Challenge #14: Character Study
Jennifer, one of the main characters in the story I hope to actually write one day, is a married woman in her late 30s with two children. While there is nothing inherently wrong with her life-her husband loves her, her children are good, and they are financially stable, she is unhappy. Her decisions thus far have been guided by her hope for the future-to be educated, to get married, to have a family, and a good job. But now that she has all of those things, she feels stifled rather than happy and satisfied. She worked so hard to get her life where she wanted it to go that she gave up certain opportunities and experiences for only those that brought her future one step closer to the present. As a result, when everyone stops aging, she seizes her opportunity; finally, there is time to do everything she tossed aside.
At first, she’s just late for dinner, but then she’s lying about her family and not coming home at all. The freedom begins to consume her and she becomes reckless. However, after so many years of this reckless behavior, she becomes bored.
Once aging is restored, at an even quicker pace, she’s horrified by her actions and the fact that she had the opportunity to spend an extra lifetime with her family but squandered it away for such meaninglessness, as she now recognizes. As her life ticks to an end, she battles with the regret of her choices while struggling to spend the last few moments with her family.
At first, she’s just late for dinner, but then she’s lying about her family and not coming home at all. The freedom begins to consume her and she becomes reckless. However, after so many years of this reckless behavior, she becomes bored.
Once aging is restored, at an even quicker pace, she’s horrified by her actions and the fact that she had the opportunity to spend an extra lifetime with her family but squandered it away for such meaninglessness, as she now recognizes. As her life ticks to an end, she battles with the regret of her choices while struggling to spend the last few moments with her family.