Live in the moment

Great interpretation of your prompt, 'trapped' Laken." Professor nodded, sounding pleased with the quality of work his students had produced so far.

"Next up, we have Nevyn whose prompt was to write about someone whose job is to help people leave their old lives behind." I stand up as an applause starts. I stroll toward the front of the lecture hall. I mentally prepare myself, being in my first year of university, I hadn't performed to a body of students that large. I inhale deeply on arrival, all eyes on me as I start to read the creative writing I scribbled out last minute.

"Laying on your back in a grassy field, watching the picturesque sky that's splattered with colours melt into an endless galaxy in the warm season of spring. Sneaking out at midnight, watching the moon illuminate down on the translucent water at a lake, surrounding by tranquility.

Windows of cars and houses frosting over in a thin, layer of ice that you can just about see through if you press your face hard enough against the glass. The cold blasts of air rushing over your face as you walk down the deserted street, a lone streetlamp standing tall, illuminating down onto your face in a light blue tint. Frozen icicles forming on the tips of trees as they stand paralysed, unable to dance in the breeze of spine chilling wind.

Life can be wonderful, filled with adventures, happiness and laughter if you want it to be. You can shape and mold how you want your life to go, after all, you are the protagonist of your own story. And that is what people fail to remember.

They fail to remember that themselves, as the main character of their lives, decide their own fate. They decide how their story will go and where life will take them. They can't predict the future, yes, but they can mold it.

They fail to remember to be themselves, act and dress how they want to. Letting others opinions get to them when all that matters is to be comfortable in their own skin.

But most importantly, they fail to remember to forget the past. Dwelling on a bad past is the worse thing people do. Life is too short and precious to over think the bad thing. Forgetting your old life and living in the moment helps you zoom back in on the world. Helps you gain control over your life once more and fixate your future.

And it is my job, Nevyn Adler, to help you live in the moment. To forget your old life.."

I stop speaking and the hall is filled with silence. Simultaneously, the hall echoed out with claps as I realised a breath I wasn't aware of holding. I slid my paper onto professors desk, who gave me a quiet praise, before I made my way back up into the audience.

I sunk down in my seat as someone draped their arm around me. "Hey, for a last minute job, that was good." Felix whispered over to me, his fluffy mess of ash blonde hair getting into my eyes. Mhm." I hum, not bothering to open my mouth.

~

"Hey, Nev! Nice writing, you had such a boring prompt but you made something good out of it." Laken chirped on my left while Felix was on my right.

"Thanks but it wasn't that good.. It was quite last minute." I chuckle nervously, rubbing my nose bridge. "This one was freaking out on the phone yesterday: 'Oh Felix what do I do! Help me.'" Felix mocked me in a terrible impersonation which earned a giggle from Laken.

"I do not sound like a girl, Felix." My voice falls out, unamusement layered thick into it. "But your voice is higher than most guys." He tried to justify as I shook my head in return.

"Say Nev, we should do some of the things that were in your writing." Laken suggested. "Not a bad idea girl, what'd you say nevyn?" I shrug my shoulders. "Not sure." I hear a whine if disappointment or sadness leave lakens mouth as I stare at the ground ahead of me, in reality, thinking about the idea. 

~

A soft breeze brushes over me as I lean against the mossy trunk of the old tree. A squirrel laying gently in the palm of my hand as I use the other to stroke its fur. The moon shone down onto the opaque lake below - not allowing the reflection to be seen, yet the moons white light still illuminated down onto the lime green grass in streaks as they swayed with the whistle of the wind. There were no structures in sight, just me and myself left alone with the beauty and peaceful sight of nature.

I come to this rural area behind my house to collect my thoughts and go over the day. The reason I come to this particular spot is because my grandad used to take me here before he died. Before I let myself drown in depressive thoughts, my mind drifts back to my writing. I'm pretty sure if I hadn't done it last minute, it would definitely be a grade lower. Thinking about what Laken said, I should probably take my own advice. Stop dwelling on the past and to mold my future.

Maybe this summer I'll take Laken and Felix hiking or we could do some ice skating, that way I get to see Felix fail miserably trying to impress lay. Maybe we could head to the beach, swimming in the deep blue sea or having sand castle competitions that would take us hours to do. We could book our own plane tickets and go on holiday without our parents knowing - eventhough thats unrealistic. Doing these things with my friends in the summer would be enjoyable. Helping to build my character, future and who I am.

After all, I am the protagonist of my world and I have to live in the present.