This Thing Called Life

My name is Hope Edger and this is the story of how I found myself; how I put the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle in place before time ran out. I call this mission 'QuestLife.' Oh, please! Just go ahead and make fun of it, for all I care. The credit goes to the one and only, wonderful in her very own self, my best friend whom I also hate the most, Malaika. Well, that's what I keep telling her, but we're so similar in just too many ways. Oh wait, that implies that I hate myself as well, but I don't. I'm actually not sure if I love myself either; it's a confusing state, you'll understand.

It's been a couple of years since QuestLife succeeded, but there's no harm in turning back that clock to the time I was a fourteen-year-old ninth grader. I've always wanted to rewind and change some things that I think would've changed my present. Nothing would've been the same. Maybe I wouldn't even be here narrating if it weren't for all the awesome, out-of-this-world deeds I did. I won't be able to change anything, I know, but maybe, as I go along with you, I might realise where I went wrong.

Anyway, the ride is whacky; you might find yourself hanging upside down with everything but your butt on the seat, so I suggest very sincerely that you buckle up. But even after tying yourself down really tightly, I can't promise that you'd make it back without your head anywhere else except on top of your neck. Oops, I didn't mean to scare you, but it's the truth. I can't help it; I don't lie. Well, I didn't say I never lie. Okay, yes, I've lied a lot of times and got myself in trouble because of that. Ouch, I don't think I want to narrate that part of the story because, you know, I was sort of the queen of lying. Okay, well, yes, I was the queen of lying. I don't know if I can say the same about myself now.

Through the years, I've learned that you can't really get away from something that's been haunting you for your entire life by trying to mould it into something you would be happy to accept. It just doesn't happen that way; the truth remains the truth, whether you like it or not.

For once, it wasn't me who was trying to get away from the past; it was dad. Oh my, did I just blush saying that? My entire life I've called him by his name; it feels awkward to call him dad, even after a awhole year of calling him that. I have to say, he's grown to be proud of that little title he's earned. Yes, I'm saying it- he's earned it. He deserves much more than that, to be honest. I didn't realise it then, but now, things are very different.

Drake, er, dad, is the one who showed me reality; he uncovered the blindfold around my eyes and dared me to just do what I feel like doing without caring about the lorries or trucks that could smash me under them on that dreadfully terrifying highway. I had a lot of accidents along the way, and things far heavier and much scarier than lorries and trucks hit me- many times. Those were the times I thought I'd lost the battle, but the stupid me kept going, losing much more along the way. I am thankful to him for never letting go of my hand. He was always there when I needed him the most.

I still can't believe I risked everything so willingly. I was determined more than anything, and even after I had nothing left at one point, I have to say, it was quite worthwhile.

In case you're wondering which highway it was, I'll clarify things a little. There's no highway in the world that made me go numb, deaf, blind, and dumb all at the same time. You want to know what I call it?

I call it Life.