This iReport is part of an assignment:
The written word: Your personal essays
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- Posted February 18, 2013 by
- SpeNseR515 Follow
Location
Marion, Massachusetts
Marion, Massachusetts
Assignment
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Stairway to Heaven
I stare unintelligibly at the thirty fifth problem I have done since five am. Speed, velocity, acceleration… the never ending series of questions concerning high speeds are so close yet so far. The hasty rattle of my pen in contact with paper has been the only sound that has disrupted the stillness. Losing my focus, my gaze wanders out the window. Far off, the water and the sky are both tainted with a haze of blue, gray and pink. Roughly splitting apart the sky is an infinitely long strip of pink clouds shaped like stepping stones. The stairway to heaven moves across the scene leisurely, mocking me for franticly studying physics. Suddenly remembering the urgency of my studies, I turn back to the Physics problem and the formulas and equations once again glare closely at me. However, soon I find myself looking back out the window. The clouds waltz towards each other and form a bridge leading to the end of the horizon. Perhaps this is the path to paradise. I begin to picture my loved ones who have passed away, taking their final stroll on Earth before they enter the holy realm. Among the people is my best friend from my elementary school years.
“Are you coming to the memorial service?” Summer vacation starts today and my buddies are all heading to the funeral of my best friend who had just passed away because of a brain tumor. Hesitantly, I decline the invitation “Sorry I have a math tutor coming in an hour.” I wave reluctantly at my friends and begin to walk home quickly, dragging my heavy feet behind me. The decision soon becomes a source of regret, betrayal and shame for the rest of my life. Are numbers and symbols truly more important than a boy who shared numerous secrets with me, spent countless hours alongside me and accepted my request to become my first official friend?
My mind returns to my desk and I instinctively pick up my pen. Then, I decide to put it back down gently. I turn towards the serene sky and close my eyes for a moment of silence. Sweet memories that have long escaped me play through my head like a slow motion slideshow. How many other important things have I neglected due to the fast pace of my life? Now thinking about my friend, I realize I can never rid myself of the lingering regret, but I can prevent myself from making the same terrible mistake of rushing through life again. However, with a change in attitude, I hope one day I can finally receive his forgiveness entirely.
Opening my eyes gradually, I discover that dawn has given way to morning and the stairway to heaven had long wandered out of sight. There are five more minutes before alarms begin to go off consecutively throughout the dorm. I ignore the last ten problems and close my bulky textbook. I then leap onto my bed and gaze out the window. Let me savor five more minutes of peace.
“Are you coming to the memorial service?” Summer vacation starts today and my buddies are all heading to the funeral of my best friend who had just passed away because of a brain tumor. Hesitantly, I decline the invitation “Sorry I have a math tutor coming in an hour.” I wave reluctantly at my friends and begin to walk home quickly, dragging my heavy feet behind me. The decision soon becomes a source of regret, betrayal and shame for the rest of my life. Are numbers and symbols truly more important than a boy who shared numerous secrets with me, spent countless hours alongside me and accepted my request to become my first official friend?
My mind returns to my desk and I instinctively pick up my pen. Then, I decide to put it back down gently. I turn towards the serene sky and close my eyes for a moment of silence. Sweet memories that have long escaped me play through my head like a slow motion slideshow. How many other important things have I neglected due to the fast pace of my life? Now thinking about my friend, I realize I can never rid myself of the lingering regret, but I can prevent myself from making the same terrible mistake of rushing through life again. However, with a change in attitude, I hope one day I can finally receive his forgiveness entirely.
Opening my eyes gradually, I discover that dawn has given way to morning and the stairway to heaven had long wandered out of sight. There are five more minutes before alarms begin to go off consecutively throughout the dorm. I ignore the last ten problems and close my bulky textbook. I then leap onto my bed and gaze out the window. Let me savor five more minutes of peace.
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