It was the fall of 2010 that change my life forever. I was a freshman in high school going through many changes in my life already and just trying to find out what I wanted to do in the next four years. Then something tragic happened that I would never forget.  On October 19, 2010 my longtime friend Daniel, who had cerebral palsy and a brain tumor, lost his battle to the cancer.

At first I was shocked and sad. Then I had so many emotions whirling in my mind. I had anger and sadness inside of me. I was happy that he was in a better place but there were other times I wished I could have prevented the cancer from spreading through his whole body.

My mind was a ticking time bomb. It was ready to explode on anything I could. I felt like I was living in the world, but not living all at once. My mind was dark and I was carrying feelings of guilt. I would often ask why I couldn’t have had the brain tumor. Why I couldn’t have died at fifteen years old. Daniel wanted to do so much with his life and now he was gone.

I didn't know how to channel my emotions. I was too young. I didn’t know what to do.

But one day it clicked. I was at a Barnes & Noble with my step dad. I was drinking a vanilla bean Frappuccino and looking at the bestsellers section. And all of the sudden it just clicked. When I got home I opened my computer, started a black document and began writing the first sentence of my book, James’ Ticking Time Bomb. I have not stopped writing since that day.

Writing has become one of my greatest gifts. I’ve gone on a journey to become a self-published author and I am thankful for all the people that I have met along the way. Seven years ago if someone would have told me I was going to become an author I would have laughed in their face. I would have said there was more of a chance that I would become a graphic designer or even an actress in Hollywood.

But now here I am: a twenty-two year old woman, with Cerebral Palsy, using my gift of writing to spread awareness about the disease. I just want people to know that sometimes it takes a tragedy in life for you to find your passion and your dreams.  

-Tylia Flores