Survival is triumph enough
The Giver stands above me, his hand about to contact my back. “Jonas,” he says quietly. “Yes?” “This memory is a very important one. I am about to share with you a memory that is very painful, but also rejoiceful. Whatever you do, trust the words in your head, and don’t hesitate. Do you understand?”
I look up at him slowly. “Yes, I understand.”
He sighs, and lowers his hands onto me. My entire body relaxes, and I am transported into the memory.
I’m standing alone in the crowd. People rush by me, almost hysterical as they look for a way out. I’m threatened by my own mind, the word coming clear to me. Escape.
My body lunges forward, acting faster than my head as I stream steadily with the crowd. As I look around, …show more content…
I round the crowded staircase leading to the main deck and push my way through the crowd and grip the railing. Ocean. The water is black, the full moon reflecting upon it like a mirror. A blast of extreme, frigid air rushes down my spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind it. I begin to breathe heavily. The white fog in the air is as clear as day to me. I hear a loud, screeching noise and the floor beneath me begins to rock powerfully. The people around me grip the same railing that I am. People grip onto my arms as the floor tilts us all into the night sky. I close my eyes for a slight moment. When I open them, I am petrified to see that the black water is beginning to swallow the remaining half of the boat. People cry out in terror, ringing in my ears as the boat begins to go vertical. One woman next to me looks deeply into my eyes. Dread immediately comes into my head as she looks at me. Her pupils are dilated to a point where I can not even see the color in them. I am hypnotized by her eyes, and for a minute, all the chaos around me stops. The world begins to slow down. As she looks away, I feel as though I am dreaming. The remaining part of the boat that I am on is going under the water at such a rapid pace. I grip tighter. I can only think of one word. …show more content…
I use every single ounce of energy in my body to begin to kick and flail my limbs. The splashing is very soft, but it is noticeable in the deadly calm sea of unmoving people. I continue to splash and stutter in the bone-chilling water. Just when I am about to give up I see the light shine directly upon me. “LOOK OVER THERE! A SURVIVOR!”
The boat quickly comes to my aid. I feel relief wash over me. There are 2 men on the small wooden boat. They grab my arms and hoist me in. I am so cold that I am unable to move or speak. “John get the blankets! Oh my gosh, he survived! Boy, do you realise what you have done? He lived!” the man said franticly.
My body shakes uncontrollably in the night air. I can not focus. My vision is blurred and my lungs are burning from the salt water I have consumed. However, one thing is keeping me conscious right now. I survived. I made it. My numb lips form a tattered smile. I lived.
My eyes fly open. I abruptly stand up from where I had been laying. The Giver is watching me with intent eyes. I rub my arms to generate heat, for I am still able to feel the numbing coldness. “How? How is it that possible!” I yell towards him.
“Many lives were lost that night Jonas,” the Giver says looking at his lap. “However, there were those that survived, yourself included.”
“I survived,” I say
The Giver stands above me, his hand about to contact my back. “Jonas,” he says quietly. “Yes?” “This memory is a very important one. I am about to share with you a memory that is very painful, but also rejoiceful. Whatever you do, trust the words in your head, and don’t hesitate. Do you understand?”
I look up at him slowly. “Yes, I understand.”
He sighs, and lowers his hands onto me. My entire body relaxes, and I am transported into the memory.
I’m standing alone in the crowd. People rush by me, almost hysterical as they look for a way out. I’m threatened by my own mind, the word coming clear to me. Escape.
My body lunges forward, acting faster than my head as I stream steadily with the crowd. As I look around, …show more content…
I round the crowded staircase leading to the main deck and push my way through the crowd and grip the railing. Ocean. The water is black, the full moon reflecting upon it like a mirror. A blast of extreme, frigid air rushes down my spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind it. I begin to breathe heavily. The white fog in the air is as clear as day to me. I hear a loud, screeching noise and the floor beneath me begins to rock powerfully. The people around me grip the same railing that I am. People grip onto my arms as the floor tilts us all into the night sky. I close my eyes for a slight moment. When I open them, I am petrified to see that the black water is beginning to swallow the remaining half of the boat. People cry out in terror, ringing in my ears as the boat begins to go vertical. One woman next to me looks deeply into my eyes. Dread immediately comes into my head as she looks at me. Her pupils are dilated to a point where I can not even see the color in them. I am hypnotized by her eyes, and for a minute, all the chaos around me stops. The world begins to slow down. As she looks away, I feel as though I am dreaming. The remaining part of the boat that I am on is going under the water at such a rapid pace. I grip tighter. I can only think of one word. …show more content…
I use every single ounce of energy in my body to begin to kick and flail my limbs. The splashing is very soft, but it is noticeable in the deadly calm sea of unmoving people. I continue to splash and stutter in the bone-chilling water. Just when I am about to give up I see the light shine directly upon me. “LOOK OVER THERE! A SURVIVOR!”
The boat quickly comes to my aid. I feel relief wash over me. There are 2 men on the small wooden boat. They grab my arms and hoist me in. I am so cold that I am unable to move or speak. “John get the blankets! Oh my gosh, he survived! Boy, do you realise what you have done? He lived!” the man said franticly.
My body shakes uncontrollably in the night air. I can not focus. My vision is blurred and my lungs are burning from the salt water I have consumed. However, one thing is keeping me conscious right now. I survived. I made it. My numb lips form a tattered smile. I lived.
My eyes fly open. I abruptly stand up from where I had been laying. The Giver is watching me with intent eyes. I rub my arms to generate heat, for I am still able to feel the numbing coldness. “How? How is it that possible!” I yell towards him.
“Many lives were lost that night Jonas,” the Giver says looking at his lap. “However, there were those that survived, yourself included.”
“I survived,” I say