Half of a Yellow Sun

The Simulation Xavier woke up in the middle of the night. It was dark outside, and only the white full moon was illuminating the streets of the city. The boy looked around himself. All the colors in his room seemed blurred and he felt like they were mixing together. Even though , he was feeling an indescribable lightness, his eyes felt very heavy. It felt like an oddly realistic dream. Even in the nighttime, it was too quiet in the house. Xavier stood up from his bed to get a drink of water.…

at me. “Is that true Sweetie Belle?” Cheerilee stepped closer to my table and glared at my floating pebble. “Do you know what I asked?” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon high-hoofed behind Cheerilee's back. I had no idea what the question was. The bubbly horn light started to fade as my head lowered in shame. The pebble in the air also drifted down. “How about you stop showing off your magic and pay attention to the class instead!” Figuring that I’d get scolded even more, I closed my eyes in…

but my father steadies me and says, “Almost there, baby.” The arroyo is different than I have ever seen it. It is scattered with long, silver puddles. In the pink glow of the rising sun, the sand looks shiny and slippery. Around us, green tufts of vegetation burst from the earth in unpredictable patterns and yellow wildflowers with thin stems knock softly against each other in the wind. My father tells me to wait and he steps down into the wet sand. I watch as his sandals sink deep into the…

Kilimanjaro My experience climbing to the summit of the 19,341 foot “roof of Africa” was a great adventure with my 62 year old father that made me realize I can succeed in everything if I work hard enough. Nothing I had accomplished before contained even the slightest trace of verisimilitude to this almost alien climb. Climbing Kilimanjaro was an unforgettable experience that I love reflecting back on. I not only cherish the exultation of reaching the summit, but I also look back fondly at…

bedroom by carefully choosing furniture and accessories that stay true to the theme yet add a bit on contemporary appeal. French Country Builds on the Strength of White Typical French country bedrooms make use of color combinations that include yellow and white, blue and white, and even green and white. However, this motif can still be maintained while adding a deeper and more modern hue to the room. That new addition is the…

Parents are a vital component to a child’s life. They not only dictate how one will grow but they nurture from the moment the baby is in the womb. Although some parents are great at this aspect of bringing up a child, some are not so fitted for the job. Rex and Rosemary Walls can be seen to contradict this idea of “great parenting” throughout the Memoir “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls. The couple fail to accept aid from other people when in need, keep their children safe and resist being…

According to Eli, the May Day ball was always held the first Saturday of May. Eli had coaxed and begged until he convinced her to go along with him to both events. “The Andrew’s always throw a great party, Cousin. It will be better than mulling around here hour after hour, worrying over Thomas. Please come along, Allie,” he begged. “It’ll be fun! In addition, if you’re still here come May, you can escort me to the ball- just like a real date. And just think of all the young men in uniform-…

Many diverse emotions and physical feelings were involved during my contrived experience. Before simulating monocular vision due to Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAAION), I did not anticipate the increased level of difficulty that certain normal activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) would have on my day. My experience consisted of an eye-patch covering up my left eye for 12 hours. Some of the activities I found to be the more…

Revenge for the Loved Chapter 1 Everyone loses someone they care about at one point or another, but I never thought I would lose them all so quickly. Ear splitting grinding and blood curdling screams filled my ears as I felt a strong impact on the right side of the car. It forced us over the edge of the hill, the car rolling roof over chassis, over and over. My head hit the dash, the windshield shattered, and the roof crushed down on top of me. My adrenaline was running so high, I didn't feel…

A single crack appeared through a rough stone wall in the back of the cavern. The crack slowly began to grow, and all of the soldiers were stunned and shocked by what they were witnessing. The inside of the crack began to glow dark, blood-red. An eerie smile crept onto the general's face, while he stared at the growing crack. The ground began to shake within the cave and a low rumbling emerged from deep within it. The general began to chuckle with delight. The soldiers became increasingly uneasy…