Failure to Engage — Melissa R.L. Simonin

Justin Reeves slowly put his phone back in his pocket. He looked around, and wondered what to do. Picking up the prescription and going to bed was one option, but… with so little time left, is that how he wanted to spend it? He was only twenty-one, and not likely to make it past that. If he did, the progression of symptoms would make him wish he hadn't. He was almost overwhelmed by the realization once again. His life was about to be cut short before he even had a chance to live. The thought filled him with anger. Determination to live to the fullest whatever time he had left, doused the anger and left him once again looking around, wondering… what to do. Something great, if he could find it. He was filled with the desire to leave something of value behind. If he died today, his friends would miss him for a while, but it wouldn't be long before they moved on. The thought saddened him. He didn't want to die alone, and in many ways he would. But if he could make his life mean something first, leave behind some lasting legacy, make the world a better place for having lived, then… the thought of death wouldn't leave him feeling as though he might as well have never lived at all. But how? Maybe that's what he should pray for.