Game Over

• Annika Riseley, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2015

I lay in on a hospital bed, in a hospital room, dying. What did I do wrong? I exercised regularly, I ate healthy enough not to cause any immediate problems, I even stayed away from alcoholic beverages but I, like so many before me am dying. Everyone dies I know that, but why me? Why now? I have so many questions but so little time. My family stand around me, secretly waiting for me to just die, fade out like a light. My only hope at this moment is that my light will live on through them so that the world will not forget me. I love them too much to do that to them, I wish I could stay with them. Why is the universe so cruel? I feel cold, why am I so cold? Is it time yet? No, it can’t be time yet, I haven’t even said goodbye. Light surrounds me, my family is gone. Their not here, their not even in the same world. I’m wearing my best Sunday clothes, at least I won’t walk on in those hospital clothes. I hated that place, so white but so dark at the same time. I see a speck of colour at the end of this tunnel of light. It’s so pretty, just like flowers in spring. I love spring, such a lovely time of year. Maybe that’s where I’m supposed to go, yes. Thats where I’m supposed to go. I walk towards it and feel no pain, its all gone now. I left it behind, I’ll miss it. The speck of colour gets bigger as I make my way down the tunnel. I finally reach it, it says something on it:



GAME OVER

TRY AGAIN OR END GAME




What is this? Life is meant to be lived once, you only get one chance. I thought you only get one chance. What should I do? I’m happy with the life I lived. I had children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. But will the world remember me? I was no one important, I’ll just be forgotten like everyone else. If I’m getting this opportunity it must mean something. I must not pass this up. I press try again.




Today is not

just another day.

It’s a new

opportunity,

another chance,

a new beginning,



embrace it.