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The students were challenged to write a scene from their life (real or imagined, but uniquely personal) from the perspective of a “second self”—a ghost-like and dispassionate observer of the action.

 HECTOR…transports us into his future as an electrician who falls from a ladder and into a coma wherein he returns to his TCS youth and a second chance at a life not to be taken for granted.

Scene from A Life

It has been close to 20 years since I graduated from TCS. The years went by, and all I did was work. I managed to get into the electrical union. Everything was going fine until that fateful day. I had to climb up onto a ladder. I made it to the top then I lost my balance. The last thing I remember is hitting the ground with a loud thud.

I woke up, and for some reason, I was in a place that resembled a movie theater. I walked around for a bit, and it seemed that the theatre was pretty empty. Every door was closed, except for one. I walked through the door and found a seat that looked comfortable. I didn’t know what to expect. Then, out of nowhere, the lights turned off, and something started to play on the screen.

A person was sleeping on their bed. An alarm started to ring, and the person got up. They sluggishly walked out of the room. Once they walked into the bathroom and turned the lights on, I saw myself start brushing my teeth. I dressed myself and walked out of my house. I got into my beautiful 2009 Toyota Camry, and I sat in the car for a bit before driving away. I miss that car so much. After all these years, it is still my favorite.

I parked the car somewhere near the school and walked into the classroom. I had almost forgotten how the room looked. (The school had closed a while back, and I lost touch with most of my classmates.) I shook Mr. Tom’s hand and turned in all of my assignments. I looked around the room and saw all of my classmates talking and laughing. It was kinda weird to be back at school after so many years. I saw myself go through the motions of the day. I almost regret not enjoying my younger years more. Now I am old, with knee pain, and my hair has started to fall out. Seeing myself so much younger and full of energy almost made me want to jump through the screen and go back into the past.

The screen turned off, and I sat there for a moment. Eventually, I fell asleep. This time, I woke up in a hospital, where there were bright lights that blinded me. I sat up, and a doctor came over to inform me of my condition. He told me that I had an accident at work, which sent me into a coma. And by a miracle, I had managed to survive. Being given a second chance in life, I will make sure not to take it for granted. And I will stay far away from ladders. 

 Hector Rivas

March 20, 2026