Night lets me know she’s on the way while I’m in the middle of getting ready. I decided to wear one of the designer outfits I bought the other day. Even though I know I don’t need to impress anyone, let alone Night, I can’t stand the thought of looking like a complete potato compared to her. She always looks perfect and wears the cutest outfits. Ugh… My attention turns to the River Sapphire around my neck. I may not compare to an immortal in appearance, but am I even completely human anymore? I haven’t been able to morph using the pendant yet, sure, but isn’t that the goal of the Human Immortal Program – to change me into something that’s neither human or immortal? This line of thought is kind of foreboding. I laugh it off and head downstairs. …show more content…
I nod. “It’s called the River Sapphire.” “It’s pretty.” She looks back at her sister. “It’s nothing like the other human-immortal’s charm, though. His is yellow, isn’t it?” “It’s kind of ugly,” Carmen confirms with a short nod. “Like his personality.” Wait. Other human-immortal? “There’s someone else like me here in Riverview?” I ask. Her expression goes blank for a moment, but Carmen soon laughs. “If you’re not a complete ass, you’re nothing like him,” she says. “Trust me. We tried to invite him here, but he didn’t respond to any of our messages. I know he read them, but he didn’t even take the time to decline.” Night frowns and glances down at the table. “I figured as much.” It would have been amazing to speak with someone else who is in a similar situation as me. From what I understand, there aren’t many humans who know about immortals, and there are even less that are part of the Human Immortal Program. Less than two hundred. What are the chances that there would be two in the same city? Though, if he’s as bad as Carmen says, maybe it’s for the best that he didn’t show. “Taylor’s not that bad,” Natalie says before smiling at me again. “Anyway, how does your charm …show more content…
I shake my head. “It’s fine. I had fun hanging out with Carmen and Natalie.” “Even so, I was hoping he would.” She sighs, adjusting her grip on the steering wheel. “He’s been the only human-immortal in Riverview until now. I think it would have been good for both of you if you met.” “I thought so too,” I admit. She smiles for a moment before frowning softly. “However, it’s true that he has a negative attitude and a rather… low opinion of immortals. I don’t know if it’s always been that way for Taylor, but I hope the same does not happen to you.” “Me too,” I say slowly. “Do you know how he learned about immortals?” “Mm…” She shakes her head. “He was adopted into an immortal family when he was young. That’s all I know for sure. I had a few classes with him back in high school, but he never spoke much. Most information that circulated about him was rumor.” “I see…” “Deciding against meeting you is his loss,” she assures me. “You haven’t known about us very long, but you take everything so well, and you’re very kind.” Based on the way they behave, I don’t see much of a difference between humans and immortals. I assume they’re the same as humans: most are decent people. I haven’t met many, but I haven’t been treated poorly by any of the immortals I have met so
“You’re being silly about Jake. There are bigger things to worry about.” Nell felt her throat go dry as she fought tears. “Oh, Nell, I’m sorry,” Emma said.
“Yeah?” Tom muttered moodily, his face a picture of despondency. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’s probably featuring in his
"I 'm actually glad you both did that. I feel a little bit better." She chewed a piece of licorice, and turned on her back to look up at the ceiling. " So...why didn 't you tell me that you told him you love him?"
" OK...I'll come. It sounds like fun." Sadie snorted. "Sure, nothing sound more fun then going to Texas to protect an ancient Egyptian book, which is being hunted by a giant chaos snake."
In regards to immortality, Todd May argues that it would be an undesirable experience. He argues that immortality would eventually cause everyone to be the same because everyone would have the time to experience the same things. In this paper, I will show that May’s argument is invalid, and that immortality would not cause everyone to become the same person. To begin, May comes to this conclusion after reading “The Immortal” by Jorge Luis Borges.
" Oh, why tha-a-thank you Ms. Jones." He says with a smile stretched across his face. I smile and nod. When he walks past me to collect the papers of the kid behind me, that's when Nathan decides to laugh at me.
Thousands of years ago, so the story went, the plague emerged and people began losing their shadows, marked with the kiss of immortality. At first, the condition seemed like a dream come true. Who wouldn't want to live forever? Then the No-Shadows began losing their minds. While their bodies stayed young, their brains grew wearier and wearier, until immortality scooped out their souls.
"You are kidding! " The girl said angrily, studying him with a long gaze. "I don’t." He answered. "I can show you my mini rewards that I always carry with me."
One could simply avoid death or experience it and move on. Death is but a bad condition to the aliens. they see all of the other times people are fine. Billy writes in a letter explaining the creatures ”When a tralfamadorian sees a corpse, all he thinks is that the dead person is in a bad condition in that particular moment, but the same person in fine in plenty of other moments”(27). People would be careless about death and would be shocked and sad the first time if unprepared or not expecting the moment but would quickly move on or go back to see the person some more, or save them as mentioned before.
For centuries, mortals have scoffed at the actions of the gods, often comparing them to little children arguing over toys. As Honer states, “We men are wretched things.” (Homer) However, what humans fail to realize, is exactly how similar the actions of the immortals are to that of man. The concept that allows readers and audiences to relate to the gods so fully is the fact that they are so similar to humans.
One thing that bothered me about this reading the fact that Gilgamesh and I shared the same reaction to a death close to us. I read this story a few years ago, shortly after the death of someone close to me. I never understood why I looked at myself and realized that I was not immortal. I know I mentioned this in my presentation, but I it almost seems ridiculous to think everyone is going to die especially yourself. However, it is just as ridiculous to feel like you're invincible and that you’ll live a long life.
In the excerpt from the Epic of Gilgamesh, a quote that summarizes their views on mortal life nicely is “… for this too is the lot of man” (94). Which basically means that this is just the way the gods meant for mortals to live. To be mortal
Yet it holds the same human experiences, same human emotions, and same human ambitions. It holds the same sentiments we hold dear today, such as life and friendship in utmost importance. It speaks of human ambition to be remembered and to live forever, that can be found even up to this day. Gilgamesh attributed his immortality with enduring monuments, such as the city of Uruk, modern day individuals, in the same manner, attribute their immortality with the name they made for themselves. The truth of society, how nature works, and how human beings relate with each other, and how man’s actions can influence other things, are greatly intertwined.
Then there’s the question, what does it mean to be human? We are a part of someone much greater than we realized. Some might say who cares? Alone we will determine not only our fate, but our children, grandchildren, and so on. It’s a heavy burden to carry however, it is what is to be expected.