from the criminal is making me feel infamous.

Later in the week, feeling like it has been months apart, I give him a longing call and he implies that I am no longer on his mind. What he doesn't know is that I understand him inside and out. The pain in his voice bleeds with sleepless nights and endless dreams of reuniting our relationship. Overcoming the yearning to see him again is like my stomach is a wrench and every word I hear from him makes my gut hinge. As I place the phone in it's dock after the conversation, It's certain that I can never speak to him again and it's imperative for me to get out of town, and that's exactly what I do.

Leaving the chaos all behind, I mournfully drag myself into my beat up blue sedan and start the engine. Leading my way into a new life, I have no destination, little cash, and a far cry of what is needed to make a fresh start. Though I will never come back to this place again, the memories will be imprinted into my soul, rejuvenating the remembrances every day.

While the night creeps along, with the moon glowing high in the sky, my travels come to an end for today. Trying to contain my sorrows, I'm hollow inside and stupefied that got through the day. With endless days like this to come, there is little hope for me and my future. Hours tick by as the drivers seat cradles my body and welcomes me to my new life. My optimism and prayers are minor, but as I notice a spark fly across the sky, I can't help but shut my eyes and lay out my wishes for the shooting star to materialize. I wish that he will understand that I still love him; I wish that he knows it wasn't my choice to leave him; I wish that he would move on and forget that he ever knew me. The star passes and I'm only left to imagine how my life and his will play out. Though each hour that passes me by, I notice the great amount of weight that drags my eyelids to the floor, while my head occasionally bobs from asleep to awake. Before long, I give in, and I lie in my car for the night on the warm padded chair awaiting my opportunity to ignite life into my new and renewed world, ready for me to reconstruct my days from the core.

---

Written in the lyrics of Gavin Degraw's "Not Over You" hit, is the point of view of a man that is trying his best to overcome the sudden breakup with his ex-girlfriend. What I wrote portrays the point of view from the ex-girlfriend's eyes and explaining her reasoning for the unexpected separation. I'm just going to point out a few things that I specifically made sure to add into the creative piece that are based off of the lyrics. 

Primarily, the main point I wanted to get across was how mortified the ex-girlfriend was that she had to end the relationship due to someone else's wanting instead of hers. I didn't want to get in too deep of detail about what happened the day where her life was threatened only because it would rail too far off and make it seem like she was more frightened instead of the complete depression I was looking for. In the song, the quote, "We both admit we had it good/ But until then it's alienation, I know/ That much is understood." Here, you can tell he knows that she at least loved him at one point, but now he thinks that she left him behind and she no longer has feelings for him. Partially relating to that, he sings, "And if I had the chance to renew/ You know there isn't a thing I wouldn't do/ I could get back on the right track." I added the thought that the ex-girlfriend is aware that the ex-boyfriend thinks he did something wrong because of this quote in the song. Dating someone brings out your compatibility, and she knew that he thought the ending of the relationship depended on him, which I brought out in the text that it doesn't.

From the lingering confusion between the recently separated couple, the reason why I had her leave town was vital as well. The quote, "If you ask me how I'm doing/ I would say I'm doing just fine," because it seems like they were generating exclusively simple conversation, and he felt the longing to be with her again every time he saw her. This was the same for the woman as well, that is, every time she saw him she felt that same longing. Which lead to even more sadness, not only for the ex-boyfriend, but the woman as well. The pain was too dragging, so that is why I had her leave town, into the unknown world to be able to start over.

Later, after I made her leave town, I mentioned her looking to a shooting star and desperately desiring for her dreams to come true, while awaiting her new life. What provoked me to place this in here is the single line, "Hope, hope there's a conversation." I chose this not because it was talking about the conversation, but the fact that he was  longing and hoping for something to occur. When I figured that if we wants something, there must be another objective the ex-girlfriend is headed for; that would be her new life away from the threats and regrets.

Now that it the points I've made are clear, the change in the point of view is essential as well. When you are listening to the song "Not Over You" with the point of view of the man, you feel sorrow for him and wonder why the woman broke up with him. On the contrary, we don't have the perspective of the girl, accordingly we don't know what her emotions are up to at this point. Meanwhile, in the creative piece I've written, the point of view of the woman is emphasized and you feel pain for her, though, you feel deep ache for the man in this point of view in addition. On top of those sensations, there is the feeling of will for the woman to succeed in life after her love was separated by a fine line like water and oil. Although the feelings that are generated in both of the point of views differ, more information on the relationship is given in the perspective of the woman allowing the reader greater consciousness of the relationship's previously obscure points.

Resolving the details from the diverse perspectives, I just wanted to call attention to a few of those aspects that I included and why I thought to do so. The song, "Not Over You" by Gavin DeGraw, gives us many lines to be able to create an alternate perspective on the whole situation. There's always two sides to every story and this is why I chose to lay out what I did in my creative piece above.