The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING/General
Requested Parental Consent and/or Participation Release forms are received from each applicant (unless otherwise is indicated).
GUIDELINES

• The Virtual Award Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (EST)
  Stay in tune…

The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards 
Submitted Category: WRITING/General 
Submission Code: W5/G 
Student Age: 16 | Grade 9 | Word count: 1200

Water as a Source of Life

[The 2023 J.U.C. Awards, LMGlobal.Org]
Somewhere in the future, the population has grown a lot more than the scientists foresee and the needs couldn’t be met because of overpopulation and serious reduction of the needs. All the governments on the earth had to organise the usage of these needs and put limits to prevent malnutrition, drought and any other pollution. The whole world’s system has turned into a cruel and strict form that no one can ever cheat. The most precious thing that most people admire, money, it became useless in this case, it no longer has any value. At this time, people are waiting in a long line just for one thing. One thing that has one of the most crucial places in their lives, one thing that they can never have effortlessly because of themselves. Think if you were one of these people, think if your child were one of these people who are waiting for something that you can have easily right now. They all wear masks to protect themselves from the toxic air as there are not many trees left. Everyone is frightened and waiting anxiously in the line. When it is their turn, they are given a container which stores the liquid in it for each day. Then, people are leaving with this small container which they hold tightly, they are protecting this container to death.

Finally, it’s your turn, but you have to be careful. If you fall or drop the container, you will be suffering for another day. Look carefully, if you don’t want anyone to steal your container. In this situation, everyone is a prey and a hunter who is looking for this container. Shouts like “Get your hands off my container! Please! I am begging you!” is from a little man who tries to protect his container from the gangs. “No child, step back! It is mine now.” the gangs yelled back at their little prey, he had to obey them. He can’t resist them with his tiny body. Turn your head away, you can’t help him, do not even try to talk otherwise gangs will take your container, too. Despite all the waiting and attention, you fall down. Even though you are really badly injured, you don’t care about yourself, there is one thing that is more important than your situation. Because of this, not only you but also your family will be in pain. You want to shout as much as you can, but the words don’t come out of your mouth. The liquid is all around the ground, not even a single voice is coming from people. Everybody is astonished, they pity you, but they can’t help you, they also need this liquid. “What will happen now?” “I can’t help, I also have a family.” “Oh! Poor human…” Everyone is starting to whisper and just wish to bring the liquid safely to their families unlike you. You stand up on your knees and try to put the liquid back into the container. Your hands are bleeding because of rubbing the sharp rocks on the ground while you are trying to put the liquid back into the container. However, the effort is like getting blood from a stone, the container is still empty and you have nothing to put in it. You stand up and head to your house in frustration. You are aware of the fact that falling is not an acceptable excuse for not bringing the liquid, it is not that simple and it was your duty to bring it. Not only your body, but also your soul is feeling weak, it can not handle the pain anymore. While you are walking, you start to examine the streets. Everything is grey, even the sky. The air smells like fumes, and you don’t see any trees around you. The world has lost its beautiful colors and they have faded away. Everything looks like they are made by soulless and ruthless people, and that is true at some point. The feelings start to control your body and you feel like you are going insane. You know you are about to cry but your body can not produce tears anymore and you are still trying to walk. Your dry lips are trembling just like your legs. You still feel the blood dripping down your hands to the ground. You see your home with no flowers, no animals and no colors around. Do you feel like you belong to that dead place? You remember the old world which was like a treasure. Is this really the same world as before or just a poison that humans made by themselves? You remember the time when you were playing with your little puppy and having fun with your family on a picnic day in the park, and the time when you were five and trying to learn how to swim on the beach. You can’t find either a beach or an animal. The liquid even took away the happiness, the joy of living. The realization makes you question everything about this liquid. Everything was depending on just a liquid, why didn’t people secure this liquid? Didn’t they think about the consequences that cause problems to the next generations, animals or plants? What will happen to them now? The questions start to eat your brain, there is no sensible answer other than being selfish and reckless in the past. It is too late now, there is no Time Machine that has been invented to fix it, yet. People were too careless to understand that their needs were not infinite, they didn’t realise or just chose to ignore the importance of it until it got worse and worse. There is no use crying over spilt milk, there is no solution left.

You are standing across the street from your house and staring at your broken house in anguish. You know your family is eager for you to bring the liquid, they need it to survive in this world. However, you have nothing to bring, not even a single drop. How come a liquid matter that much? It is not easy for your weak soul to see your family’s disappointed faces when they see you. You have just one important mission, and you can’t succeed. The feeling of guilt is killing you inside, you can’t think properly anymore. You feel your eyes and throat are burning. The pain is getting more unbearable second by second. You have neither a way to find peace nor the enthusiasm for that. The burden is excessively hard to carry and you are too exhausted. Maybe in the afterlife, you will have access to this liquid and live a normal and a delightful life. You hear a toot coming from a high speed car, the only realistic and possible solution is to step forward. In fact, it is a good fortune for you, don’t hesitate, so after you close your eyes and take off the mask to take a deep breath for the last time. When you get ready, you step forward to find peace which is impossible to have on this earth. Finally, everything is gone now, like water…