I looked behind me. And in front. And to the left. And the right.

“What are you waiting for? Just do it!” A voice rings in my ears. I groan. My ears ache so badly!

“I can’t!” I say “What if something worse than this happens? What if this cure doesn’t work? What if – Melanie, are you listening?”

She’s gone silent. She hates remembering what happened back then. So do I, truth be told. When the incurable virus broke out, it was pandemonium. The streets were filled with dead bodies. We thought nothing of it. That is, until our mother died. Then, we knew something had to be done. So here we were! I, standing with two test tubes in my hands, and my sister Melanie, persuading me to do it.

Find a cure. Would that work out? We didn’t know.

I wince in pain. My head aches!

Melanie’s eyes are big and pleading “Listen sis, you don’t have to do this. I will.” She reaches for the test tubes. “Give them to me!”

I raise my hands higher. I was not going to let my little sister get her hands on them.

She jumps up to reach them. I know what I have to do. I let the test tubes drop. It falls to the floor with a crash. Glass is strewn across the room. Melanie stares at me, aghast.

“Why did you do that? I understand it would have been risky, but at least we could’ve tried!” I stare at her “And risk more people dying? What I did is for the greater good! Can’t you see that?” She’s still staring at me. Tears are flowing out of her eyes. “So many people lost their entire families during the outbreak, not only their mothers! We could have saved so many people from dying, Sis! Why did you do that?”

“Because it was too risky! Why are you acting like this, Melanie?” I shake her long and hard.

She wriggles away and starts running to where the chemicals were kept. I run after her. Oh, how my legs ache! But I can’t let her escape!

“Melanie! Come back, Melanie!” She isn’t listening. What can I do about that? I pause to think. I let her run away. I feel faint.

I’m running and it feels so good!

My name is Melanie, and if it weren’t for my sister Nora I would be jumping up and down with excitement. We would’ve found the cure had she not gone and ruined it all. 

You probably don’t know what I’m talking about, right? Let me tell you.

Once upon a time, there was a Lab. That Lab was awesome with a capital A! It made life for many people easier. It, in fact, was the first to start left-handed sharpeners! All the lefties were in praise of the Lab since then. You see, the founder of the Lab was left-handed, so he’s always had a soft spot for people like himself.

But one day, an experiment went wrong and a truly fearsome virus broke out! It spread everywhere, killing people by the dozen! And then it killed my mother… And we would have found a cure! I’m sure of it! But Nora spoiled the chance to do so.

But never mind! Now, I’m running to get the same chemicals and make the cure! Wait, why has Nora stopped?

Never mind, just keep running! I’ve found the things I’ve been looking for! I mix them together.

Oooh! So exciting! They’re bubbling and frothing! Now I have to test it on someone.

“Melanie!” I scream. My voice is cracking.

“Nora! A blurry figure is coming towards me.

 My eyes burn.

“Melanie! Is that you?”

“Yes, sister! I’m here to help you!”

She opens my mouth against my will and pours something into it. 

A fizzy liquid. I gasp. I felt so much better!

She’s staring at me, with tears in her eyes. But those are tears of joy. 

I’m almost certain.

“Oh, sister!” She hugs me tight and starts crying “I thought I was going to lose you. I’m so happy.”

I stare at her sceptically.

She smiles “We’ve found a cure for the virus!”

“How do you know?”

“I mixed the two chemicals and when I found you, I realised that you had the disease. You were in so much pain… So I gave you the medicine and you felt better!”

“My beloved sister!” I hug her tight. 

We’ve done it! We’ve saved our village!

We went around, giving the antidote to sick people. They recovered fast. 

Thanks to my sister, we’ve cured the village.