I dream I am standing under a roof of blue sky, in a field of mid-day sunshine and yellow sunflowers, surrounded by the scent of wet grass and the music of song birds and buzzing insects. Then, I open my eyes and remember that I am Zach Moreland, 142 years old, and I am never going to die.
The ceiling is white, the walls are white and at 0800 every day the nurses roll out of the nursing station to wake the residents. My nurse is one of the older models from the time when they were all equipped with a red flashing light in the upper chest. It is often the only item of color to be seen in the Institute of Life where I live. Jason, my roommate, has a newer model nurse but then Jason is only just 104.
In the bathing area I walk through naked and feel the warmth of the synthetic HdeA misting over my body. As I walk through, I remember a distant time when bathing meant soaking in hot water, so hot it made my skin red and I would stay in the tub until my toes wrinkled. My nurse carries my clothes to me as I exit my daily biotic bath. White pants, white underwear, white shirt, white socks and white shoes are presented to me. I am allowed to dress myself. I try to put my pants on while I am standing up, balancing my weight on my left leg while stepping my right leg into my pants.
“There is a possibility that you could fall,” nurse says. “Please use caution. I advise that you sit on a chair to put on your pants, socks or shoes,” my nurse says. Her voice is familiar, almost human, but lacking the cadence either emotion or concern.
“You would never let me fall. You’re a computer, be logical, there is no way I can hurt myself,” I say.
“Your health is my only concern,” the nurse answers.
Technology to perpetuate li...
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...elieved to feel anything again. We stand still only for a moment to see where we have come. Snow covers everything for as far as we can see glistening in afternoon sunlight. We hear the song of a bird and see a red cardinal perched on a blue spruce against a backdrop of blue sky that reaches all the way to the blanket of snow. Becca begins to cry.
Jason grips my arm in a burst of excitement. Then he falls down laughing and crying all at once like a child. Lashaun clutches his chest and some others are gasping for breath but they are smiling, some finding a place to lie down peacefully or make angels in the snow, then stare up at the yellow sun. Becca hands me a synthetic apple she kept from breakfast. She says, “Here, in case you get hungry later.” She is still talking in code.
I throw my arms wide, as wide as the far horizon, and take a step forward.
Brock awoke to the sound of a trumpet. He was ready to get training. Brock put on his long johns, pants, shirt, coat, and hat. Then he slowly walked out of his tent. When he walked out he was greeted by Major General Wayne. He said, “Follow me i'll show you where you will be training.” Brock followed him for a about a mile until they walked into a large field with hundreds of saddled horses, and about 80 other men. Major General Wayne said,
The fog was heavy, the distance we were able to see was less than 30 yards from our position.
Located in the popular Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in California. Every year, mother nature’s breathtaking beauty attracts millions of people from around the world. People hike for three long and fatiguing hours in anticipation of witnessing forceful water rushing down the steep mountain from 2,425 feet above. Last summer, my family and I backpacked through the Yosemite Falls Trail and I came to learn what a truly exhausting experience it is.
The Creature That Opened My Eyes Sympathy, anger, hate, and empathy, these are just a few of the emotions that came over me while getting to know and trying to understand the creature created by victor frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. For the first time I became completely enthralled in a novel and learned to appreciate literature not only for the great stories they tell but also for the affect it could have on someones life as cliché as that might sound, if that weren’t enough it also gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of the idiom “never judge a book by its cover.” As a pimply faced, insecure, loner, and at most times self absorbed sophomore in high school I was never one to put anytime or focus when it came time
I have received your letter, are the children healthy and well? How are you lately? Have you been sick recently? I am fine, well, as right as one is capable of being over in this land. I have thought of you every second of every day, there is not one moment I have forgotten about you. I just wish to be back home again. Last time you said that Henry was feeling slightly ill, I have some medicine stashed away in the bottom cupboard near the grand clock. If he shall start to feel very poorly, you may go there and find him medicine. You will know which one it is once you see it, I do not want Henry to turn out like poor Will did.
Honey, this has been the longest year of my life, life here is absolutely terrible. It’s only been a year since I have been ranked to Specialist E-7 and sent to Verdun and it has been nothing but pure chaos. As of Last week the 21st of February at 7:12 AM the first shot from a German Krupp landed at Verdun. Lifting up your head you can only see bullets flying everywhere nonstop, it’s a constant battle for land and to weaken the oppositions army. We were told to stay low until ordered to fire, but then our Commanding Officer almost forced us into charging into the Krauts Trenches. Luckily they chose to send a different divisions to risk their lives, God bless their souls. Though since they charged we got bombarded with hundreds of shells the next few days. Disease ran rapid as well, such as Trench Foot it has been a major disease here, my friend Private John Huberts shot himself in his foot after getting this disease, he’s been sent back to Dijon to be treated ever since I haven’t heard from him since. The mud is the second worst part of these trenches, though the constant Rats running around definitely take the cake, every night being woken up from these rats running across you is infuriating for the most part. Also these rats have been eating all our food supply leaving many to starve in the trenches.
The war has been more than I could ever imagine. I have seen such horrific sights, that will remain with me for as long as I live. War is not as they tell us back home. There is no dignity and pride in killing another man; there is only damage and grief. War is exhausting. Half of us do not even understand why we are here, except to kill the Germans. We just want to be home, even the Germans have families they miss too. The trenches we have been staying in have been especially brutal. We stay here for days on end, staring into fields of shrubbery, waiting for the Germans. Sleep is limited and cherished.
The day has come. The day I've feared but tried so hard not to. Two men grab me by the arms and lead outside to the blinding sunlight, reluctantly. My tattered shoes scrape along the rocky sand of the camp, everyones watching me now. They all know what's happening and feel sorry for me, except for a smug figure in the distance, obviously Sergeant Hanley. My eyes dart helplessly around the camp, I see the firing squad and a lump swells in my throat. Then I see Tommo, and remember my promise to him.
Life in the camp is epitomised by one big question mark. Uncertainty is the order of the day. I don’t know how long I’ve been here or why I’m here. I’m lost in desolation and blended into the sea of blue and white. Papa tells me everything will be fine one day but he has lost the spark in his eyes and is now filled with despair. Today we continue to work on building huts, I can make an escape and meet up with Bruno like I usually did. A soldier gives me a wheelbarrow and I barely manage to hold it upright. I run towards the pile of rubble that hides me from the soldiers, the place where I meet Bruno. But before I could escape a blonde soldier yells at me. “Hey you! Come here. Faster you rat!” My heart pumps loudly, ringing in my ears. I run towards the soldier and he raised his hand, I immediately cower and waited for him to deliver the fatal blow. Instead he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the entrance gates. “We need someone with tiny fingers, you’ll be going somewhere where you are not allowed to talk. Is that clear?” The soldier ordered, I didn’t want to think what they wanted with my small bony hands.
The safe house that Cain had picked out had been built in the early 50's. Originally a small jailhouse, it had been abandoned in 1975 when the King commissioned for the Wayland Penitentiary to be built. The jailhouse, while small, had been built over a series of evacuation tunnels dug deep underground. They weren't used by anyone other than the Knights and the Red Hoods—the King had condemned it with the closing of the jailhouse, deeming the tunnels unsafe for use.
Bed bath can benefit patients immensely as it ensured that there individual needs are met, improved patients psychologically as they maintain their self-esteem and a positive body image. Nurses and patient relationship can be improved through bed bathing as patients can use their closeness with the nurse to discuss issues that trouble them. Bed bath are only suitable for patients who are bed bound, critically ill patients who need some assistance and elderly patients.
I was quivering as I sat on the pristinely white sheeted gurney. I had no idea what to expect. Ami sat in a plastic, maroon chair over in the corner and looked at the cold, disinfected, tile floor. The sounds of beeping machines and ticking clock flooded my ears. The nurse knocked on the door and both Ami and I jumped. She handed me a clipboard with some paperwork on it that asked for the basics: name, date of birth, reason for being here, consent to treat, and so on and so forth. I filled it all out the best I could, my mind was lost in another galaxy. Besides, how was I supposed to know what year my father was born in and the phone number to my mother’s work? Once I finished, the nurse took the clipboard and exited the room once again.
Nurses play a huge role in the health care system. A nurse is a bridge between doctor and patient. s/he is a compassionate, understanding and nonjudgmental yet firm and grounded. S/he is probably one of the most important yet least appreciated person in a patient’s life. When many think of a nurse they probably recognize them by a white hat and uniform. Today those white uniforms have been replaced with vividly colored scrubs worn by both male and female nurses, and many other employees in healthcare. Nurses are not just the people that are limited to bedside care and drug administration; they are highly skilled and well-educated nursing professionals.
The sun was still below the horizon but the clouds above the mountains were tainted the color of pomegranates. Around me the shadows seemed empty. I tried not to look into the brush as I walked down the driveway. I had stopped before, looking to see the back of the shadows; staring hard, only to have them retreat from my eyes indefinitely. Invisible birds called from within. Their sound followed me down the driveway and onto the road.
November 25, 2012. That day, or should I say night that changed everything. My best friend/sister of six years decided she no longer wanted to be friends with me. She looked me in the eye and said, “It’s just not the same.” Most people would say that’s not such a big deal, it happens all the time. In most situations it wouldn’t have been a big deal but that night I would soon realize that my life was going to spiral out of control and I was going to witness a domino effect like no other.