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OVERCAST LIFE Janice Shen Words checked: 1872 Words in Oxford 3000: 93% 1 Chapter V: Period----------P31 Chapter IV: Anxiety--------P25 References-----------------P40 Chapter I: Duress-----------P5 Synopsis--------------------P41 Chapter III: Liar-------------P19 Prologue---------------------P4 2 Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages. melancholia is a serious and strange Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1991. I am a 4 th year student majoring in English at “Overcast Life” was an idea I got 3
Citation preview
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CONTENTS
About the author------------P3 Prologue---------------------P4
Chapter I: Duress-----------P5
Chapter II: Nightmare-----P10
Chapter III: Liar-------------P19
Chapter IV: Anxiety--------P25
Chapter V: Period----------P31
Chapter VI: Memory-------P34
References-----------------P40
Synopsis--------------------P41
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About The Author
Janice Shen was born in
Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1991. I am a 4th
year student majoring in English at
Wenzao Ursuline College of
Languages.
“Overcast Life” was an idea I got
from the news. Nowadays,
melancholia is a serious and strange
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disease, and causes a lot of problems.
Therefore, I wrote this story which can
represent this kind of things have
already caused a big problem in our
society.
5
PROLOGUE
Adeline, a beautiful
woman, always daydreams
about a wonderful and
free-minded life. However, she
married a man who is
stubborn and violent. She
tried to make her life just like
a dream; however, misfortune
seemed to follow wherever
Adeline would go…
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Chapter I
Duress
As always, at four o’clock, the
alarm went off. Preparing
breakfast for the family was the
first thing which I had to do
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everyday. Actually, I was tired of
doing the same thing. However, I
could not do anything. I could not
resist. I could not refuse. I could
not be angry.
WHY?
Donald asked me to buy a
six-pack of beer for him again. It
was the second time today. I
thought he was drunk. He yelled at
me and said some words in a
wrathful tone. Then, when I
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opened the door, I saw an
elaborate card on the ground. I
opened it in confusion. It was an
invitation card for a college
reunion. I was so surprised and
excited to get it. Right then and
there I made a big decision. I was
going to attend this special
reunion. Actually, I am not really
sure why I wanted so much to go.
I just longed to escape from the
fetters of this unhappy marriage
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and life.
Suddenly, Donald ran in and
shouted at me. I quickly hid the
invitation. However, Donald
seemed to discover my reaction,
so he threatened me to hand over
the thing which I hid. At that time,
I was so frightened that I could not
say anything. I tried to persuade
and calm down myself, but how
could I tell this violent man?
Finally, I made an excuse and told
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Chapter II Nightmare
The meaningful day was
coming. I was so nervous but
excited about the hard-won
freedom. I felt my lips twitch, and
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my attention wandered. I tried to
hold the steering wheel and tried
not to think too much. Finally, I
arrived at the restaurant where
the reunion was to be held.
I could not explain what I was
thinking about. I was not in the
mood to do anything else. “Adeline,
you can do it! Try your best and be
confident!” I looked into my rear
view mirror and told myself.
****
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When I opened the door, I felt a
strange atmosphere indeed. There
seemed to be something the
matter with those people - my
college classmates. To my surprise,
they were competing with each
other for beauty. At that time, I
was at a loss. I was fearful of that
situation, and I just wanted to
leave from here.
Suddenly, someone called out to
me. That was my best friend in
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college. I remembered that this
girl, Anna, who was born into poor
and single-parent family Also, she
had to take part-time jobs on
weekends when we were just
college students. Although I did
not want to take any notice of her
continuous yell, I turned my head
and tried to calm myself down.
“Hey, Adeline, where did you go?
Are you going to leave?” Anna
confusedly asked.
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“Umm… I just feel a little bit
nervous.”
“How embarrassing condition
was!” I murmured. The only thing
I could do was to make a random
excuse to smooth over the
awkwardness. However, she still
told me many of her personal
things which I did not have any
interest in.
“You know what? I am
married!” she said.
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“How is your husband?” I asked
indifferently.
“He is a kind and honest guy.
Although he is not a millionaire or
billionaire, he is really a
considerate man. He always does
so many sweet things, such as my
birthday presents and candlelight
dinners on Valentine's Day. I think
I am so fortunate to have met
him” Anna explained with a happy
tone.
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Suddenly, a woman ran
towards us and shouted.
“ADELINE! ANNA!〞
That was Olivia, an outstanding
girl. In college, she did not fail any
of her exams, and she always won
many prizes on behalf of our
school. Furthermore, Olivia
graduated from the English
Department as valedictorian. Now
I could feel that she must be a
very successful woman because of
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her imposing manner.
“Hey, dears, how are you
doing?” Olivia genially asked.
“Fine, I heard that you are
chairperson now, aren't you?”
Anna said.
“Uh huh... I inherited my dad's
business. By the way, our
company will hold a tea party next
week to celebrate our great profit
this year. You are both welcome to
join us!” she added.
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At that moment, I could not
understand why they both could
have a warm family and
well-developed life. Why was my
life so different? What should I do?
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say? Should I say I could not stand
my terrible life?
I struggled to keep back the
tears. I did not want to tell them
my husband was a violent and
irascible person. I knew that they
may laugh at my life, my family,
and me even though they did not
distinctly behave.
“Adeline, how’s your life? I
guess you must have a happy
family and your husband is a
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talented man, right? ” Olivia
asked.
“Yes! Adeline, you must be a
blissful woman just like a princess,
aren’t you?” Anna had interjected
the same question again.
“Sure! My husband works in a
big company, and he is a manager
now. Moreover, on weekends,
although he is so… so…so…busy,
he still finds time to take me to
travel. Do you know the luxury
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hotel, which stands on an artificial
island in Dubai and has a
seven-star rating? We went on a
vacation there last month. Dubai
is really a wonderful place. Oh!
Also, we are going to vacation in
Hawaii next month” I guiltily
answered and wondered why I
was telling such lies.
“Really? Wow… how fortunate
you are! I can’t believe you have
been to Dubai and spent time in
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that beautiful and hotel” Olivia
said with a strange tone.
I thought they might be
questioned whether what I was
saying was the truth or not.
Actually, they were! After I shared
this “fictitious” story of my life,
they all murmured something
which I could not quite catch.
What were they talking about? Did
they say something about me?
Had they already discovered my
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lies?
Suddenly, the glass which I was
holding fell on the floor and broke
to pieces. Everyone turned to me,
and whispered to each other.
When I went to the restroom,
another unfortunate event
happened. I stumbled on the
staircase but nobody came to help
me. At that moment, I was so
embarrassed and depressed.
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Chapter IV Anxiety
It was 10:00. That “ridiculous”
reunion had finally ended and
within my suffering. At Parker
street corner, an old woman
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distributed handbills. When I
passed her, she gave me one and
looked at me with a strange but
warm smile. I looked at the
handbill. It was a white paper with
some words and a simple picture.
Some way all the love that we had can be saved
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I did not really understand
what this handbill was about.
However, after I read that
sentence, I turned and tried to find
that old woman. There was
nobody at that corner, but several
pieces of paper remained on the
ground. It seemed to be telling me
something which I needed to know
and understand.
On my way home, I could not
stop thinking about the terrible
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situation which happened on the
reunion, the old woman as well as
those meaningful words. I could
not keep my mind on driving, and
I started to think about the things
which had happened today.
***
I remembered when I was a
seven-year-old girl I had said that
I wanted to be the happiest
woman in the world.
***
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Why has Olivia become a
successful career woman? Why
didn’t I receive a large inheritance
just like her? Why did Anna have a
sweet family just like in fairy tale
stories? Why did I have to stand
this kind of life? Why was I
married to this awful man? I
wanted everything to exchange. I
wanted all the things which Olivia
and Anna had.
At that time, I could not stop
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Chapter V
Period
Perhaps, this was my destiny. I
could not be possessed of great
intelligence, a beautiful
appearance nor the admiration of
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all my friends.
Suddenly, a misfortune
happened. My car hit a traffic
island and stalled. I tried to start
my car again but it did not work. I
tired to move my body with all my
strength. However, I still was
stuck in that small car. My head
hurt, and I was bleeding. I hoped
that someone would come to help
pull me out from my car. I tried to
phone Donald, but nobody
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answered. I used my last strength
to shout to get the attention of
anyone around me. Before I lost
consciousness, I could hear many
people talking about me, but
nobody was helping me. At that
time, I felt so helpless and
disheartened. I hoped someone
could help me, Donald especially.
“Please, please help me!” That
was the last sentence which I cried
with hopelessness.
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Chapter VI
Memory
Today, I came back to my
house, and I saw an old serious
man sitting on the sofa. I knew
that he was my husband, Donald.
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Actually, I felt like slapping him
across his face because of his
treatment. It was what I hope,
wasn’t it? However, I also wanted
to give him a big hug at that
moment. I could feel his sadness
and pain.
Although I do not understand
what he is really thinking about or
how he is feeling, I feel so sorry for
him. I know that he may be
miserable without me because he
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can not do anything by himself. He
always depends on me.
When I saw him sitting alone in
that house where is full of our
memories, I hoped I could talk to
him, kiss him, and even comfort
him. However, I could not do
anything. I was just standing then
looking at him.
When I entered our room, I
opened the drawer of the bedside
table and saw many prescriptions
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inside. I discovered that Donald is
ill. He has gotten a disease which
would make him depressed and
can not control his temper all the
time. I felt so sorrowful. Why
didn’t he tell me? I always thought
that he was a violent and terrible
man and husband before. If I
knew this in advance, maybe we
could have had a happy life
together.
***
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After a few minutes, I saw my
mom, dad and all of my relatives
and friends including Anna and
Olivia. They all cried. They cried
out for me and said something
about my past life. At that time,
tears started trickling down my
cheeks. I have never understood
why there were so many people
around me, and they also seemed
to be accompanied me. Why could
I only see the bad side but not the
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bright side of my life? I am so
regretful that I always thought I
am the most miserable person in
the world. Why did I leave them in
this world? If I paid more attention
and didn’t hang in grief then, I
would not get the car accident. I
should be with them forever,
shouldn’t I?
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References
http://116583654.blog.163.com/album/#m=2&aid=191056147&p
id=5636559536
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miss_bling/page7/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ello
angie/page2/
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Synopsis
Adeline, a beautiful
woman, always daydreams
about a wonderful and
free-minded life. However, she
married a man who is
stubborn and violent. She
tried to make her life just like
a dream; however, misfortune
seemed to follow wherever
Adeline would go…