I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I took a shower and went straight to the computer. I read about the symptoms of CJD again, but this time it was different because it was about me: personality changes, anxiety, depression, memory loss, blurred vision, insomnia, and difficulty speaking. At times, I had all of these! According to Internet sources, I had less than seven months to live because that’s the length of time the disease runs from the onset of symptoms. Technically, I already was dead! Immediately my vision blurred and I felt anxious. So I thought that if was going to die—because the memory loss had me forgetting that my parents had developed a potential cure (right?)—then I was going to enjoy my final weekend. My last stand. I dug my cell phone out of my book bag and saw all the text messages from Amilee. Within seconds of my text, she called me, as usual. “What’s up, little sistah? Are we still on for tonight?” “Oh, yeah. And what do you say about ditching school the rest of the day?”
