Prologue: The End is Only the Beginning...

Genetics :

 The end is only the beginning…

Prologue

As one stares out a window, time seems to pass. Seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to months, months to years. Before you know it, you are older, weaker, and tired. You are powerless as you watch the world change around you, while you remain still. Still, and unchanging, you are trapped there, endlessly staring out the window.

Thus had been my case for almost all of my 16 years. I had come to hate the people beyond my window. They had lives, they could change, they were free. I was trapped there, a prisoner of my own body.

You see, at the age of five, I was diagnosed with a disease called Berryberry, which is basically the lack of a vitamin called Berrimine in one’s body.  It was extremely rare in Sugar Valley, as vitamins like Berrimine were frequently added into everyday foods. However, like my mother, and hers, I was unable to take in Berrimine, which meant I would simply slowly waste away, just as Mom had. As I grew sicker, I grew bitter. I hated others, and myself. 

There were, fortunately, a few small ways I could escape. I absolutely loved to write, and my mother left me a beautiful guitar. On good days, when I could move my arms and upper body, I would play the guitar until I couldn't hold it anymore. My mom was a beautiful guitar player, and it had always been my dream to continue her legacy through that guitar. 

My mom, Cherry Blossom Dawn, was so, so wonderful. She loved me so much. At times, I’d see her, sitting there and smiling at me, and it almost felt as though she never left. Then, I would blink, and she’d be gone.

I was blessed, however, to still have Dad. Dad was so strong. He’s always put on a brave front, and he really seemed to be my light at the end of the tunnel.

People used to tell me I was the spitting image of my father. I never really saw it, but it was a wonderful compliment, as I loved his violet eyes and brilliant hair. I was not sure where my hair color had come from…

There were multiple times in which I would listen to my father and pretend to be asleep. With every new doctor we tried, and every bit of bad news that was said, I would pretend to be sleeping, and in reality be hearing every word that was said. That was how I knew that Dad was only being strong for me.

“No! That’s impossible! Please, Doctor, there must be a way!”

“I’m sorry sir, there really isn't anything we can do…”

“I don’t believe it! It’s not true! There has to be a way!”

“Sir! Sir, please!”

I honestly believe that watching him sink lower and lower with each new doctor killed me more that the disease itself.

One night, I had been having a particularly good day as I heard the jingle of keys and rustling of footsteps in the front room. Quickly, I propped myself up onto my elbows and smiled to greet my dad.

“Hey, there, Oasis. How was your day?” Dad was smiling, and I could see a little twinkle in his eye. 

“It was wonderful, dad! I was even able to play for a few hours.” I motioned towards the guitar sitting on my bed, and dad smiled as he moved it out of the way and sat down.

“I have something to tell you, O.” His use of my nickname told me that he was planning something. Suddenly, a memory flashed through my head of the last time he used my nickname.

“Happy birthday, O… Guess what, sweetheart?”

“Yes, daddy?”

“I have something for you!” He stands up, quickly walks into the kitchen and comes back with something held behind his back. “Close your eyes, O!” I close my eyes, and something cold and metallic is placed onto my lap. “Open!”

A smile spreads across my face.

“You don’t have to struggle with pencils and paper anymore, sweetheart.” A brand-new laptop sits on my lap.

I smiled at the wonderful memory of my 11th birthday, and look at dad. “What do you need to tell me, Dad?”

“Well, O…” He paused, and a wide variety of emotions flashed across his face. “I quit my job today.”

Those five words were the first in a series of announcements made that day that would shake my entire world.

“What? I’m sorry, what did you say, dad?”

“I quit my job, Oasis. I walked up to my boss and told him I quit.” I couldn't believe the words coming out of my father’s mouth. I was absolutely floored. “You see, sweetheart, I decided it was time we took a trip to the city., and we can't do that if I have a full-time job.” My eyes lit up.

Ever since I was young, I had always wanted to visit the city. Mom used to talk about it all the time. She said that the lights of the city glittered like jewels, and that the entire place was magical, that anything could happen there.

“Really? You’re not joking, are you Dad?” My eyes were probably about the size of dinner plates.

“I figured, why not? Besides, they have some wonderful doctors in Briocheport.” He smiled at me. “ I've already packed, we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, O.” 

“Thank you so much!”

At that, dad picked me up and hugged me. “Sleep well, O.”

That night, I almost couldn't bare to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful it would be to see the city before I di- while I still had the chance. Eventually, my eyelids were no longer able to keep themselves open, and I fell into a blissfully peaceful sleep.

*A note from the Author*

In this story, the main character, Oasis, has a made up disease called Berryberry. It is, in fact, based off of the real disease, Beriberi.  Beriberi is a serious problem that most commonly occurs in places where the right nutrition is not available. It also very, very rarely occurs as a hereditary disease in the U.S, and other similar countries. This is why Oasis has such a disease. The symptoms listed and described in Oasis's story are based off of the real ones, however, some of them are exaggerated or ignored for story telling purposes.

On a much happier note, I truly hope you've enjoyed reading the prologue for Genetics! Updates should come (hopefully) once a week, unless I announce otherwise. Thanks for reading!