The Story Behind "Who's Counting?"

Okay, she doesn't have a name yet, but I'm thinking Penelope. I'm not sure why, but I love that name.

Penelope's father is very abusive. Her mother left, years ago. Now, Penelope is eighteen. She has no friends and is very quiet, shy, and very, very smart.

Now she discovers, through a doctor visit, that she has a rare blood disease. (I have no idea what I'm gonna use for the disease.) She will be dead by the time she turns twenty-one.

One of three things will happen.

She's going to meet somebody, a guy, and will fall in love. Since he is the only one who cares about her, she will tell him everything about her. Her abusive father, her abandoning mother, and even her fatal heart disease.

OR.

The disease is actually a suicidal fantasy that started because of her abusive father and terrible life. But it will be like the women who think they are pregnant. There is something that happens to some women when they desperately want a baby. They will start showing every symptom of pregnancy without actually being pregnant. Pregnancy tests will even show that they are, indeed, pregnant. But they have no baby. In this case, she will believe that she has a heart disease so much, she will actually stop her heart when she turns twenty-one. In this case, perhaps I will bring in the boy too and he will help her through the pain.

While this one is very interesting, it doesn't have nearly as much of a bite to it. There isn't as much suspense from the real risk of her death.

OR.

She will start to die but as she is dying, suddenly realizes all of the people that actually do care about her and will live long enough for her to have her surgery to fix her heart.

That's all for now.