Back in January, I came across the 91-Word Memoir contest, which was hosted by the Gotham Writers Workshop. In honour of a Gotham student who passed away a few days before her 91st birthday, the Gotham Writers Workshop challenged writers to tell a personal story in 91 words or less. The winner and finalists were announced a few days ago (congrats all). I didn’t make the list of finalists, but I thought I would share my entry here (I called it “One Word”):
“Shauna has diabetes.”
I sat with my mother, the two of us bawling while the doctor told us what happens next. I didn’t know why we were crying; the word the doctor said meant nothing to my seven-year-old mind. But mom was crying, and so I cried, too.
The doctor told us to go home and get some of my things. Then my life changed forever. I had to fear low blood sugars and complications. Plus the nurse made me eat my crusts. All thanks to that one word.
I tried to make it exactly 91-words, but unfortunately it ended up only 89.
An Acquaintance with Letters 