The alarm clock's harsh cry randg in Maggie's ears as the sun glared into her face. She groaned as the rolled over to seelook athe timhe, "clock. "Crap!" she yelled as she saw the time. She quickly got ready, skipping breakfast. But as she left her door the school bus drove away. "hHey!" she yelled, but it was too late. She said to herself, "tThis can't get any worse."

At school, when she met her friends they were all excited about the climb they had scheduled for that afternoon. Thane said, "I'm worried about all that said they said was goin' happen." Jane replied, "dDon't be such a wimp, and everyone knows that thing is always wrong anyway." Maggie told Zach, "pPlease calm them down"." Then the bell for the first period rang. tThey all said goodbye and went to their classes.

After school, Jane said, "lLet's meet at Clive's Rock,. Zach, bring the car." Then they all went home. Maggie got her gear and told her mother goodbye. She then caught a bus to go to Clive's Rock. They all met at the path and got into Zackh's car. Soon they got to Raven's point., Tthe tallest cliff infor 500 miles around. Thane told them to check their gear, but Maggie was too excited to. She ran to the bottom, which was dangerous in itself, and waited. Soon they were all ready. They got their grapples ready and then threw them to the first ledge.

About 30 minutes later they reached the half -way point 500 feet up and called for a rest. They chatted about school and their lives. Then Maggie said, "Let's finish the climb,! rReady, guys!?" "YES!!" they all said, pumping their fists into the air. They started the second half of the climb. It was going fine until Maggie noticed her rope was fraying. "Guys!" she yelled, and then she was falling. Her mind wandered as she fell. She remembered her life from her first moment untoil now. She saw her friends' faces as they looked at her. She said she was sorry for everything she had done or would do. Maggie hit the rock 200 feet. down and fell unconscious.

Somehow she survived. sShe woke up 2two days later in a hospital with a tube idown her throat, but alive. Her family was gathered around her. No one noticed she was awake. But on the 3third day, she gathered enough strength to move her fingers, and then her whole arm. But she couldn't feel or move her legs. Her family was overjoyed. The next day they removed the respirator and she could sit up. The doctors told her, "You landed right on your feet. That's what saved you, but you will never walk again"." Her family looked at her, but she only said, "I'm glad to be alive." She had to go through therapy and she learned to use a wheelchair.

But through that whole experience, she learned one thing,: Tto enjoy living whilen it lasts, because it can end just as suddenly as it began.




The End