NTPU FLAL CReative Writing 2018 E-publication (1-3)

Creative Writing

Advisor: Professor Rae Lan

Graphics Editor: Melissa Wu

Because You Chose Me --------------------------- 邱昱翔 GARY CHIU

If You Own a Sky, Just Go Fly---------------- 江應竺 GILLIAN JIANG

Blame Myself---------------------------------- 黃文青 JESSICA HUANG

Say Something--------------------------------------- 戴淯柔 YURO TAI

Danger------------------------------------------------- 吳旻家 MARY WU

Barren------------------------------------------ 吳岱蓉 MELISSA WU

Do Not Sail Far from the Blazing Pier------- 車信璋 ZALE CHE

Thank You Girardi---------------------------- 楊崴傑 JACKY YANG

The Fairest Thing in the World---------- 陳奕伶 JESSICA CHEN

Louise------------------------------- 翁郡儀 BONNIE WENG

Live After Death------------------- 楊雯媛 WINNIE YANG

The Longest Walk----------------------- 林郁玹 TINA LIN

Karma--------------------------------- 陳奐羽 CHLOE CHEN

Men’s Talk-------------- 薛筱蓉 SHARON HSEUH

Chorus

Becauseyouchoseme

I couldkeepfighting, Icouldbefearless, I couldbebold

Becauseyouchoseme

I’ll beyourshield, I’ll beyourarmor, I’ll beyoursword.

Becauseyouchoseme

Becauseyouchoseme

Verseone

We’rebothfrustrated. Manytestsinourlifehavetobefaced. Toquit ornot toquit

It’smydailyquestionandit’shardtomakethedecision But heynow, youknow, girl

You’relikeanangel.

Youtotallysavemywholeworld.

Versetwo

You’remygoddess.

Youhavesavedmylifeforseveral times.

I’myourknight.

Just likeLancelot forhisGuinevereI’ll fight

Sodon’t leave, don’t think, togetherwe’ll fight withall ourmight Wewill seethelight

Rap

Heybaby, maybeyou’ll askwhat doyoumean?

I just want tosaysorry. NowI’ll showyouall thefeeling. Aslongasyouloveme, all I needisabeautyandabeat, Whocanmakemylifecomplete, whocanmakemehavetherecovery. Sincewewerechildren, wehaveneededtobecompanied. But becauseyouchoseme, it madethat mylifeisworthliving. Wewouldstraineverynerve,

Becauseof ourlove, wecouldbedowntoearth, AndmyloveiseverythingI gaveyou.

WhenI thought of you, Icouldbelieve, I couldhavefaith. Whenyouaccompaniedme, Icouldhavenopressure. Youarereallymytreasure.

Pleasetrust me, pleaseloveme.

If I wouldhaveknownit couldhavebeenyou,andI’mall init. Pleasemarkmywords, all thesearemypurpose.

Lifeistoughandhard. Turnoff thelight, Closeyoureyes.

Followyourmind, Donot lie.

I standbyyourside, Walkingthroughthenight.

If youownasky, Don’t beshy, girl. Just gofly, Spreadyourwings, Flyuphigh.

Keepyourownway, Followyourpath.

Everythingwill beokay, All theloveyouhavebeengivingaway

Will findwaystocomebackagain, again, again, Andit will finallystay.

Girl, just goandtry, try, try.

Youcandoit right, right, right.

Girl, just goandtry, try, try.

Youcandoit right.

Don’t feartolose,

Yourwarmthandkindnessaremorebeautiful thanyouknow.

Foreverproudof yourself,

Don’t beafraid.

Don’t beafraid.

Everythingwill beokay, All theloveyouhavebeengivingaway Will findwaystocomebackagain, again, Andit will finallystay.

Girl, just goandtry, try, try. Youcandoit right, right, right. Girl, just gotoandtry.

Everythingwill beokay, All theloveyouhavebeengivingaway Will findwaystocomebackagain, again, Andit will finallystay. Girl, just goandtry, try, try. Youcandoit right, right, right. Girl, just gotoandtry. Youcandoit right.

黃文青 JESSICA HUANG

Forall thetimesthat Igavemyheart toyou

Andeverynight youstill cameintomymood

Mamatoldmenot toshowmysorrowtoyou

I amalwayshidingwhenyouwalkthrough

AndIdidn't wannalet youknow

ThoughI carelikeyou’retheonlything

Inmyworld, nonoyoudon’t deservesit

I'll keepthememoriesinmind

AndI thinkyoushouldbelonely

If there’snooneto Spoilsyou, treat youlikeI didtoo

Mydaddydoesn’t loveyoubut helistenstomyheart

AndInevertrytokeepintouchwithyou

AndIhavecanceledyourline, Lifewithout youisjust fine

Sobabeyouknow, youbetterbechattingonyourown

Andwhenwefight fornothingbut it’sall about you

Youaretheproblemstoppingustogothrough EverytimeyoumakemelooklikeI amafool Youmademesufferandmakemefeel blue

AndIjust can’t bearthat blameenough CauseI didn't carewhat youthinkabout us Nonodarling, I havealreadygivingup

AndbabyI'll beonmyownandIthinkyoubesomething I don't wannaholdback Definitely, youknowthat Mymamadoesn’t likeyouandshelikeseveryone AndI wouldn’t liketotell that you’rewrong AndI'vebeensearchingforsomeonewho’sperfect withakindheart

Andasyouknow, there‘smanypeopleliningup

Causeif I blamemyself forlovingyoumost Ohbabyfromnowonthere’snomoreyou

If youdon’t thinkI’ll winthiswarbetweenmeandyou OhBaby, Iwouldtaketheblameandgo

Say Something

Fallingthrough, I feel thisislikehowwe’ll end But I can’t let gocausemyloveremains It seems, everythingisout of myhands I don’t wannagiveit up, will youtakeastand?

Oh, Don’t yousaysomething? Causethisishowwemend Myloveismorethanyoucansee Sohoney, saysomething

WhyamI inarticulate? Damn, it can’t begood, just beexpressional Andat heart Ijust don’t wannalet go Hopeyoucantalktome sowewon’t GOcold

OhPleasejust saysomething

It’snot howweshouldbe Myloveismorethanyoucansee Sohoney, saysomething Ohh

OhDon’t yousaysomething? Causethisishowwemend

I don’t knowhowlifewill be Sohoney, saysomething

OhPleasejust saysomething

CauseI don’t wannacede Youareeverythingtome Sohoney, saysomething

Danger

吳旻家 MARY WU

Youidiot, you’reauglytroublemaker

Just get out, just get out, just get out of myworld, please I gottatell youthereasonwhyIHATEyouso

You'rewonderful, flawless, ooh, you'resuchasexyboy

But youstandbesidemelikeyoudon’t meantothis

(Ohwhoa-oh-oh)

I don’t want toadmit it,but youcatchmyeye(catchmyeye)

(Ohwhoa-oh-oh)

Ohboy, I'mgonnakissyouorI thinkI will die(I will die)

Danger, that iswhat youare

Baby, you'remychocolatebar

Youknowyoucanhavemyheart beating

If youkeepgettingclosetome

If youkeepgettingclosetome

(Whoa-oh-oh-h-h-h)

Sweetie, Sweetie, Sweetie, youshouldbeugly

Aboylikeyoucanneverlooksogood

Youareeverythingthat I fall inlovewith

I wouldn't saycauseI’mshyinfront of you

(Ohwhoa-oh-oh)

I don’t want toadmit it,but youcatchmyeye(catchmyeye)

(Ohwhoa-oh-oh)

Ohboy, I'mgonnakissyouorI thinkI will die(I will die)

Danger, that iswhat youare

Baby, you'remychocolatebar

Youknowyoucanhavemyheart beating

If youkeepgettingclosetome

If youkeepgettingclosetome (Whoa-oh-oh-h-h-h)

Youaremydanger, youaremydanger

Youaremydanger, yeah, you, you, you, youare

Youaremydanger, youaremydanger

Youaremydanger, yeah, you, you, you, youare Danger, that iswhat youare

Baby, you'remychocolatebar

Youknowyoucouldhavemyheart beating

If youkeepgettingclosetome

If youkeepgettingclosetome (whoa-oh-oh-h-h-h)

POETRY

When words form lines and thus convey meanings, Splendor within bewitch my soul so dear ; Passing wisdom on for heedless beings, Telling the profound values of far and near;

At times, barren, I just cannot follow, Those deep meanings beneath seem far from reach; How sensitive must I become to know, Feelings so faint and the morals they teach;

How do I master this honorable art? Anguish inside my head swells up in me, I ache that it cease to fade in my heart, My love for literature don’t you see?

Have I no gift to read beyond the lines? If hope is still there, pray give me a sign.

車信璋 ZALE CHE

POETRY

Do not sail far from the blazing pier, Fragile boats are apt to go astray; Seek, seek for the luminous solid anchor.

“

o not sail far from the blazing pier.”

“Do not sail far from the blazing pier,” Close, close to one another forever and ever.

POETRY

Thank You Girardi

楊崴傑 JACKY YANG

A whole year of sweat and tears

One hundred seventy five games of perseverance

You lead the Yanks through all harsh battles

From regular seasons to playoffs

From wildcard to ALCS

There's no vacation before taking the champion back to Yankees stadium

Keep nerves and seldom err

Burden of pressure and smiles so rare

You encourage players to break their limits

And push whole team to strive for excellence

You are the lighthouse in the middle of the sea

Pointing out the bright way for Bronx Bomber to sail to and win

Even if all of your efforts now have turned to dust

Because Yankees can't make it to the World Series but

You are still the hero of all fans

Your grit and grind have stuck to our mind

"Ever tried, ever failed, no matter.

Try again, fail again, fail better!"

You might not be the head of Yanks anymore

But your devotion and efforts will last forever

And I look forward to seeing you in the next MLB season

The Fairest Thing in the World

陳奕伶

JESSICA CHEN

Leaking from intervals of your life

Like a drop

Accumulating little by little and nonstop

The crop you will slop Slop over the time drop

Slipping through your hands

Like a sand

Doing nothing but stand The place you will strand Stranded by the time sand

Sneaking into keyholes on your door leaf

Like a thief

Stealing everything you leave The result you will grieve Grief caused by the time thief

Going farther from your present dream

Like a steam

Evaporating with the current of air stream

The lateness you will regret Regret of the time stream

The fairest thing in the world

Everyone own the same quantity Grab it, cherish it, and collect it

Since time waits for no man

“Je m’appelle Louise. Je parle franise et anglais et va vingt-sept ans. ”

“Pardon Louise, could you introduce yourself again in English?” said by my new boss in the conference room in New York. Clearly, I am totally spacing out before my boss interrupts my presentation because I do not know why but I present my marketing report in French! After knowing how embarrassed I am, I immediately switch to English and continue my work. “You are born to do this, aren’t you? I have heard how marvelous you are, but your performance today is even better than what I have expected. It is very great for you to move from Paris to New York to join us." said by the CEO excitedly with a big smile on his face.

That was what happened when I went to work in New York for the first time, and the following days looked pretty much the same.

THIS is my life, the so called "glamorous life." I put on heavy makeup and wear beautiful clothes to look flawless and professional every day. For me, parties are like water to me. I cannot live without them. People who get to know me in the recent years call me a winner at the game of life. However, I do not think of myself as a “winner” in my life. Therefore, now, it is time to unlock the gate and free those sad memories that have been kept deep in my mind for years.

I was a girl born in a middle class family in London, England. I neither had great academic performances nor was I good at anything. The only talent that I felt proud of when I was young was my elegant British accent. Despite the fact that I was an average student, I had a big dream in mind. I always told others that I wanted to become a successful businesswoman in the future. However, people always laughed at me and even looked down on me given my poor performance in school. At that time, I admired those who always scored high grades in exams and even became jealous of them because they were so perfect and beloved by the teachers. I was always the one who was left alone by those teachers because I was an average student.

Not until I took the English literature class in junior high school did I know that I should put more efforts in studying in order to realize my dream. Honestly, I hated that class and teacher at that time, and I still do. If I have to use a noun to describe the teacher in my English literature class, I would say “politician.” He criticized students who performed below average and made fun of them without using any bad words. He sometimes would be so mad that he even punched the table in front of him. Undoubtedly, I was one of the below average students. I remember one day, I did not speak loud enough for answering his question. He, then, started to lecture in a very low volume for one minute, and nobody in the class was able to hear what he said. I was totally humiliated at that time, and I decided to work hard to improve my academic performance and prove that I was not as bad as those teachers thought.

Gradually, I felt that I became one of those “model students” who have good grades. Nevertheless, here comes the new problem.

I did feel happy after proving that I was not an average student and nobody. However, hardworking is just one of the major elements for becoming successful. It is not the matter of how hard you try but how much time you are willing to sacrifice for fulfilling dreams. It is easy to achieve a short term goal, but it is hard to achieve a long term one, isn’t it?

In college, I felt that I was closer to my dream, but my ambition seemed to outrun my ability. I was too eager to get rid of the label of an “ordinary people.” As a result, I have listed many things for me to do during my college years to enhance my communication and language abilities. For example, I knew that I would go to France, which was one of my favorite countries, to study for my master degree, so I planned to spend time on studying French every day. However, a plan was just a plan, after all. It was impossible for me to follow such a tight schedule every day. I could live without any entertainment in life! Therefore, I was overwhelmed by the pressure of pursing my dream and even started to doubt my goal in life.

“Why do you look so blue these days?” one of my friends asked me when we were out for dinner. “I don’t know. Maybe I was just…too tired. You know assignments something like that…” I answered. “Well. You are the Perfect Louise so don’t worry.” said by my friend who tried to comfort me. I answered her with an awkward smile. “I do not even know why I want to be a businesswoman in the future? Have you ever wondered what the purpose for life is? I sometimes doubt whether my dream of becoming a businesswoman is a “goal” for me. I feel like I am pursuing fame and money, after all. My dream seems to be nothing if I am looking for something like money in my life. Can you imagine a person sacrificing her time for having fun in college just to earn more money in the future? What’s the meaning of life then? Money? Life should not be like that! ” I asked my friend few minutes later.

I had to admit that I did feel extremely stressful and lost about the burden of my dream in college. Although I had doubted whether I wanted to be a businesswoman or not, I eventually found my passion for marketing in my junior year. Years later, after working very hard for many months, I successfully got into one of the world- known colleges in France to study further in marketing.

I had dreamed of coming to Paris since I was little. I was totally fascinated by the French culture and their living style. Apart from the culture and style, it made me feel excited to be able to hear people talk in French on the street. How wonderful it was!

Some people said that challenges which one might encounter in the future would only be harder than what he or she had faced. When I arrived at Paris, I felt absolutely insecure. I thought I would never have to experience the feeling of being a nobody again, but I did feel that I was a nobody in Paris. People were talking in French, but I could not understand what they were talking about. It was so noisy that I felt that I was devoured by those French words. However, don’t get me wrong. I would say that my French was very fluent when I was back in London, whereas, in France, I perhaps could only communicate with children. Sometimes, I would accidentally speak English while discussing reports with my classmates, and normally my comments would be ignored by my group mates. Some of them would even say “You know we, French people, do not speak English.” to me with a strong French accent.

Standing on the balcony of my room, I could see the breathtaking Eiffel tower with colorful lights on. I liked the beautiful scenery and the cool breeze of Paris at night, but I did not like the feeling of being a nobody here. While I was enjoying the beautiful view of Paris, few sentences came across my mind “Was it important to be the best one all the time? Isn’t it tiring to be the top one all the time? Being a nobody maybe is not as bad as what I thought. I would have much free time as a nobody. I can go out to see movies sometimes and even take a trip to Cannes. Why I have to push myself so hard to prove that I am not nobody? Nobody can be a businesswoman too!”

After that night, I made up my mind that I wanted to live a happy life in Paris. I did not want to be the student who always ranked at the top of class anymore because I knew that it made no difference for me to be a normal or model student, as long as I was making progress in learning lessons and pursuing my dream. Few months later, I received a letter from an international business company. I was invited to join the marketing department in that company because I was recommended by one of my professors.

I have worked in that company since I graduated. My colleagues and bosses always praise me about my ability in marketing. Some Magazine agencies even call me because they want to publish my life story. Here is an impressive question which I heard on the day of the magazine interview: “How do you become so successful? What is your attitude toward your goal in life?” I answered with a confident smile on my face “It does not matter whether you are a genius or nobody. What matters is how you achieve your goal. Never try to be the greatest in your group all the time because it is meaningless. You do not have to prove to anyone for anything. Follow your passion and keep learning! Nobody says that a nobody cannot become successful one day right?”

Hi, my name is Aniela. I would have turned fifteen this year.

If all these things had not happened.

I was murdered when heading home from my friend’s place. The distance was only two blocks away; however, I never made it.

When I opened my eyes, I was already at a strange place. White fogs surrounding me were as thick as pillow but all I felt was comfort and peace. I decided to call here heaven. In spite of the pain caused by the wounds, I was actually quite calm. In fact, I was really curious about who did the murder. Therefore, I sat around these fogs and pondered who I remembered and all the details happened that day.

“You are always my angel.” my mom always said, “That’s why I named you Aniela, the symbol of angel.” Every time when I closed my eyes, I could clearly remember what she looked like. She used to be the most beautiful woman in the whole neighborhood. Everyone adored her and was even envious of her. My mom had butter like, silky blond hair that she once took pride in. She often combed her hair with a wooden comb inserting with some pieces of jewelry which dad bought for her. Besides good appearance, my mom also had the softest heart for people she cared. When there were baggers on the street, she would stop and talked to them and gave them some money.

However, everything changed when my father passed away. Maybe I would bump into him somewhere here since it was heaven. We could discuss more about mom, me and death. I remembered when we attended dad’s funeral, her swollen eyes were full of tears and grief. Her lips and hands were shaking. After the tragedy, my mom had changed from Ms. Adorable into Ms. Miserable. Alcohol and Nicotine were her best friends. Sorrow and anger took over her life. Instead of beauty and kindness, insanity and sickness became her mark. She was sick, both physical and mental. She became extremely nervous about me because she had already lost my father. “I had lost him forever, I cannot bare to lose you, Aniela.” Tears in eyes, she told me repeatedly. She refused most of my requests going outside for visiting friends and sleeping overnight. If I disobeyed her, she would lock me in my room and ignored all my begging and anger. There were definitely not good experiences. I still felt unpleasant when I recalled those memories. She was also extremely mad when I got attach to my friends and neighbors as if I were one of her property.

Oh! Please don’t get me wrong. I still loved my mother. How could she bare to hear the news when I was dead? How could she not break down and carry on? However, there was a strange feeling in my mind. I am almost released when I recognized I’m totally free. No one can limit me from anything. “Maybe death is not a bad thing.” I murmured.

While I was thinking about mom, the fog had slowly vanished and it seemed like I was at a platform of an old train station. The trail seems to come from nowhere. There was no sign of a train but I could still heard the steam whistle. This was getting weird. I sat on one seat, waiting for the train to arrive as if it really had one and kept thinking about my death, the unknown murderer and people I still remembered. The next person who popped up in my mind is Mr. Goodman.

I was born in a quiet, little town where all the people there are conventional and paid a lot of attention on maintaining the great tradition. After my dad’s death, all neighbors saw us in different ways. I saw the compassion with a little disdain in their eyes when staring at us. Only Mr. Goodman gave us a hand. He paid visits to us every weekend. He would sit with mom for hours listening to her muttering to herself. He told funny stories to cheer her up and encouraged her to be brave. He knew my mom’s attitude about me going out. Sometimes he unlocked the room for me and helped me to sneak out for some fresh air. Just when I thought he was really a good man who really cared about us, the following incident happened between us had kept me avoiding him when he visited us.

It was an afternoon, Mr. Goodman was staying with my mom in the living room while I was in my room. Mom was calm and quiet during the whole day. She didn’t scream or burst into tears. Suddenly, someone knocked on my door. “Aniela, busy doing something?” I looked up, he was standing by my door wearing a nice suit, looking at me in an uncomfortable way. “Yes, I am working on homework.” I tried not to be rude. “Sorry for the bother, are you tired?” He asked. Not knowing what he would do, I nodded. He walked in the room padded me on the shoulder. “Poor girl, you must be tired, Aniela.” He stood behind me and his hands were still on my shoulder and even start to rub my shoulder. It was not hurt nor painful; however, it made me feel extremely unpleasant.

“I’m fine, Mr. Goodman.” I tried to get rid of those hands but I couldn’t.

“Aniela, please don’t be afraid of me.” He said in a disgusting, sweet voice. “I am really sorry for all the things happened to your mom and you. Especially for you. Young, beautiful, smart and sweet girl!” His hands were getting down and about to touch my waist. I stood up immediately and used my biggest strength to fling away his disgusting hands. I rushed out the room before he could catch me and screamed really loud to wake up my mom. Thank god she woke up and stopped this pervert to do something worse but she did not believe a word I said. After this incident, I started to avoid being with him. Thinking about this incident, it still gave me chills and let me wonder if it was a good thing that death came across me. This might sound crazy, in my deepest mind, living in that world seems not a good idea.

The whistle was closer. A red train slowly arrived the platform. The scarlet red reminded me of the third person I knew. Ms. Kinderson, our landlord of the house. Speaking about Ms.Kinderson, she was nothing like her name. She dressed in a red suit with a pair of scarlet high heels. I’ve never seen her smile before, she was so serious that anyone would not mess around with. She came over to our place every month to get rental payment. However, after my father passed away, mom and I had relied on the alms for living because her illness prohibited her from working. Therefore, we were often lack of money to pay the rent. It was really scary for me to hear her walking toward our doorway and the knocking on our door. The clickety-clacking of her high heels sounded like devil’s clamor. When we could not pay, Ms. Kinderson would humiliate us in the cruel way saying that “Dirty family, still living in my house.” Or “I promise if you keep being like this, I will find someone to kill you both.” We never knew her warnings or threats were real or not. Luckily, I would not meet her once and for all. Thank god. It sounded ridiculous but I was glad about all the mess in my life were vanished.

The train had arrived. It stopped right in front of me. Someone wearing a white robe walked down the train, I looked closer and recognized it was my dad!

“Daddy!” I called him joyfully and hugged him.

“Hey, sweetheart.” My dad hugged back.” It must be horrible living down there. ”

“Yes, you can’t even imagine.” I nodded and giggled, “Dad, I am trying to recall the things happened that day. Do you want to hear some?”

“Sure.” He smiled. “We all know that living is an adventure, but somehow death is truly another adventure, too. So, talk to me, my girl. What really happened?”

His tone calmed me down. I was able to think clearly and began my story.

“The day I died …”

That day earlier, I was having an argument with my mom again about my freedom. I was totally mad when she did not allow me to go to my friend’s place.

“I am doing this for your good!” She screamed while trying to lock me in the room again. “Aniela, you must not go anywhere!” She warned me when she left.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. I found a pin in my kneel box and tried to unlock the door. Surprisingly, it worked! I sneaked out the room and went to my friend’s place.

At that time, I didn’t realize it was the last day to see my friend.

It was only ten minutes from home. Suddenly, someone hit my back head so hard that I could not even react to call help. I fell down with strong pain and dizziness which let me fainted. However, I did see something before I fainted.

“It was a pair of red, shiny high heels.” I stopped the story and looked at my dad.

“So, is Ms. Kinderson our killer?” He asked. “She did threaten you about the money, right?”

“Not quite sure” I wondered. “There were more strange things.”

“Then tell me more, my daughter.” My father encouraged me.

I took a deep breath and continued on my story. Strong pain coming from my head woke me up. I tried to open my eyes but there was only black. I realized that my eyes were blindfolded, and my limbs were tied by thick ropes. Moreover, my mouth was taped to prevent me from yelling or screaming. The last sense I got is hearing so I listened carefully and tried to seek clues of who and what this people were doing. The vague heavy engine sound caught my attention. This was indeed the same sound that I heard every weekend. It was Mr. Goodman! After I found out this, strong sense of headache reminded me I was still bleeding. I collapsed into darkness.

“But why?” I paused. “And how about Ms. Kinderson’s shoes? Are they working together as accomplice?”

“Well,” My father smiled mysteriously, “Maybe, but were there any more strange things?”

“You are really a great predictor.” I laughed. “Yes! There were more.”

The last time when I was conscious, I was lying on the ground, I tried to call for help but the tape was still on my mouth. The rope made many bruises on my arms and legs. I heard someone walking softly toward me, whispering and sobbing. As first, I could not hear what the person was saying but something sharp stabbed me I could finally hear it. The voice I would never forget. “You are everything to me, my angel. Why do you keep escaping, Aniela.” She whispered with craziness and sorrow. “You are everything I have now.” The second stab was so hard I could taste the bloody smell. But the familiar voice I heard just make me more frightened than all the pain. “By this way, you are all mine, you are all mine.” That was the last word I could recognize, then I collapsed into the silence.

“That was mom’s voice” At the first time, my words were shaking. “They all planned to kill me?”

“Listen, my daughter, everyone has their desire. They want your body, your heart or even your money.” My dad said it with serious voice, “Sometimes, living in that kind of world might be horrible for you. Sometimes, living people is scarier than death. Sometimes, one’s desire can destroy his or her rationality and done things which were insane.”

I nodded. “Is this a strange feeling if I felt a bit released after I know I’ m dead?”

“Well,” My dad said. “It’s quite weird. However, it also means that you have a better chance to move on.”

The train-Oh I almost forget the train- started to whistle. Dad stood up and invited me to go on the train.

“Where is this train going?” I asked.

“Anywhere!” Dad smiled. “Anywhere but not the place you had been before, coming?”

“Definitely,” I gave him a big smile and stepped on the train.

My life might have ended when I was fourteen, but somehow, my new adventure has also begun.

SHORT STORY

(1) The distance from school to my home to school would only take10 minutes. But on my way home, I always made a detour to anywhere else. I even made troubles intentionally just to let teachers punish me after school. In a word, I was willing to do anything just to postpone. I didn’t want to go home.

There were always arguments in my house.

“ I told you not to lend money to him anymore!”

“ It is not your business.” My father shouted to my mom. He turned over all the plates on the table. I saw dumplings, noodles, fruits shattered on the floor. Plates and bowls were broken immediately.

“ What are you doing? You are such a ……” Mom talked back with more and more dirty words.

This was my daily life. Arguments filled my life.

The situation was getting worse after my father was diagnosed as depression. The reason of his sickness was mainly because the lack of money.

Actually, my father kept lending my grandpa money if he was asked to do so. Since my honest father did not know how to refuse the request, the greedy man became out of control. He even technically lied to my father and made us almost bankrupt. When my father tried to ask the money back, the man started to insult my father in front of relatives. He made up a ridiculously fake story that it was my father too greedy to ask more money from him. Worst of all, all the relatives gradually ignored us. In other words, we were isolated by all the people around us. Having no evidence and no one to turn to, my father became more and more negative towards his life.

From that time on, I walked even slower after school.

(2) “Let’s start to eat.” Aria says to her younger sister and brother. “Good afternoon, Dad and Mom.” Aria says again to her parents’ photo on the table.

It has been ten years since her parents passed away. After her father committed suicide by jumping off the building, her mom was too sorrow to lead her life. Few years after, her mom followed her dad, dying of cancer. And today, it is the anniversary of her father’s death.

“ Aria, we are going to hospital to visit grandpa later, are you….”

“ I’m not going.” Aria interrupted her sister without thinking. She drinks all the orange juice at one time, trying to hide her anger. “ I told you that never mentioned that old and greedy man in front of me. You know what he had done.” She speaks without emotions. How can she forgive him? How can she forgive a person made her life suffered so much?

“But you know…… grandpa have taken care of us since Dad and Mom passed away.” Her sister murmurs in a low voice.

“I’m not going anyway. Let’s end the topic.” Seeing Aria is wearing a long face, she dare not to talk back anymore.

Aria walks into the kitchen, trying to pretend she is busy until she hears her brother and sister going out. Finally, tears fill her eyes. She slides down to the floor, wailing like a little child. How eager is her hope that her parents come to pat on her head, telling her everything will be all right.

(3) When the time Aria’s parents passed away, Aris is just a 12-year-old child, and her brother and sister were five years old and three years old respectively. They had never thought that they would suddenly became orphans overnight. Without any other choices, the poor siblings moved to their grandparents’ house to start their new life. In Aria’s mind, she would rather starve to die than to live with the man who made her life so miserable. However, when considering her sister and brother, she surrendered reluctantly. The most unbearable thing was that the man pretended nothing had happened before. Wearing a hypocritical face, he tried to act a so-called kind grandfather’s character in front of people. No one knew that he was the exactly person who made up lies, making her family lose the harmony it should be. What made her even more disappointed was that her little sister and brother had no idea about what the man had did to them. Even Aria tried hard to let them know the truth, deep in their heart, the man was a warm grandfather who took care of them when they lost their beloved. Consequently, living in this family, Aria always felt alone.

(4) In order not to interact with those relatives and the man in home, Aria would hide herself in her bedroom, wear earphones without music, and try to memorize those happy moments spent with her parents. She gradually found out that as time went by, the precious memory became more and more blurry.

Aris started to hate herself for not seizing the moment when her parents were alive— even the painful memory.

On one occasion, when all the relatives sat around the table, Aria sat in the corner silently, wondering why adults were always acting in front of people. “What is the purpose of exaggerating how good is their life, boosting the performance of their children? ” Feeling bored, Aria walked to her room directly. But she was stopped by the man.

“ Why not join us my dear ?” the man said to Aria in a loud voice. “ Again?” Aria thought. It seemed that he was trying to show his warm concerns to the self-centered, weird granddaughter especially in front of all the relatives.

“ I’m not interested in your stupid family gathering.” She paused for a while. “ I’m not a part of your family by the way.” At that moment, she really hoped that the man would choke with rage and die immediately due to a sudden stroke.

But the next second, the man smiled slightly.

“Poor girl.” he whimpered intentionally. “ I’m so sorry for not giving a warm new home to you” Aria saw him grabbed some tissues to wipe away his tears, but she believed that there was no tears in his eyes. “It must be his acting skill.” Aria thought.

Then, Aria felt that all the relatives looking at her with looks of blaming, even her sister and brother. She heard a lot of whispers like “such an impolite girl.” or “no wonder her parents had passed away so early.” Aria saw the man smiled slightly and looked gently at her again.

Unable to bear so much glances, Aria ran back to her room and fell on her bed, yelling at the top of her voice. “No one…….no one believes me….” She grabbed something randomly on her desk, and threw it to the walls.

The sandglass was smashed into pieces.

(5) Walking into Aria’s room secretly, the man saw the broken pieces of the sandglass on the floor. He bent over and picked them up piece by piece patiently. He knew very well that why his granddaughter had acted like this few days ago.

“It was all my faults.” He whispered.

After knowing that his son-in-law committed suicide, he started to feel a sense of guilt. The feeling that he never had before.

He used to extremely eager to be a successful businessman. In other words, his purpose for living was to earn money as much as possible regardless of any methods. At that time, he was blinded by greed, taking advantage of his son-in-law’s honesty, making up lies technically. It turned out that the greed made a family become unfortune. He also lost his beloved daughter eventually.

When he got the message that he was able to adopt three of his grandchildren, he was delighted, thrilled, and over the moon. He had never thought that being a good father and a good grandfather would be his life goal. Before long, he lived to purse being “successful” businessman. He regarded this as an opportunity to make up his faults. He vowed to himself that he would raise them up attentively, protect them from any harms.

At the first sight of the three children, only Aria did not smile to him.

He noticed that Aria was different from other kids at her age. She was indeed alive, but no one could feel that. There was always a dull, absent look on her face. She never talked in the house. In the evening, she would bring her dinner to her room, isolating herself from others. She rejected any possibility to interact with people.

Knowing that it was himself made the situation, he felt guilty. Therefore, he tried very hard to fix the relationship between him and Aria, to make Aris become a normal child. He asked all the relatives to come to have a dinner in home frequently. His hope was to give her a complete and warm home. That was the only thing he could do for her. But it did not work apparently. Aria never accepted him from the bottom of her heart.

He bought a new sandglass for Aria afterwards. Turning over it again and again, as if time could be reversed.

A week after, he saw the sandglass was in a garbage can. From that time on, he deeply believed that he would bring forever regret until dying.

But eventually I go to the hospital to visit the man five days later after I get a phone call from my uncle. He informs me that the man is “about time.” The two words “about time” keep repeating in my brain. I can undoubtedly say that they are the most pleasant voice I have ever heard since I was born. As if the prisoner just released from jails, I pack up my stuff as soon as possible. The day which I long for finally comes. I always believe that with the end of the man’s life, the tortures in my life will also disappear. After my parents passed away, my purpose of living is to see this this thing happen in person. I want to see the man suffered, being tortured, dying in despair and ask the forgiveness from me.

When I enter the hospice unit, I see the man is surrounded by all the relatives. Everybody is getting a face like a wet weekend except me. My little brother keep annoyingly yelling “ I want grandpa…I want grandpa.” My aunt seems to cry her heart out, trying hard to get the air due to over breathing. “It’s too ridiculous.” I whisper.

Then we hear an irritating sound from the vital signs monitor.

Beep--- beep¬---

The doctor walks in, “ We lost him.” he paused a little bit, “ Death time ,4:13 A.M.”

Everyone in the room bursts out crying, screaming and yelling. Their beloved grandfather and father, has gone.

To my surprise, at that moment I am not ecstatic at all. Conversely, I feel a sense of loss. I even recall some moments when I get along with him.

Actually, I could feel that he was extremely regretful for what he had done to my family. To mend his faults, he indeed took good care of me and my brother and sister. Without him, we would be sent to orphanage, waiting for someone to adopt us. Our life would be very tough..

Sometimes I even doubted myself, whether he was really that greedy man. He was so warm and attentive to us although I did not want to admit that.

But when I looked at my parents’ picture, I deeply knew that they had already gone. The fact made me to live in endless hatred. I could not get rid of the eager to hate him. Expecting someone’s death is never an easy thing, I know I should keep reminding me to hate, so that I can round up liability to myself. Nevertheless, the process has made me exhausted probably.

It was like a revenge, and hate the man made me feel better. But probably, the process made me even more miserable. I had lost the last opportunity to have a warm family.

After saying goodbye to those relatives, I walk home along. On the way home, I keep wondering whether I really hate my grandpa. This time, I also walk very slowly.

I feel like it is the longest walk in my life.

Karma

陳奐羽 CHLOE CHEN

I was not one of them.

I mean, with all the possibilities on earth. How can it be me?

Few years ago, my best friend Sara and I went on a trip to Bali Island. We immersed ourselves in the antique flavor of temples, the slow-paced lifestyle, the unique Hindu culture the Balinese had preserved, or at least it was what we had believed in. On the last day of the trip, we were somehow fed up with the traditional cultural products and decided we’d try something contemporary. The local guide advised us to visit the Monkey Zoo, a newly developed tourist attraction. The Monkey Zoo was a ten-minute ride from the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel we stayed in. As the tour guide started showing us around, I spotted some young men sitting on the floor not far from us. They all looked alike; clothes ragged, face sagged, and nose drooped. They looked suspicious, perhaps gangsters; I stared at them for some while trying to figure out what they were up to.

All of a sudden, I felt my hat fly off my head. I turned around straightway and saw this mischievous, little monkey grabbed my hat running towards the steep cliff. One of the men abruptly stood up, looked at me as if asking for a permission and was prepared to run for the monkey. I didn’t give a second thought at that moment, all I wanted was that up-to-date hat I’d just bought back to me as soon as possible. I watched him slide along the cliff and giggled with my friends on how vigorous his body was. He took no effort to climb back from the cliff and handed me back the hat. I smiled at him as a sign of thank you. However, he remained at the position and continued staring at me. I didn’t know what it was and simply shook my hand to signal him to step aside. A realization slammed him back onto the floor and his expression was miserable. The truth had at last been revealed. The young men weren’t gangsters at all. They were beggars trying to earn money from chasing back the stolen properties of tourists. The man then closed his eyes and reopened as he studied my face. The unpleasant way he curled his lips made me feel uneasy. I watched as every emotion I feared most competes on the man’s face: Grief, disgust, hatred, and for the largest case of all, despair.

Now as I looked closely to the surrounding, despite the fancy construction of the area, it was a huge spot for local beggars as the tourist flock to the place every day. In the front of each man sat a tin bowl, with a few pennies inside accompanied their loneliness. It was not that there wasn’t any pity in me, however, I had not planned to pay for this. I mean, he did it voluntarily, right. I didn’t make him. Anyhow, I thought he was just being kind. A teeny sense of guilt aroused within a second, but it was soon wreathed over by the novelty and excitement of the monkey feeding show as we moved on. The joyful trip had come to an end, and we rushed back to the airport at the last minute. As the plane took off, there was a strange feeling and the face of the monkey man popped up inside my head, but I couldn’t care less. After all, it was a world beyond my imagination, and I’d decided to leave it all behind.

A year after, I graduated from college, got my finance degree as a straight A student. With such handsome resume, I started looking for jobs at local business companies with much confidence. There were a few turn-downs in the beginning, but I didn’t mind at all. I was not to be defeated by this minor setback. However, things continued to worsen and the money I had saved over the years were running out. After three months of applying, there were still more rejections waiting for me each morning as I opened my eyes. As everything seemed to fail to the ground, a beam of light penetrated from the darkness. Sara posted on Facebook looking for someone to help her on the annual financial analysis of her own company. I was thrilled and surprised that such a job offer actually came out of the blue. I contacted her and got all the information and files I needed. It was a piece of cake for a straight A student like me. I worked all night, scanned through all the documents and made a perfect spreadsheet with my statistical ability. The next morning, I sent the final document to Sara and meanwhile asked her about the basis of payment. She sounded stunned on the other side of the phone.

“Payment? Huh? I never said I was paying you.”

“Ha-ha, very funny, Sara. You can’t rip me off like this. I can give you a discount as a friend though, but a deal is a deal.”

“Whoa—It wasn’t a deal, Liz. I thought you were just being kind. Is there some misunderstanding here?” Well, I guess Sara would eventually meet with her karma too! Who are we to take something like this for granted? I thought you were just being kind. The words were like poison. I laid down the phone motionlessly. A vivid impression haunted me. I huddled against the wall, trying to confine myself from the world. It was of no use. The face of the monkey man popped up again. This time, his facial features were not squeezed together. Instead, it was relaxed and unstrained. At first, his mouth twitched, sneered at me; and then laughed at the top of his voice.

I am one of them.

Men’sTalk

薛筱蓉 SHARON HSEUH

Characters:

Charlie:Ahandsome and kind man. His wife and his mother have some problems.

Edward:Ahandsome and energetic man. His wife is angry with his messy habits.

Phillip:Ahandsome and disciplined man. He has a clumsy wife who always messes up everything.

Eugene:Ahandsome and sensitive man. He doubts his wife has an affair with others.

(Curtain

up)

Charlie, Edward, and Eugene are in a noisy bar. The three men occupies one side of the table, and one side is left empty. Over their heads is a dim light which presents a warm yellow. On the table are a bottle of whisky and four glasses.

Edward (coughing) Ok, now, let me announce, from now on the 4th “Men’s talk” has officially begun!

Eugene Ah…Yes, the 4th year we go to hell…(moaning)

Charlie Hey, it is not really that terrible, right? You know, I mean… (Interrupted by Eugene)

Eugene Do you really think so? NO! It can’t be worse anymore! (Take a sip)

Edward (surprised) What’s going on, bro? Is your wife…? (Interrupted)

Phillip goes on the stage. He looks in a hurry and on the phone.

Phillip Listen, honey, I will go home soon…yes, yes, probably 23:00…just wait for me at home and don’t touchANYTHING, ok? Love you, bye. (Kissing sound) (Hang up the phone)

Phillip Hello guys, I’m sorry for being late…(breathe heavily)

Charlie Never mind. But what’s going on? You aren’t the kind of person who will be late.

Phillip (Sit down) Well, you know, it’sAurora again. She tried to cook the dinner for me before I go out, but she messed up EVERYTHING.

Edward So you help her to clean up the kitchen?

Phillip Yes.As usual. (Sigh)

Eugene (take a sip) Well, I’m not surprised she is so clumsy.After all, she had slept for such a long time. No wonder she could not get used to all the thing around her nowadays.

Phillip Yes, I can understand…but recently what she did is too much. It makes me feel that she intends to be so clumsy because of catching my attention. She must have learned something instead of making troubles everywhere!

Charlie Seriously? I don’t thinkAurora is that kind of person. You think too much. (Tap Phillip’s shoulder)

Phillip I hope so. (Sigh)

Eugene pour some whiskey into one of glasses and give this to Phillip.

Eugene Your situation is not so terrible, bro. Recently, I doubt my wife might be having a fair with somebody! (Take a sip, and put the glass down heavily)

Edward Really? How do you know?

Eugene You know, she always likes to make friends with others, but sometimes she lacks awareness and cannot tell whether someone approaching her has some special intention! For example, last night when she was taking a bath, her cellphone rang. I answered the phone, but didn’t expect that it was a man! The man invited her out the next morning!

Phillip Oh my god! So did they really go out together?

Eugene Of course! Do you know how I found out about it? I followed her this morning, and I saw she and that jerk go shopping together. What’s more, that jerk’s dirty hand was grabbing her arm! (Grab Charlie’s arm to demonstrate) Can you imagine that? How dare the jerk!

Charlie Is she really in love with that guy?

Eugene (Take a sip and sigh) When she came home, I asked her how she could betray me like that .And guess what? She answered that they’re just good friends. The jerk told her that he was nervous when walking on the street, so he needed to grab something. You knowAurora…she really believe the stupid excuse.

Phillip Ah…It reminds me of something.

Edward (start laughing)Yes! I still remember clearly when Eugene pursued his wife, he did the same kind of trick, didn’t him? “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, put down your hair, I’m your witch mother!” “Oh, forgive me, darling. Can I kiss you because I want to know how your sweet mouth can sing such beautiful songs?”

Eugene (embarrassed) Hey! I didn’t… (Interrupted by Charlie)

Charlie (laughing) Exactly! What did he tell us at that time? “Oh, my Rapunzel is so naïve. Whatever I told her, she would believe me with all her heart. How lovely she is!”

Eugene Come on, don’t tease me please. Now the problem is that she has already become my wife! She shouldn’t be so negligent and easy to believe others. I really don’t want to be a cuckold one day.

Edward (stop laughing and become depressed) I guess even though I don’t cheat on my wife or she doesn’t cheat on me, we will still spilt in the future.

Charlie pour some whiskey into his and Edward’s glasses.

Charlie (compassionate) Is something wrong between you and Cinderella?

Edward It’s a long story. (Sigh and Take a sip) We had a fight again last night. Phillip For your untidy stuff again?

Edward You got it. You guys know how capable my wife is to clean up everything. I really don’t understand why she can’t stop whining but to clean up for me! It’s not difficult for her to do so, isn’t it?

Eugene Err…let me remind you that on the list of “Who Is the Most Messy Prince?”, you are the No. 1. (The other three chuckle)

Edward Oh, come on, let me also remind you that you are the No.3. (Roll his eyes) The point is that now Cinderella is spying on me all day. 24 HOURS!As long as I put something untidily by accident, the alarm would sound immediately. Cinderella would scold me and give me a fine from my allowance! (The other three gasp)

Phillip It’s too terrible…

Charlie I cannot endure such a life if I were you, Edward…

Edward pour some whiskey for himself and Charlie.

Edward Then, how about you, Charlie? Are you and Snow White OK?

Charlie (know back the wine) It’s the same as usual. She doesn’t get along with my mom.

Phillip (sigh) I still remember last time you told me that she weren’t not willing to eat the food you mom cooked and you mom got mad. It’s really terrible.

Eugene But it makes sense.Anyone who had almost been killed by her mom would like Snow White.

Charlie I know…if she had not tried to attack my mom last week. (Moaning)

Phillip (gasp) What? God, did she get hurt? I mean both your mom and wife.

Charlie For God’s sake, they were alright. (Sigh deeply) Snow White insists it was just an accident, but my mom demands strongly that we get a divorce right away. She tells this to me every day. Snow White cries all day. I’m going crazy! (Knock his head on the table)

Edward Poor Charlie. (Tap Charlie’s shoulder)

They are silent for a while as if mourning for something. Then they cheer up.

Eugene You know, when I was a little boy, I believed that I would defeat a dragon and save my princess, and we would have a happy ending.

Edward However, after the happy ending, there is the reality.

Charlie The cruel reality like the Hell.

Phillip I agree with you wholeheartedly… (his phone rings) Sorry, it’s Aurora. (Leave the seat and answer the phone) Hey, honey, it’s me…Oh, calm down please. What’s going on? I cannot hear you…What? Are you sure? Two lines?...(Suddenly shout out loudly) God! I’m going to be a FATHER! (Excited extremely)

Edward Phillip! Congratulation! (Stand up and hug Phillip)

Eugene However, when you have a baby, it means that both of you and your wife will enter another kind of Hell…

Charlie Agree.

Eugene and Charlie exchange a glance. And the two worried man cheer up again. (Blackout)