My Top Ten Sci-Fi, Fantasy and all around favorite stories!
1) Doctor Who
Because it's a classic and like wine has only gotten better with age. Each story is so original and full of social commentary that it stays with you long after the episodes are over. And I love eccentric characters, it's my weakness.
2) Star Trek: The Original Series
This show may seem a bit campy to some modern viewers but the characters were interesting and the stories were thought provoking and well written. (most of them, 'Spock's Brain' was pretty bad) And I love cowboys in space!
3) Harry Potter- Books and Movies
I started reading this series long after everyone else had and I fell in love with them. The secondary characters made these books for me more than Harry. Remus, Serius, Bellatrix, Ron, Hermione and many others!
4) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
This was a great series with a great cast, and the stories were original and kept you guessing. I love smart people in space, can you tell?
5) Frank Hebert's Dune- The books
This book intertwines religion and technology in an interesting tale of politics and society. I love how dark it is and yet hopeful.
6) Star Trek: The Next Generation
Again, smart people in space.
7) Babylon Five
The stories and characters were very realistic. The writing made them all flawed and human and it made me care about them more.
8) Sherlock Holmes- Books and then new BBC 'Sherlock'
I love eccentric characters like I said, and Sherlock was one of the first! His personality was so distinctive that I couldn't help but fall in love with him on the page and on the screen.
9) Stargate: SG1
I love archeology and blending it with Sci-Fi was fantastic! Also, love the characters, very human and believable.
10) Stargate: Atlantis
Smart people in space again, and the stories were very original setting it apart from SG1.
These are some of my favorites and I would love to hear about some of yours! So please let me know if you agree or disagree with these and share some that you think I missed!
This blog is about my writing exploits and adventures. I hope you come along for what to surly going to be a fun adventure.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
My next story may take place in a creepy theatre. I love theatre characters, they will do anything. So look out theatre world Mary's magic realism style may be invading for awhile! Once I have more inspiration I will add more about this as I research, but I am looking forward to working on this story and sharing it here!
Monday, February 27, 2012
This is my finished story, the writing process on this was pretty quick since I had the idea in my head for awhile. I hope you all enjoy this story and I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions!
Medical
Translations
By
Mary
O'Donnell
Vincent had
been a Doctor for a solid five years. Enough time to get experience
in dealing with the pit falls of the job. He had told more than his
fair share of family members that their loved ones were beyond
saving, and that he had failed. But Vincent had never truly
understood how devastating the words 'I'm sorry, we've done
everything we can,' could be. Not until the specialist in charge of
Alex's case put his hand on Vincent's shoulder, and spoke in that low
sorrowful tone that made the world turn into shadows and dreams of a
desperate man. At the age of six how could his son be so sick? How
could cancer be eating away at his little boy's body who had his
mother's soft trusting brown eyes?
“We can make
him comfortable, it's all about pain management at this point.”
Jerry said, his gray eyes looked down in sadness and shame.
“We're Doctors!
It's our job to do something! Don't tell me there's nothing you can
do!” Vincent said as tears filled his dark eyes and his thin hands
pushed Jerry, an older shorter man with graying hair, out of his way.
As he walked away he couldn't think as the shadow filled his mind. It
had to be a mistake, this couldn't be happening in his reality.
“Vincent...I'm
sorry! I really am!” Jerry called after him but Vincent was already
heading out of the hospital doors. Vincent walked out of the building
and then leaned against the side of the outside far wall; it was cold
and the red brick bit in to his slender back. He could feel that he
was breathing too quickly but he couldn't bring himself to care
enough to stop. How was he supposed to tell his wife that their son
was going to die and there was not a damned thing he could do to stop
it? He couldn't accept that!
Vincent got up
off the wall and went back inside with a quick gate. He walked the
long hallways and then traveled the steps to level three where the
lab he was looking for was located. He put a hand on the cold door
and pushed it open. Vincent entered the large dark room and closed
the door behind him.
“Nik I know
you're here, I have to talk to you!”Vincent said with confidence,
the lab smelled sterile but not even the alcohol could hide the hint
of rotting. There was a large metal table in the middle of the room
where Nik played with his dead friends.
“I thought you
didn't want to talk to the nutter?”Nik answered with a thick London
accent and a deep tone that resonated from the shadowed area of the
lab. He slowly pulled off blood soaked gloves as he came further into
the light. Nik was an older man, tall and looked as if at one time he
had been a powerful physical force. But now his hair was silver and
his back was hunched making him look shorter than he really was.
“Look don't
pretend you don't know why I'm here. You always know.” Vincent said
his tone impatient and direct. Nik smiled as he turned to face
Vincent; his apron bloody as well but he made no attempt to remove
it.
“Your son. Well
I don't have the 'abilities' I used to. I can't help you.” Nik said
and then turned away with an unreadable look on his wrinkled face.
“My son is
going to die and you are going to help me stop it from happening! You
owe me!” Vincent sad his voice raising in fear of losing his last
hope. Nik stopped and then chuckled softly. Vincent's eyes narrowed
and was just about to lunge at the other man no matter his age.
However, Nik turned around and began to speak.
“Yes, I guess
I do owe you for still being allowed to work in the dismal place. I
was telling the truth. I can't save your boy, but I can give you the
chance to try.” Nik said with a skeptical look on his face, Vincent
knew he hated this man for a reason. But what choice did he have?
“There's a
small storage area in the basement. Look around and try your luck.”
Nik said and then walked away without another word. Vincent wasn't
sure what the hell kind of help he was just given but he was too
desperate to ignore it. Vincent knew that it was too late to go
digging around there right now, and he needed to go and spend time
with his son.
As Vincent
walked back to the pediatric center he thought about Alex. Elizabeth
was right, he hadn't spent enough time with his son. But the time he
did spend with him was fresh in his mind. Vincent remembered the week
long vacation that they took to Disney world and the beach in
Florida. It was supposed to help save his marriage but it hadn't
helped much. However it had taken away Vincent's excuses to not spend
time with Alex. They had spent all day at the resort and were now
just hanging out at the hotel watching television. Alex looked tired
but he was sitting there playing with a Peter Pan puzzle that they
had bought him.
“We're going
to go down the spa. Tara will stay with you okay?” Vincent said as
they worked on the puzzle. The puzzle was nearly completed, there
were only a few left.
“Okay, I'll
wait for you Daddy.” Alex said Vincent smiled as he hugged and gave
his son another kiss. In the present, as Vincent could see his son's
hospital room number he wished they had stayed and finished that
puzzle.
Alex was
laying in his bed and he looked so pale, but as Vincent walked over
to the bedside he smiled. Vincent petted the boy's soft brown hair
that was thinning from the treatments; and even though it was hard he
smiled back.
“Hey buddy,
how are you feeling?” Vincent asked as he sat down on the hospital
bed that seemed to swallow his little boy up into it.
“I'm tired, and
the T.V. hurts my eyes.” Alex said in a small fragile voice that
breaks Vincent's heart. He wished he could take the pain and weakness
from Alex so that he could be a healthy little boy playing with his
friends and not wanting to do his homework.
“How about I
read to you for a little while? Would you like that?” Vincent asked
and Alex nodded his head, not having the energy to speak. Vincent out
the book they had been reading together chapter by chapter and opened
it to the book marked page. Time seemed to slow down when he read to
Alex. A moment set aside and stretched just for them. Alex was asleep
before the chapter was finished but it had been a long day of
treatments for him and the doctor said rest was best. Vincent looked
over and saw Elizabeth standing in the door way, watching him. Her
deep blue eyes sad but a soft smile on her face.
Vincent slowly
got up trying to be careful to not wake his sleeping son He walked
to the door way, his hands in his pockets. Elizabeth didn't quite
look at her husband, but at the wall behind him.
“That was
sweet. It's a shame that you never did that before he got sick.”
Elizabeth said in a hushed tone that wasn't accusing. She actually
looked as if she really was sorry about that fact. Vincent looked at
her with hard guilt stricken eyes.
“I'm a doctor.
I had to work and you know how the hours are.” Vincent defended
himself; it was an old argument. An argument that had them separated
for nearly a year. It was Elizabeth's idea; it wasn't what Vincent
wanted. Elizabeth insisted she needed a break to put things into
perspective but then Alex had fallen ill. Now, Vincent wasn't sure
where he stood with her these days, and lacked the energy to find
out.
“Yes, I do
know, I'm a doctor too remember? I'm just saying that it's a shame to
have missed out on all that time with him. I feel sorry for you.”
Elizabeth said and then sighed as she crossed her arms and looked at
Vincent again. Vincent's face grew red with anger. He hadn't come
here to argue with his wife again. But he couldn't stand how she
judged him all the time without ever looking at his side of the
story. What right to did she have to call him a bad father when she
wasn't exactly mother of the year. Elizabeth had spent many nights
writing her novel while letting the babysitter tuck Alex into bed all
because of a deadline. He was about to tell her as much when she
spoke up first.
“Look let's
not have this conversation again; not now. You said over the phone
you had something to tell me?” Elizabeth said as she went back to
not looking at him but at the wall. Vincent wished she would just
look at him these days. Maybe then he would feel like he wasn't alone
in wanting things to go back to to the way they were.
“I went to Nik
earlier today. He told me something down in the basement would help
Alex.” Vincent told her as hope began to burn in his ice blue eyes.
Elizabeth took a step back from Vincent, her eyes bright and enlarged
with fear.
“That man
isn't right in the head. You know what they've said about him. What
possessed you to go to him about Alex?”
“Because
despite the rumors he had saved a lot of lives and I was desperate.
Will you help me look?” Vincent asked and immediately Elizabeth
shook her head.
“No, I don't
want anything to do with Nik or his crazy ideas.” Elizabeth
answered seriously with a tremble of fear in her voice.
“Not even if
it could help save Alex?” Vincent pleaded as he moved towards his
wife and placed one hand on her shoulder. Elizabeth didn't speak but
only shook her head and walked away. Vincent watched her leave with
hurt and disappointment. She would see how wrong she had been when he
found something that would save Alex. Elizabeth would regret not
trusting him. He would go to the basement tomorrow early in the
morning alone then. Vincent would search until he found whatever it
was that Nik had hinted would save their son.
In
the dark basement of Shands Hospital, the light flickered as the
small creaky door opened. Dust flew everywhere as if the room had
been vacant for a long time. Vincent walked in, his thin hand moving
the heavy door forward so he could fit his body through. Vincent
slipped through the cracked opening of the door and brushed the dust
off his black suit jacket. He wondered why it looked as if no one
came down here? Granted this was not the only room in the basement
but Vincent thought that it was strange to have a room so unused and
dirty in a hospital. A damp moldy smell hit his small sharp nose as
he moved forward getting out a flashlight.
'It
has to be here! Nik said it was here. This our last chance!' Vincent
thought panicked slightly by the vastness of junk that was kept in
the room. Searching this place could could take days, maybe even
weeks to sort through it all and find what he had come here for. Nik
hadn't said that it would be easy to find. Nik wasn't exactly
helpful as far as telling Vincent where to look either. His thin wiry
frame moved easily between the crowd of cardboard and wooden boxes,
and dust covering his pants enough to make them look as colored. His
auburn hair laid about his shoulders annoyed him since the doctor was
used to having it tied back, but he had been in too much of a hurry
to bother with that day. With so much on his mind his hair was the
last thing he was thinking about. Vincent was now getting desperate
and flung boxes around manically muttering curses under his breath.
Whatever Nik wanted him to find had to be around here somewhere, he
had to find it!
There
was a noise like a box shifting and then sliding on the floor.
Startled, Vincent turned and pointed is flashlight in the direction
of the noise. On the floor in a now open and disheveled box on the
ground was a book bound in brown leather. There were no markings on
the cover since whoever wrote this didn't want their name attached to
it. At least that what Vincent could guess as he went over and picked
up the now dust covered ancient looking book. A small smile crept on
to his thin face and he tucked the book under his arm as he walked
out of the small basement room.
Now
that he was back out into the light Vincent pulled out his cell phone
and pressed the button for speed dial. Once Elizabeth answered he
didn't let her speak at all.
“Elizabeth,
I found it! But you're going to have to help me, You're better at
reading Latin than I am.” Vincent said and then hung up the phone
without letting his wife respond in any way. Just one spell and
everything would be better. He would be able to save his son from the
cancer that was eating his body and make his wife happy again!
Elizabeth
had spent days translating the pages of the book. Vincent appreciated
it even if he didn't understand why she agreed to do it. Maybe it was
so that he would see that it was useless and then stop wasting her
time talking about it. Perhaps it was pity since she would see the
desperation in his eyes. Whatever made her help he wasn't about to
question it. Vincent sat at their large oak table and looked over her
notes. Just as he suspected; the book held an ancient healing ritual.
The same ritual that Nik must have used to save all those people and
made his reputation what it was.
“This
is it, we can save him.” Vincent said as his eyes glistened with
moisture under the harsh lighting from the lamps.
“It's
archaic and barbaric, you don't really think this is the answer?”
Elizabeth said, always the more logical one. Always the one that had
to play by the rules. Vincent wasn't playing by any ones rules
anymore. Not even God's.
“I'm
going to try. What do we have to lose?” Vincent said and then left
with the book and Elizabeth's notes. He was sure that Elizabeth
wouldn't help him. At least she had translated the ritual for him;
that was all the help he really needed. Now it was his turn to prove
himself as a man, and a father.
A
few hours later Vincent walked into his son's room. He pulled down
the blinds even though it was dark outside now. The rain clouds made
the evening somber and gray as the water passed over the window like
a blind of all its own. Nature was a funny thing to Vincent and he
had the strange thought that perhaps the rain was trying to help. It
would also be hinder-some to have people looking in and getting the
wrong idea. Once the ritual was started it had to be completed or
dire things could happen. At least according the translation.
Out
of the plastic bag that Vincent carried with him he took out a
dagger, some clear chunks of crystal and fresh herbs. He set the
crystals at the four corners of Alex's bed quietly, the boy was
asleep as he usually was these days. It was a blessing really, at
least while he slept he seemed at peace. The herbs went into a bowl
and he crushed them into a paste. The smell was sweet and
overpowering. Vincent muffled a pained moan as he used the dagger to
make a long and deep incision on his left hand. He let the blood
slide into the bowl with the herbs, completing the concoction. It was
nearly time, the ritual had to be done right at dusk or this wouldn't
work. With shaking hands Vincent spread the bloody paste on to Alex's
mouth and forehead. He chanted the Latin words which in English
translated as, 'I take his burdens and I take his pain'. The crystals
started to hum a light high sound and created a light around the bed.
Alex's body glowed as well and Vincent didn't know how he knew, but
his son was being healed.
Who
is to take his place? Make your choice the sun is nearly gone.
Vincent
was startled to hear the light and airy voice resonate from the
crystals. But he knew the answer as long as it meant he accomplished
what he had set out to do.
“I
will.”
No,
there is no sacrifice in that. Someone else.
Horror
filled him as Vincent realized what he had done. The sacrifice had to
be someone he didn't want to lose either. Elizabeth, he knew she
would give her life so their son would live but how could he make
that choice? He still loved her despite the problems in their
marriage.
Your
heart is weak.
“Wait!”
But it was too late, the crystals stopped singing and all was quiet
again in the room. The sun had already set and the ritual had failed.
Vincent had failed and now his son was going to die.
Later
than night Elizabeth found Vincent sobbing by their son's bed. The
crystals and the blood still where he had left them. She looked a
little repulsed, but she walked inside anyway. Elizabeth walked over
and brought her strong arms around him and pulled him close. He could
see the sadness in her eyes for their failure. But Vincent felt that
it was worse for him who had actually truly believed that he had
found a way to save their son.
“We
have to keep looking; it can't be the only ritual in the book.”
Vincent said between sobs and Elizabeth nodded if only to help calm
the man. Elizabeth helped Vincent get up off the floor, and placed
him on the cot that was provided for them by the hospital. She
wrapped his hand with the large gash. She was relieved that it wasn't
bleeding any more and hope that it wouldn't get infected. Elizabeth
then covered her husband with a blanket and then cleaned up the mess
left from the ritual. She spent the rest of the sleepless hours
sitting there petting his long hair.
Weeks
passed and they both poured over the book, but no other ritual
appeared. No matter how they begged and searched with bleeding and
open hearts.
“You
should have told them my name, do the ritual again.” Elizabeth
pleaded after Vincent had told her exactly why it had failed.
“I
can't do that! There has to be another way!” Vincent said as he
threw the book across the room and let it hit the floor. Elizabeth
looked angry and stood up and grabbed the book. Vincent stood up in
shock. He had only been trying to protect her!
“This
ends now. I have the book and unless you want to do the ritual again,
and have them take my life for Alex's we're done here.” She told
him in tears opening the door and gesturing for Vincent to leave.
Alex was so weak that the doctor's only gave him days to live and she
was throwing him out?
“You
don't understand, I can't take this anymore. I'll meet you at the
hospital.” Elizabeth said with her arms crossed and not looking at
Vincent once again. Vincent grabbed his black coat and stormed out
without a word. Anything he had to say right now would only make
things worse. He would go to the hospital alright but there was
someone else he had to see first. He would get some answers from Nik!
The
drive to the hospital was almost automatic now, and Vincent drove the
route through the city without thought. When he walked through the
heavy doors again the path became less clear. Vincent had to think
about which hallway he had to take to get to the right lab. When he
finally walked back into Nik's sterile lab he wasn't sure if there
was anyone there or not. It was always way too quiet.
“Nik
are you here? I have to talk to you about the book!” Vincent said
without shame or caring; not when his son's life hung in the balance.
“What
Nik are you talking about? The only Nik that worked in here been gone
for fifty years. He died right here of heart attack. Some say it was
the stress of being on review for malpractice that done him in.”
Said old Max coming out of the back room with a box in his hands.
“That's
impossible! I've spoken with him! I even helped him be able to stay
on here by signing a document that said I would take responsibility
for him!” Vincent said and old max just shook his head and walked
away muttering something about crazies working there these days.
Vincent left feeling more confused than ever and mad. Now who was he
going to turn to for help?
Alex's
condition deteriorated rapidly over the next few days. Vincent's
didn't have any answers and he refused to do what Elizabeth wanted
and sacrifice her. He sat by Alex's bedside he looked over the book
one last time and hoping for a miracle. But Alex slipped into a coma
that night and died before morning. Vincent didn't remember the days
that followed and barely the funeral. Elizabeth didn't say much to
him other than what was necessary. Both in too much pain he guess to
be able to really comfort the other. Vincent didn't bother to ask for
the book back he didn't need it anymore.
A
year passed slowly and yet it seemed to suddenly be over. Vincent was
dressed in his best suit and tie as he looked at his even thinner
features. He looked like hell. His hollow eyes gave him a look of a
starving man. Today for the first time in months he had a purpose.
Vincent had to talk to Elizabeth and get his book back. She had
agreed over the phone to meet him in the basement where they could
talk in private. Vincent was nervous as he drove to the hospital. He
hadn't been there in a year and it held so many good and bad
memories. The thought of the mystery of Nik also gave Vincent the
shivers since he never saw or heard from the man again. When he
pulled up into the parking garage he had to give himself a moment to
take a deep breath before getting out. The walk to the main doors
helped since he could get some fresh air. The hospital hadn't changed
much since he left he realized as he walked in. Vincent wasn't sure
why he had expected it to as he made his way down to the basement.
Vincent
walked down the stairs and opened the small metal door that led to
the basement of the Hospital. He didn't work here anymore but he knew
the way so well that he might as well have found his way blind
folded. The smell would be a help too, Vincent figured, it was still
as musty and smelled of mold as the last time he came down here.
Vincent's sharp dark eyes adjusted to the dim light and he could see
a bit ahead in the distance now. Elizabeth was standing there in the
same place he had a year ago. The scene was so familiar that Vincent
felt like laughing at how everything had come full circle.
“I
had that dream again.” Vincent said as he walked up, not wanting to
startle his ex-wife down here in the dark.
“Remember what happened the last time? Let's not even talk about
this now okay?” Elizabeth said as her short red hair rested against
her shoulders and dust covered her new looking dark blue skirt suit.
“Come
on, what good is it keeping everything inside all the time?”
Vincent asked as he stood by the old metal shelves and by Elizabeth's
side. It had been months since they had been this close together, or
even seen each other for that matter. He pulled on his long thick
auburn braid of hair. A nervous habit that had gotten him teased as a
sissy in school when he was a child. His mother never let him cut his
hair ,and said he should flaunt what others didn't have and be proud.
“There are some things we just weren't meant to have power over.
Let it go.” Elizabeth replied with a little bite in her tone.
Vincent wasn't sure why she was angry with him. He wasn't asking her
for much; not when they knew what they could gain in return!
“One
mistake and now you don't trust my word?” Vincent asked, his voice
hard in only a way a hurt man could manage. Elizabeth turned and
looked at him, and then sighed; something loosening in her as she
looked at his hurt expression.
“I
know you believe that you're doing the right thing.” Elizabeth said
and Vincent swallowed and looked away. He knew there was a chance
that she was right. And the pity in Elizabeth's deep brown eyes was
too much to bear.
“I'm
going to do what I came here to do a year ago.” Vincent answered
and then walked forward but Elizabeth quickly blocked his way with
her athletically built body.
“Do
you even know what that is anymore? For Christ's sakes; think about
others instead of yourself for once.” Elizabeth snapped, her lips
curled at him. Vincent knew that when she got that look that she
thought he was being arrogant and childish. They had that argument
many times over the years and Vincent wasn't going to let that stop
him.
“You
mean think of you.” Vincent retorted with a self -satisfied smirk
for being able to call her out on what Elizabeth was really trying to
say.
“Maybe,
I don't know what I mean.” Elizabeth fumbled and lost her footing
on the argument once Vincent had spoken. He could see it in her eyes
that she knew he was right.
“Yes
you do, you're just not listening.” Vincent said and now he sighed
and rubbed his forehead with his long slender fingers. His stomach
hurt from stress and hunger. Now that he thought about it, Vincent
couldn't remember when the last time he ate a decent meal. His work
had taken over everything and he just sort of stopped noticing things
like hunger.
“What am I supposed to be listening for? A great revelation or some
life altering idea? We had a shot but that was a long time ago.”
Elizabeth replied in a tried tone now turning back away from her
ex-husband to look at nothing in particular.
“Not
that long ago, you can't tell me that you haven't thought about it?”
Vincent asked in a pleading tone, he just wanted her on his side, to
be his partner again.
“
No, what for? It was all just bull shit anyway.” Elizabeth said as
she moved farther away and pretended to be investigating a nearby
box. Vincent tried not to let the sting of her words show. Hadn't he
always tried? How had Elizabeth's opinion of him stooped so low?
“Now
you're lying to me as well as yourself. Talented.” He said in a
harsh tone and regretted it as soon as the words left his lips.
Elizabeth wasn't going to be won over by those hurtful kind of
outbursts.
“Shut up and leave me alone. I've moved on and you'll just have to
live with that.” Elizabeth said returning the harsh tone and now
staring at Vincent with anger in her eyes. Vincent took a breath and
forced his temper under control. Elizabeth always had a way of
getting under his skin. It was one of the reasons he married her.
“Why
do you still have it then?” Vincent asked and walked close to
Elizabeth, his expression set with determination.
“I
don't have to explain anything to you, you think you're better than
me for being stuck in the past well let me tell you the truth,you're
just pathetic.” Elizabeth spat back as she tired to back away and
nearly fell over a box, but Vincent caught her hand before she could
tumble to the floor.
“I'd
rather be pathetic than a coward! You still have it which means you
have to hold on the idea of me using it again.” Vincent said in
anger as Elizabeth pulled her hand back from Vincent's.
“I
just-” Elizabeth stammered again, Vincent thought she looked pale
and drained from all the emotional trauma of the past few months. He
hadn't meant to hurt Elizabeth more than she already had been.
“You just what?” Vincent asked, his tone softer as Elizabeth's
tough demeanor whittled away.
“Never mind you wouldn't understand.” Elizabeth whispered and
wrapped her long thin arms around her chest protectively. Vincent had
only seen her do that when her father used to yell at her, before
they had married and gotten far away from her family.
“Make me understand, why do you think I'm here?” Vincent pleaded
reaching out and taking Elizabeth's hand in his again. Elizabeth
looked up, but didn't move to take her hand back this time.
“I'm not like you, I'm a practical and logical person. That's why I
became a doctor for God's sake!” Elizabeth said, moving away again
once she realized they were getting too close. Vincent groaned this
was so typical of her, she never learned how to trust someone!
“Too logical sometimes. I know part of you wants me to try.”
Vincent said as he tried his best not to let her make him angry.
“But
it isn't my way. It's not natural.” Elizabeth tried to explain but
it only hurt Vincent more. She never really understood at all had
she? All that he had done, was for her!
“How can I make you stop being so afraid and open your eyes to the
potential?” Vincent asked as he turned in impatience and took a few
steps toward his ex-wife finally closing some of the distance between
them. Elizabeth sagged against a near by wall and just leaned against
it; too exhausted to keep this up.
“Can't we
just let it go?” Elizabeth said as she looked up at he ceiling so
she couldn't see into Vincent's deep and expressive brown eyes.
“No, I'm not
giving up, someday you're going to admit I was right. There will be a
time when you will need me.” Vincent asserted with stubbornness,
stung by Elizabeth's unwillingness to give him a second chance.
Hadn't they loved each other and had a child together? Elizabeth
couldn't want to throw that away.
“You always
talk like you know the future, but no one does. You of all people
should know that the future isn't predetermined.” Elizabeth said in
a soft tone, her eyes moist. Vincent knew she was thinking about all
they had lost, and the promises he had made and hadn't been able to
keep.
“It is if you
will it to be; if you want something bad enough.” Vincent asserted
with his head held high and his tone strong, he would make this up to
her. She just need to give him the chance!
“What I want
you can't give me.” Elizabeth said in almost a whisper in a sad
tone as her tears dripped down her freckled cheek.
“ I'm trying,
give some more time, help me!” Vincent demanded when he could see
that he was weakening her resolve. Elizabeth had to see reason and do
what he asked; it was the only way!
“He's gone
and there's no power on earth that could make that reality go away.”
Elizabeth said and then turned around and wiped her tears as she
walked down the path towards the doors. Vincent wanted to go after he
but he realized that Elizabeth had left the book on the shelf for
him.
“I
can! And I will!”Vincent yelled after her with determination; he
would show her that he was right and then she wouldn't doubt him.
Elizabeth would have to trust him again.
Vincent
walked out and went to his car. The cemetery wasn't very far which
Vincent was both grateful for and not at the same time. He would
liked to have had a little while to think while driving. But all too
soon he was in the open parking lot and walking out to he cemented
path to the plots. He knew the way that he needed to go. Vincent had
been here many times before. The
afternoon was bright and warm for a day in early March; a day that
Alex would have loved. Vincent thought on a day like this Alex would
have wanted to go the park. Instead he was standing at his son's
grave with the book in his hands. There were fresh flowers in his
hands, a simple bouquet of while lilies. Today was not any ordinary
day, this was his son's birthday, he would have been six. Vincent
felt a lump in his throat form at that thought, Vincent would have
started first grade this fall. So many missed opportunities for his
little boy, it wasn't fair! That's why he had to come here and find a
way to bring his boy back from the dead. The book said there was a
way. The cost was different this time. Vincent could give up a hand,
or an arm, even a leg. He could live without those limbs if it meant
his Alex was alive.
“It's
fitting, your birthday on such a lovely day.” Vincent began and
then stopped his voice choking up and he couldn't quite get the rest
of his thoughts together. He had the book in his hands; the old
leather bound one that he had gotten back. He had almost forgotten
that the book was even there when it suddenly opened to a page on
it's own. There weren't any writing on the page and then suddenly
before Vincent's eyes ink began to form words. It was in Latin and
several words appeared in dark black ink.
“Go
back to her...” the words read and then disappeared. Vincent
blinked thinking it must have been some kind of mistake or his eyes
playing tricks on him.
“Daddy...you
can let go of my hand now...I'll wait for you...” More words read
on the page and now in shock and pure sadness Vincent closed the book
and sobbed. When his son was alive all he had wanted was to save him,
and now that Alex was gone he realized that he didn't get to really
know him in the end. Vincent had been too busy trying to be the one
with all the answers. And now, on a beautiful spring day, Vincent's
little boy was being the grown up.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Medical Translations
I've started a new short story and I thought I would share the first few pages with you to see if there is any interest. All comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Medical
Translations
By
Mary
O'Donnell
Vincent had
been a Doctor for a solid five years, enough time to get experience
in dealing with the pit falls of the job. He had told more than his
fair share of family members that their loved ones were beyond
saving, that he had failed. But Vincent had never truly understood
how devastating the words 'I'm sorry, we've done everything we can,'
could be until the specialist in charge of Brian's case put his hand
on his shoulder and spoke in that low sorrowful tone that made the
world turn into shadows and dreams of a desperate man. At the age of
six how could his son be so sick, how could cancer be eating away at
his little boy's body who had his mother's soft trusting brown eyes?
“We can make
him comfortable, it's all about pain management at this point.”
Jerry said, his gray eyes looked down in sadness and shame.
“We're Doctors!
It's our job to do something! Don't tell me there's nothing you can
do!” Vincent said as tears filled his dark eyes and his thin hands
pushed Jerry, an older shorter man with graying hair, out of his way.
As he walked away he couldn't think as the shadow filled his mind. It
had to be a mistake, this couldn't be happening in his reality.
“Vincent...I'm
sorry! I really am!” Jerry called after him but Vincent was already
heading out of the hospital doors. Vincent walked out of the building
and then leaned against the side of the outside far wall; it was cold
and the red brick bit in to his slender back. He could feel that he
was breathing too quickly but he couldn't bring himself to care
enough to stop. How was he supposed to tell his wife that their son
was going to die and there was not a damned thing he could do to stop
it? He couldn't accept that!
Not even an hour
later Vincent entered a large dark room and closed the door behind
him.
“Nik I know
you're here, I have to talk to you!”Vincent said with confidence,
the lab smelled sterile but not even the alcohol could hide the hint
of rotting. There was a large metal table in the middle of the room
where Nik played with his dead friends.
“I thought you
didn't want to talk to the nutter?”Nik answered in his thick London
silky accent and deep tone that resonated from the shadowed area of
the lab. He slowly pulled off blood soaked gloves as he came further
into the light. Nik was an older man, tall and looked as if at one
time he had been a powerful physical force. But now his hair was
silver and his back was hunched making him look shorter than he
really was.
“Look don't
pretend you don't know why I'm here, you always know.” Vincent said
his tone impatient and direct. Nik smiled as he turned to face
Vincent, his apron bloody as well but he made no attempt to remove
it.
“Your son. Well
I don't have the 'abilities' I used to. I can't help you.” Nik said
and then turned away with an unreadable look on his wrinkled face.
“My son is
going to die and you are going to help me, you owe me!” Vincent sad
his voice raising in fear of losing his last hope. Nik stopped and
then chuckled softly. Vincent's eyes narrowed and was just about to
lunge at the other man no matter his age but Nik turned around and
began to speak.
“Yes I guess I
do owe you for still being allowed to work in the dismal place. I was
telling the truth, I can't save your boy, but I can give you the
chance to try.” Nik said with a skeptical look on his face, Vincent
knew he hated this man for a reason. But what choice did he have?
“There's a
small storage area in the basement. Look around and try your luck.”
Nik said and then walked away without another word. Vincent wasn't
sure what the hell kind of help he was just given but he was too
desperate to ignore it. Vincent knew that it was too late to go
digging around there right now, and he needed to go and spend time
with his son.
Monday, February 6, 2012
An actual fun Shakespeare Biography? Who knew?
For the reading part of my journal I wanted to write about "Will In the World." by William Greenblatt. This Biography talks about how William Shakespeare might have grown up to be the genius that he is known as today. Greenblatt uses documents that we have that Shakespeare and his family had signed as well as historical knowledge of the time period to create a realistic narrative William Shakespeare's life. Have you ever wondered what plays Shakespeare might have seen and how? How someone not a noble and not highly educated could write with such beauty? I had and this book does a beautiful job of talking about and attempting to answer these questions.
I am only a few chapters in and I find it very interesting and the language engaging, very different than a normal biography that can be dull. Once I've finished this book I will let you know more of my thoughts but this is my fun reading for the next week or so. I never imagined a biography would be so readable and I think I would use this in my future classroom!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Technology Narrative
Mary O'Donnell
WRH 205
Dr. Ray
1-26-12
Technology Comes Slowly to This Nerdy Girl
I wasn't always the nerdy girl siting at her computer
downloading shows and movies, and using Facebook and reading e-books
and fan-fiction. I hadn't always wrote my short stories and novels on
a word processor. I'm older than most students that I attend classes
with, who can't remember not having cell phones or internet. I had
graduated high school without ever having a computer in the house. I
did learn how to use a computer thanks to a business writing course
that I took in school. But even after that class I only used my
computer basically as a sophisticated type writer. So what has
changed when it comes to technology in my life? To be honest,
everything has changed.
The first sign of change emerged when I got a cell phone about six
years ago. Until then there was only a land line in my life. The cell
phone opened up my eyes to really what technology was becoming, an
extension of people, like another appendage. It was creepy to me at
first but it wasn't long before I was on board since I could see how
nice it was to be able to communicate instantly by text and telephone
at any time or anywhere. After that there really was no stopping the
technology freak that was lurking underneath the surface of my brain.
After a cell phone for going back to college my husband got me a
laptop. However it never got even opened until another two years
later. When we go wifi at the apartment the laptop became a new and
exciting place.
After exploring the web and getting to know what the laptop and
wifi could get me, I started download music and shows and even
started to share my short stories with friend's on line. It was a
slow process but sharing stories and made a Livejournal account. Live
Journal tended to be too complicated to post in for me in the
beginning though and so I stopped and just tended to use the instat
chat and e-mail. All I did on the computer for the next few years was
writing, watching shows and e-mail. But then something else changed
in order to open up the internet for me. I found Facebook and Google
Docs.
First to come and dominate my life was Google Docs, and this did
this by allowing me to share my stories easily and even letting me
give other people permission to edit the work. The easy of sharing
made it possible to write with another person and so thanks to Google
Docs I started to role play with some friends online. Role playing is
just basically writing together taking turns writing different
characters and making up the story. It is constant and addictive
because the story never ends. So instead of blogging I do more
creative writing as my on line addiction. While other people have
gaming addiction issues my problem is staying up until way to late at
night replying to a friend's section of the story and expanding it. A
few months after I started role- playing on GoogleDocs I found
Facebook.
Now I know I am a late comer to Facebook, most young people have
had Facebook since they knew what a computer was. But I was afraid of
the ability it had to connect me to so many people at once. When I
found out that my best friend I grew up with in Florida had facebook,
that was all it took to get me to be brave and make an account. Now I
talk to family members that are far away and friends as well as share
photos and experiences. It was exciting to share parts of my life
again with far away friends and family. Now Facebook adds to many
late nights and tired mornings along with the role-playing.
I am proud of how I went from not even owning a computer for
years to the technology nerd that I am today. Like most people I am
addicted to my technology, I like my internet and e-books, and
cellphones. They give me the ability to be entertained and to
communicate with friends and family in an immediate way. For me
however it was a slow process, and I'm still not sure if it's
completely a good change or not. However, I can't deny that most of
my late nights are spent typing on the keyboard writing the latest
part to the role playing story, or chatting on and sharing on
Facebook. I enjoy every moment of my addiction.
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