The Effects of
Sara Cove
Sara Cove
Writing had become an escape for me since eighth grade, which was when I first started. Even though we were forced to write something in English class, it quickly became something I loved. Since then I have written stories, poems, or anything for me to get my ideas onto paper. And when I first found out about, and took, Creative Writing, the ideas for stories have been so much more real. I found that I am most interested in novellas, novels, and poetry. When it comes to novellas and novels, I tend to write about realistic fiction and ideas that would interest young adults. I find that realistic fiction interests me because that is the type of writing I read the most. My poetry, however, tends to focus on the dark side of human nature and heartbreak. In the end, I know writing will stay with me forever, and I hope to publish a poetry book and/or a novel.
I am a rising senior at Rockville High School. Although writing specifically is one of my biggest passions, I love the idea of creating something. For our school’s drama production I work with tech, so, behind the scenes aspects. Being a part of the tech crew is the closest I can get to the stage, due to my stage fright and lack of ability to act. I taught the Writing Club at the local middle school. Once a week I went and helped the students improve their writing skills by giving them writing exercises. I also work at Kumon Learning Center as a tutor, which helps with what I want to do in the future. I aspire to be an English teacher when I am older, making sure to always keep writing with me and involve it in how I teach. When teaching, I want to change students’ perspectives on learning and want to make it so that they, at least, love reading.
I am a rising senior at Rockville High School. Although writing specifically is one of my biggest passions, I love the idea of creating something. For our school’s drama production I work with tech, so, behind the scenes aspects. Being a part of the tech crew is the closest I can get to the stage, due to my stage fright and lack of ability to act. I taught the Writing Club at the local middle school. Once a week I went and helped the students improve their writing skills by giving them writing exercises. I also work at Kumon Learning Center as a tutor, which helps with what I want to do in the future. I aspire to be an English teacher when I am older, making sure to always keep writing with me and involve it in how I teach. When teaching, I want to change students’ perspectives on learning and want to make it so that they, at least, love reading.
Writing had become an escape for me since eighth grade, which was when I first started. Even though we were forced to write something in English class, it quickly became something I loved. Since then I have written stories, poems, or anything for me to get my ideas onto paper. And when I first found out about, and took, Creative Writing, the ideas for stories have been so much more real. I found that I am most interested in novellas, novels, and poetry. When it comes to novellas and novels, I tend to write about realistic fiction and ideas that would interest young adults. I find that realistic fiction interests me because that is the type of writing I read the most. My poetry, however, tends to focus on the dark side of human nature and heartbreak. In the end, I know writing will stay with me forever, and I hope to publish a poetry book and/or a novel.
I am a rising senior at Rockville High School. Although writing specifically is one of my biggest passions, I love the idea of creating something. For our school’s drama production I work with tech, so, behind the scenes aspects. Being a part of the tech crew is the closest I can get to the stage, due to my stage fright and lack of ability to act. I taught the Writing Club at the local middle school. Once a week I went and helped the students improve their writing skills by giving them writing exercises. I also work at Kumon Learning Center as a tutor, which helps with what I want to do in the future. I aspire to be an English teacher when I am older, making sure to always keep writing with me and involve it in how I teach. When teaching, I want to change students’ perspectives on learning and want to make it so that they, at least, love reading.
I am a rising senior at Rockville High School. Although writing specifically is one of my biggest passions, I love the idea of creating something. For our school’s drama production I work with tech, so, behind the scenes aspects. Being a part of the tech crew is the closest I can get to the stage, due to my stage fright and lack of ability to act. I taught the Writing Club at the local middle school. Once a week I went and helped the students improve their writing skills by giving them writing exercises. I also work at Kumon Learning Center as a tutor, which helps with what I want to do in the future. I aspire to be an English teacher when I am older, making sure to always keep writing with me and involve it in how I teach. When teaching, I want to change students’ perspectives on learning and want to make it so that they, at least, love reading.
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Moving ForwardCast of Characters
MICHELLE: Therapist, always answers with a question
COREY: Patient, in therapy for being a “bystander” to friend’s death
MADISON: Friend of Corey, died of a drug overdose
(COREY and MICHELLE are sitting across from each other in MICHELLE’S office.)
MICHELLE
We have not had an appointment in about two weeks. So tell me, what’s been on your mind recently?
MADISON
My friends. I miss them so much. (Glares at COREY.)
COREY
Just everything that has happened since then. How people have been acting around me, the stares I get. Most of them are looks of disgust. It makes me feel even more horrible than I already do.
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MADISONIt is fair.
MICHELLE
Like what? What can’t you do anymore?
COREY
I can’t see my family because they hate me. I can’t walk into a store just to get groceries without someone spitting insults at me. No, those things are stopping me from living my life, but the simple things are the worst.
MADISON
I can’t live my fucking life anymore. Everything’s over for me.
MICHELLE
How could you redeem yourself, Corey?
COREY
I have no idea. I know I said I wanted the chance, but I’m not sure if it’s possible at this point.
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MADISONIt is fair.
MICHELLE
Like what? What can’t you do anymore?
COREY
I can’t see my family because they hate me. I can’t walk into a store just to get groceries without someone spitting insults at me. No, those things are stopping me from living my life, but the simple things are the worst.
MADISON
I can’t live my fucking life anymore. Everything’s over for me.
MICHELLE
How could you redeem yourself, Corey?
COREY
I have no idea. I know I said I wanted the chance, but I’m not sure if it’s possible at this point.
The Loss Of Power
It was the last period of the school day and my eyes were trained on the clock. 3.2.1. And it was 2:00. Now eight more seconds. 8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1. *Blingggg*
I stood up as fast as possible and left the room before anyone else. Stopping at my locker, I put a few books away. Then my two best friends stopped me before I could get any further.
"Hey Charlie. Are you ready for the game today?" Anna asked with her usual bright smile. I nodded, plastering a smile on my face.
"I'm assuming you and Nate are coming to the party after?" Kimmy said, nudging me with her elbow, but she hit the bruise on my side. It was painful, but I refused to make it obvious.
"We'll be there." The words did not leave my mouth. Suddenly someone wrapped their arms around my waist, but it was anything but comforting. It sent chills up my spine. That made it obvious as to who it was. Nate. I looked up at him staring down at me and gave him a smile. "For now, I'm going to steal my girl. See you guys at the game." Nate took my hand, leading me away from my friends. He brought me to an empty hallway that no one ever sent down.
It was the last period of the school day and my eyes were trained on the clock. 3.2.1. And it was 2:00. Now eight more seconds. 8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1. *Blingggg*
I stood up as fast as possible and left the room before anyone else. Stopping at my locker, I put a few books away. Then my two best friends stopped me before I could get any further.
"Hey Charlie. Are you ready for the game today?" Anna asked with her usual bright smile. I nodded, plastering a smile on my face.
"I'm assuming you and Nate are coming to the party after?" Kimmy said, nudging me with her elbow, but she hit the bruise on my side. It was painful, but I refused to make it obvious.
"We'll be there." The words did not leave my mouth. Suddenly someone wrapped their arms around my waist, but it was anything but comforting. It sent chills up my spine. That made it obvious as to who it was. Nate. I looked up at him staring down at me and gave him a smile. "For now, I'm going to steal my girl. See you guys at the game." Nate took my hand, leading me away from my friends. He brought me to an empty hallway that no one ever sent down.
It was in the old part of the school, where no classrooms had been for years.
"I'm not sure if I want to go to the party tonight." I mumbled, hoping he did not hear me, because I knew I would regret it immediately. My eyes met his, anger was all I could see.
"Of course you want to."
I took a deep breath before saying my next words. "No, I don't."
Nate I did not say anything, but he did not need to. His anger was still clear by his actions. My hand raised to where blood was slightly running from my lip to my chin, and I could already feel the bruise beginning to form around my eye. All I could see was red, but I could not do anything about it. I never could.
He leaned in closer, I was able to feel his breath on my cheek. "Don't bother coming. I don't want to see you there."
I was frozen, I was not able to do anything. My eyes closed as I let the words sink in. The next time I opened my eyes, he was gone, and my body felt completely cold again and collapsed. I felt like crying, just breaking down.
That was when I heard footsteps. I still could not move, so I just closed my eyes and hoped they
"I'm not sure if I want to go to the party tonight." I mumbled, hoping he did not hear me, because I knew I would regret it immediately. My eyes met his, anger was all I could see.
"Of course you want to."
I took a deep breath before saying my next words. "No, I don't."
Nate I did not say anything, but he did not need to. His anger was still clear by his actions. My hand raised to where blood was slightly running from my lip to my chin, and I could already feel the bruise beginning to form around my eye. All I could see was red, but I could not do anything about it. I never could.
He leaned in closer, I was able to feel his breath on my cheek. "Don't bother coming. I don't want to see you there."
I was frozen, I was not able to do anything. My eyes closed as I let the words sink in. The next time I opened my eyes, he was gone, and my body felt completely cold again and collapsed. I felt like crying, just breaking down.
That was when I heard footsteps. I still could not move, so I just closed my eyes and hoped they
It was in the old part of the school, where no classrooms had been for years.
"I'm not sure if I want to go to the party tonight." I mumbled, hoping he did not hear me, because I knew I would regret it immediately. My eyes met his, anger was all I could see.
"Of course you want to."
I took a deep breath before saying my next words. "No, I don't."
Nate I did not say anything, but he did not need to. His anger was still clear by his actions. My hand raised to where blood was slightly running from my lip to my chin, and I could already feel the bruise beginning to form around my eye. All I could see was red, but I could not do anything about it. I never could.
He leaned in closer, I was able to feel his breath on my cheek. "Don't bother coming. I don't want to see you there."
I was frozen, I was not able to do anything. My eyes closed as I let the words sink in. The next time I opened my eyes, he was gone, and my body felt completely cold again and collapsed. I felt like crying, just breaking down.
That was when I heard footsteps. I still could not move, so I just closed my eyes and hoped they
"I'm not sure if I want to go to the party tonight." I mumbled, hoping he did not hear me, because I knew I would regret it immediately. My eyes met his, anger was all I could see.
"Of course you want to."
I took a deep breath before saying my next words. "No, I don't."
Nate I did not say anything, but he did not need to. His anger was still clear by his actions. My hand raised to where blood was slightly running from my lip to my chin, and I could already feel the bruise beginning to form around my eye. All I could see was red, but I could not do anything about it. I never could.
He leaned in closer, I was able to feel his breath on my cheek. "Don't bother coming. I don't want to see you there."
I was frozen, I was not able to do anything. My eyes closed as I let the words sink in. The next time I opened my eyes, he was gone, and my body felt completely cold again and collapsed. I felt like crying, just breaking down.
That was when I heard footsteps. I still could not move, so I just closed my eyes and hoped they
went away.
But it did not go away, "Hey. A-are you okay?" My eyes shot open to someone standing in front of me. I pushed away from him, backing myself into a corner, which just made me panic even more.
"Stay away from me." I weakly hissed, but it seemed to come out as only a whisper.
"I'm not going anywhere." I think he could tell how scared I was, because he crouched to my level. "Hey, you're okay.
If only.
He inched closer to me, which was when I realized who it was. Justin Hart, he was one of the most popular guys in the school, and the tight end for the school's team. "You're Charlie, right?" I hesitantly nodded. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
"I-" That was all I could say. No other words left my mouth.
"You what?"
"N-nothing. I should- Um, I should go get ready for the game. You should too."
I slowly got up from the ground, which was when I felt my entire body start shaking. "At least let me help you clean that blood off your face." I nodded again and followed him towards the locker room.
But it did not go away, "Hey. A-are you okay?" My eyes shot open to someone standing in front of me. I pushed away from him, backing myself into a corner, which just made me panic even more.
"Stay away from me." I weakly hissed, but it seemed to come out as only a whisper.
"I'm not going anywhere." I think he could tell how scared I was, because he crouched to my level. "Hey, you're okay.
If only.
He inched closer to me, which was when I realized who it was. Justin Hart, he was one of the most popular guys in the school, and the tight end for the school's team. "You're Charlie, right?" I hesitantly nodded. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
"I-" That was all I could say. No other words left my mouth.
"You what?"
"N-nothing. I should- Um, I should go get ready for the game. You should too."
I slowly got up from the ground, which was when I felt my entire body start shaking. "At least let me help you clean that blood off your face." I nodded again and followed him towards the locker room.
Justin pushed open the door to the guys locker room, making me stop. Noticing me not right behind him, he turned around. "All the guy's are on the field already. Along with your cheer buddies. So get your things and come in here."
Listening to what Justin said, I went into the girl's locker room. After grabbing my cheer bag, I went back to the guy's, where Justin was waiting.
"Sit on the bench." He motioned to one of the metal benches in the center of the room. I nodded and sat down while he grabbed a towel and wet it in the sink. Justin sat down beside me, putting his finger under my chin and turning my head so I was looking directly at him. He began wiping the blood from my lip and chin. Once he was done, he put the towel down and just stared at me. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" I said nothing. "You're dating Nate, right?" I nodded. "So I'm assuming you'll be at the party after the game?"
My whole body stiffened and my eyes darted around the room. "H-he is. I can't though."
"Why? I figured you two would go together, like always."
I snickered, "Yeah. You would think."
Justin did not say anything, but continued looking
Listening to what Justin said, I went into the girl's locker room. After grabbing my cheer bag, I went back to the guy's, where Justin was waiting.
"Sit on the bench." He motioned to one of the metal benches in the center of the room. I nodded and sat down while he grabbed a towel and wet it in the sink. Justin sat down beside me, putting his finger under my chin and turning my head so I was looking directly at him. He began wiping the blood from my lip and chin. Once he was done, he put the towel down and just stared at me. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" I said nothing. "You're dating Nate, right?" I nodded. "So I'm assuming you'll be at the party after the game?"
My whole body stiffened and my eyes darted around the room. "H-he is. I can't though."
"Why? I figured you two would go together, like always."
I snickered, "Yeah. You would think."
Justin did not say anything, but continued looking
Justin pushed open the door to the guys locker room, making me stop. Noticing me not right behind him, he turned around. "All the guy's are on the field already. Along with your cheer buddies. So get your things and come in here."
Listening to what Justin said, I went into the girl's locker room. After grabbing my cheer bag, I went back to the guy's, where Justin was waiting.
"Sit on the bench." He motioned to one of the metal benches in the center of the room. I nodded and sat down while he grabbed a towel and wet it in the sink. Justin sat down beside me, putting his finger under my chin and turning my head so I was looking directly at him. He began wiping the blood from my lip and chin. Once he was done, he put the towel down and just stared at me. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" I said nothing. "You're dating Nate, right?" I nodded. "So I'm assuming you'll be at the party after the game?"
My whole body stiffened and my eyes darted around the room. "H-he is. I can't though."
"Why? I figured you two would go together, like always."
I snickered, "Yeah. You would think."
Justin did not say anything, but continued looking
Listening to what Justin said, I went into the girl's locker room. After grabbing my cheer bag, I went back to the guy's, where Justin was waiting.
"Sit on the bench." He motioned to one of the metal benches in the center of the room. I nodded and sat down while he grabbed a towel and wet it in the sink. Justin sat down beside me, putting his finger under my chin and turning my head so I was looking directly at him. He began wiping the blood from my lip and chin. Once he was done, he put the towel down and just stared at me. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" I said nothing. "You're dating Nate, right?" I nodded. "So I'm assuming you'll be at the party after the game?"
My whole body stiffened and my eyes darted around the room. "H-he is. I can't though."
"Why? I figured you two would go together, like always."
I snickered, "Yeah. You would think."
Justin did not say anything, but continued looking
at me. Observing me.
My heart started beating faster under his gaze. It was getting harder to breathe. I started panicking again and it got harder to breathe. Justin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What the hell? Are you okay?"
I felt his hand on my back, making me push away from him with as much force as possible. "Don't hurt me. Please."
"I'm not going to hurt you, Charlie. I just want to help you." I said nothing, just dug around in my bag for my water bottle while attempting to slow down my breathing.Once I was somewhat calm again, Justin spoke up. "Did someone do this to you?" Nothing. Just say nothing. "Oh my god, someone did this? Who was it?"
I shook my head. "No one. I just fell."
"Bullshit Charlie. You don't fall and get a busted lip and black eye."
Cutting out conversation short, a voice spoke up. But it was not Justin or I. It was Nate. "I'll be right back. I forgot something in the locker room."
"Justin, help me. Please."
Justin and I stood in one of the showers, the curtain closed so we would not be seen. We were silent as Nate came into the locker room.
My heart started beating faster under his gaze. It was getting harder to breathe. I started panicking again and it got harder to breathe. Justin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What the hell? Are you okay?"
I felt his hand on my back, making me push away from him with as much force as possible. "Don't hurt me. Please."
"I'm not going to hurt you, Charlie. I just want to help you." I said nothing, just dug around in my bag for my water bottle while attempting to slow down my breathing.Once I was somewhat calm again, Justin spoke up. "Did someone do this to you?" Nothing. Just say nothing. "Oh my god, someone did this? Who was it?"
I shook my head. "No one. I just fell."
"Bullshit Charlie. You don't fall and get a busted lip and black eye."
Cutting out conversation short, a voice spoke up. But it was not Justin or I. It was Nate. "I'll be right back. I forgot something in the locker room."
"Justin, help me. Please."
Justin and I stood in one of the showers, the curtain closed so we would not be seen. We were silent as Nate came into the locker room.
There was no noise, but then my phone started buzzing in my back pocket. I took it out to see Nate’s name come across the screen. Without thinking, I denied the call.
“Hey baby. Listen, I’m sorry for earlier. I’ve just been in a shitty mood and I didn’t mean to take it out on you. Please forgive me, and maybe you can still make it to the party. I love you, Charlie.” A minute later, the door opened and closed again. Nate was gone.
For several minutes after Nate left, Justin and I just stood there. I was waiting for him to break the silence.
And he did. “Nate did that to you, didn’t he?”
My eyes met Justin’s. “Yes. But like he said, he has been in a bad mood. I should have just agreed to go to the party. It’s my fault.”’
Justin looked at me as if I was going crazy. “No. It’s not your fault. He cannot do this to you, it's not okay.”
“He loves me! He would never intentionally hurt me! He didn’t mean it.”
“Do you hear yourself? He hit you, but he didn’t fucking mean it?”
Leaving him standing there, I grabbed my bag and changed into my cheer uniform.
“Hey baby. Listen, I’m sorry for earlier. I’ve just been in a shitty mood and I didn’t mean to take it out on you. Please forgive me, and maybe you can still make it to the party. I love you, Charlie.” A minute later, the door opened and closed again. Nate was gone.
For several minutes after Nate left, Justin and I just stood there. I was waiting for him to break the silence.
And he did. “Nate did that to you, didn’t he?”
My eyes met Justin’s. “Yes. But like he said, he has been in a bad mood. I should have just agreed to go to the party. It’s my fault.”’
Justin looked at me as if I was going crazy. “No. It’s not your fault. He cannot do this to you, it's not okay.”
“He loves me! He would never intentionally hurt me! He didn’t mean it.”
“Do you hear yourself? He hit you, but he didn’t fucking mean it?”
Leaving him standing there, I grabbed my bag and changed into my cheer uniform.