2008 - Secondary - Runner-up - Huggins

Hmmm, deep blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, the warm touch of the sun basking on my skin. The sweet smell of the grass fills the air. Squirrels bicker in the trees as birds sing their song. The autumn leaves crunch beneath my bare feet as I step on them. A doe and a fawn drink from a nearby stream. This is how life should be, as calm as the rolling waves of the beach, and as serene as the summer sun. The only words to be heard are the echo of a soft voice saying, "Be unique and be who you are."

Suddenly, the sky darkens and clouds start rolling in, thunder BOOMS throughout the sky. 'LOSER!' the lightning cackles. 'NERD!' the thunder responds. 'Get out of here faggot, you’re not good enough for us,' the rain says as it falls from the sky like little demons burning my skin. Each little rain drop pounds and lays a heavy burden upon my shoulders. I try to escape the words that echo through my head: "Nerd…Loser…go away!" My lips quiver wanting to say, 'That’s not true,' but no words escape my trembling body. I begin to believe the thundering words of the skies and the angered screeching squawks of the birds. I began to think, 'Am I what they say? Am I that person who they say I am?' The crows, as if hearing my thoughts, respond, "You are a disappointment; you are everything that we have said, Loser!" I cover my ears, the words still entering my head, my heart pounding hard inside my chest. I suddenly yell out, "STOP!"

Everything then seems to fade out slowly as if time had completely warped out of view. My lips still quiver, 'Stop….stop…..stop.' I then feel a comforting tap on my shoulder, I open my dreary eyes, and see a blurred figure standing in front of a blinding light. It says, "Wake up, honey, it’s time to go to school." The figure comes fully into view and it appears to be my mom. I look around my dreary, plain room, my clothes draped over the back of my chair and my bed covers hanging off the edge of the bed. My school clothes, pressed and ironed, lay at the foot of my bed and the sweet smell of bacon swirls into my room from the downstairs kitchen. I slowly get up, my back slumped over, thinking, "Great another day, another name." I walk out of the sanctuary of my room and step into the corridor of my hall, preparing for another day.