His Wendy, Her Peter

I - Her

Wendy

Everything was perfect, my talent is perfect and my family is perfect, wanna know something that is an exception to all of this?

Me.

Yes, me. All the things I possess are all perfect but I, myself, is the only that isn't. Ironic, right? Think of it like a stain on your white shirt, an ugly mole on a beautiful face or the black olive to your pizza. That's me.

I have a very rare bone cancer though I look as active as I am right now, but I survived it after my operation at 3 years old. Furthermore, here I am 16 years after and still in college.

It's not like I hate my illness. There's nothing to blame, neither my genes nor God. I couldn't possibly blame our Lord's father and in fact, I should be thanking him. For he was the one who saved me. If it wasn't for Him, I wouldn't be alive at this very second.

Anyway, people say I have a gift in art. I can't say that it is the most graceful thing that has ever been created on this earth. The moment I discovered it back when I was 14, I never hesitated and I knew this was my path in life. I begged my parents to send me in college, because I can do it! And of course, being the protective parents they were, they did not like the idea at all. But hey, they still wanted their child to succeed in life so, they agreed. Even though it hurts their feelings when the time I had to go away to a dormitory at the first day of college, leaving both of them teary-eyed back in my hometown, they still supported me no matter what.

"Elaine, congratulations! I am so proud of you!", says my best roommate Cara when she arrived at my first art exhibit in the University Gallery, as she hugs me. "You know, I always have your support, right? Even though you stay up all night to finish your masterpieces giving me eye bags better be worth all of it!"

"Uh, thanks!", giving her a really apologetic look of being guilty for all of those nights. I knew she hated flicked-on lights at night and because of me, she has those dark circles under her eyes. She's too nice of a friend and if she wasn't, she could've left me 3 years ago.

"Miss Wallace, your works are really exceptional! Very well-made and remarkable!", my professor, Mr. Harrison.

"Gee, thank you Mr. Harrison! Couldn't have done it without the knowledge you've bestowed upon me, like everybody else," I tell him and he laughed just to make a humor.

"Haha! You have quite a humor, Miss Wallace! I still wish you the best of luck here on your exhibit!," he bowed and he gives his hand for a shake, and I shook it.

"Thank you very much, Sir!", he then left and vapors away into the crowd.

I can't believe more than a 50 people arrived. For a first-timer, it wasn't bad at all. All of my 100 artworks and creations all posted on the walls of the gallery. The paintings are not for sale nor I don't plan to sell them but it would be an honor if someone could be interested to buy them.

"Please welcome, the genius behind all these masterpieces, University of California, Los Angeles' very own, Miss Elaine Wallace," the crowd applauded and I made a shaky way up to the stage and in front of the spotlight.

"H-hello," I spoke stutteringly to the microphone and I gulped silently. With knots and butterflies happening inside my stomach. Slowly I took my sheet of speech and held it in front of me. To be honest, I am not a big public speaker, obviously. There's a tendency that I gag in-between my spoken words. It took me nearly a month to prepare and practice this speech. And one whole week to mentally adjust myself knowing I will be having this speech. I stepped closer to the microphone and then I started to word-out the first lines.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for coming here today. All of my beloved family, friends, educators and colleagues...", slowly but surely I spoke every word.

And after that very long speech that took 10 minutes of everybody's time, I ended it with...

"I stand before all of you, giving this speech of my greatest achievement of my 19-years of existence. I couldn't be more thankful to my parents, and the Lord our God, for helping me get to my position right now. Once again, I am Elaine Wallace and Good Evening to all of you!"

And... yes! It was finally done and it felt like stress has been removed from my chest.

Thank God!

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A: How is this for the first chapter? :-)