The Time is Ticking

The room was completely white. The walls, the floor, the corners, not even a shade of another color-- just white. I found myself sitting in the middle of the room. I looked around and I saw nothing. No windows and no light. I looked down; I was wearing a pale pink dress. As I slowly raised my hands to straighten out the wrinkles on the dress, I saw a watch on my left arm. It was a silver Rolex watch with a blue face. It looked like an antique as it had scratches on the sides. The time stopped at 4:37 and the date was set to the 27^th. I did not really care for the watch at the moment; my mind was too focused on trying to find out where I was. I slowly slid on my chair in order for my two feet to touch the ground. The ground felt cold, I started wiggling my toes around as I got up. I turned to my right then I turned to my left. Still nothing. I started walking straight and a blur started forming. The closer I got to it the more focused it got. I began to run towards the blur, and then I realized it was a door. I started running towards the door and finally reached it. The handle was gold, but had rust surrounding it. From the knob, I saw my reflection. I looked so different I thought it was a stranger staring back at me.  My cheeks were sunken in with no presence of pink on my face. I decided to ignore my horrid visage and decided to open the door. I placed my hand on the handle, but I was too scared for what was to come. I was scared that this would be a trap and that I would have to live in this white box forever. I became hesitant. But, I decided to take a risk and open the door. It was a bright shining light so I had my hand act as a shade for my face. From a distance, I saw a man coming towards me.  I stepped backwards as I let him approach me. As he came closer, my eyes closed and I heard a whisper in my ear. He said, “Welcome, to your beginning.”

It was a warm Sunday and the cherry blossoms had just blossomed. My mom had just woken me up from my sleep with tears filling up her eyes. I woke up worried and asked her what was wrong.

“Oh Sammy, I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve this. How about we just spend this day with the family, okay?” she said.

I was confused, but I just stayed quite and let her hold me in her arms. I didn’t know what was going on, but I started tearing up as well. For some odd reason, I knew that this was going to be about me. She pulled herself away and said, “You only have 24 hours to live.” I couldn’t handle the story, so I acted as if I didn’t hear it and went on with my daily morning routine.

I was standing right in front of my closet deciding what to wear. Knowing that it was going to be my last outfit, I knew I had to at least look good for my grandparents. I started scratching the side of my face trying to think of a nice outfit. I wanted to look good for my grandparents. My family and I come visit them every Sunday and we always look forward to it. I opened up all my closet doors and saw a pink dress peeking out from all my other dresses. I had not worn it in a long time, so I decided to try it on. I put on my white bag across my shoulders and was ready to head out with my family. I was about to walk out the door, when I stopped and turned back. I looked at the mirror one last time. I wanted to check how I looked, I said to myself, “Better look good for you last day.” I put on my white ballet flats and walked out the door. My parents and my older brother were waiting for me in the car. They all had sunken looks on their faces and the car ride to our grandparent’s house was silent. I looked out the window and saw the cherry blossoms surrounding the city. Everything seemed normal and I still couldn’t believe that my life was going to be over in 24 hours.  The car ride to my grandparent’s house was the most dreadful ride ever. It felt like hours to arrive there when it usually only took 30 minutes. When my dad parked the car, everyone just sat there for a while. We didn’t know what to say. I knew everybody was upset and they didn’t know how to handle the situation. Then my mom broke the ice, but in a sad way, “They should have taken me.” When I heard this, I screamed. I had let out all my anger at this moment.

“Don’t ever say that, mom. They took my for a reason, don’t blame yourself for this.” I said.

            I then walked out of the car and rang my grandparent’s doorbell. The doorbell was pink and had a floral printing for the background. My grandma had opened the door with a big smile. She always had that smile on whenever we came to visit. She greeted each and every one of us and told us to come in for lunch. She had the whole table set up for us. When everyone sat down on their chairs, I noticed my grandpa wasn’t sitting with us. I asked my grandma where he was, and she said he did not feel well and was lying in bed.  I excused myself from the table and went into my grandpa’s room. My grandpa was my favorite person in the whole world, besides my grandma. I looked up to him as a role model and a best friend. 

What is Cassius suggesting and how does he build his argument?

Cassius believes Caesar is not capable of ruling Rome. He believes Brutus would be a much better leader than a man who is weak and inferior. Cassius asks if Brutus sees himself as a person, but he says he cannot, to which Cassius replies, “That you have no such mirrors as will turn/ Your hidden worthiness into your eye” (I ii 56-57). He tells Brutus that he will be his personal mirror so that he can see what kind of a man he is. Cassius says that the people of Rome believe Brutus is worthy and honorable, but it is just him that does not believe so. He tries to build up his argument and convince Brutus he is capable of being a leader, by comparing themselves to Caesar. He says, “I had as life not be, as live to be/ In awe of such a thing as I myself” (I ii 95-96). Cassius says that he “was born free as Caesar; so were you:/ We both have fed as well, and we can both/ Endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (I ii 97-99). He believes even he himself and Brutus are the same as Caesar, there is nothing special about this man. If Caesar was so amazing, he would be different from everyone else. Cassius builds up his argument by telling the stories of the times where Caesar was weak and vulnerable, and that rulers should not be like this. He tells the story of when Caesar was swimming in Tiber River and he was too weak and started sinking as he cried for help. He does not understand how he can save Caesar, who is weak, but now he has become a god in the eyes of others. And the other time when Caesar had a fever in Spain, he started to shake. Cassius questions if god’s shake or even manage to get sick with sickness commoners get. Cassius adds on by saying, “Men at some time are masters of their fates:/ The fault, dear Brustus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves” (I ii 139-142). He believes men should decide their fate and take action. He then questions what the difference is with the names Brutus and Casear. “What should be in that “Caesar”?. Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” He compares the names constantly as he adds in the word “as” to everything Brutus and Caesar have equally. Cassius is able to sway his thoughts and consider what he is saying.