Total Write Out! (Entry/Contest Book)

Entry Number One

Author's Note: Um. Hi. This story ended up being much more depressing than I anticipated it to be. :P Yeah. sorry about that. It ended up being much longer too. This does have some of my personal strong opinions on God and why or why not he should be considered a blessing or a curse. I accept and celebrate anyone of any religion and mean to offend no one, but these are really strong opinions on life and death or anything along those lines. At the end of the day, if I were God, I'd save a dying child, which is where the debates in this story arise. (As well as part of the plot, which is saving a dying child.) I did feel it was a bit rushed, but eh' maybe you liked it? Adios!

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I’ve never considered myself to be highly religious. In fact, I don’t think I’m very religious in general. To me, God was nothing more than an illusion. I convinced myself that he was something we believed in because we needed answers to difficult questions. He was simply a figment of mine or anyone else’s' imagination. It was the imagination of one who needed comfort or support.

Perhaps it was just the imagination of someone who was delusional. 

But, I'm being too judgmental. You can call me a delusional hypocrite if you wish. Because I‘ve  had a one on one encounter with the guy. 

I'm not a bad person. Or so I've been informed. I don't think there was anything particular which had to be changed about me. I was an Atheist, Clara the Atheist. It works, right? And I didn't own a criminal record. The worst thing I'd done was disappoint my parents when I dropped out of college, something that infuriated them. I guess they weren't taking themselves seriously when they reminded me, "We'll always support every step you take." 

Yeah, right.

The only thing that I considered my real, true friend or family member was my Siamese cat, Peg. She was missing her hind, left leg and so she earned her name. She was old and her fur was an absolute disaster. She was always in a bad mood. But she was the most loyal animal I'd ever encountered in my life. And I loved her for that. 

Really, it was just Clara and Peg, battling the world on our own. And today was a usual day.

I was sitting lazily in my living room couch. Doing nothing but staring apathetically at the television screen, listening to the news. My ears heard every word from the channel intently but my eyes were fixed on the ceiling. Nothing new. The world is harsh place, I told myself. Where is God when you need him?

There was this odd change, difficult to describe. I still can’t put it to words. As I sat up there was a fluttering, tingling sensation in my chest. Dizziness made its way inside of my head as I kept my eyes from shutting. I tried standing up, but it was like I had a high fever that refused to subside and all I could do was stay in place. I gave up and closed my eyes in un- characteristic defeat.

When I opened my eyes, which to my surprise were not tired at all, I was still in my living room. I was in the same position only the fluttering feeling in my chest had not left. I cleared my throat and looked around with confusion. I stood up, feeling lighter on my feet than usual. My mind became clear and almost relaxed. Maybe I would've been if I'd known what was going on. The windows on my apartment shuddered and boomed with force from the outside wind, and the curtains moved around. Light seemed to spread around like the Yellow Fever. I made my way towards the window. I had to ask, "What's going on?" 

Slowly the harshness of the wind subsided and I became accustomed to the outside light. I felt a presence in the room. Not one which made me scared or nervous. It was simply a presence. It was just there.

I was still looking out the window into the parking lot of my apartment building when I heard a clear, somewhat comforting voice arise behind me, "Clara," It began, "You've been granted an opportunity."