Headless Hijinks: A Teenage Girl's Unconventional Adventure to Keep Her Job

My name is Emily, an ordinary young woman filled with extraordinary dreams. Until the day I woke up as possibly the most extraordinary teenager in the history of mankind. When I woke up, my perspective was a bit… off. It wasn't until I saw my body thrashing desperately in the bed beside me that it clicked: my head was detached from my body. The panic was incredible. My body bumped into anything and everything around the room, painlessly showing me how humourous and daunting my situation was. It was a hilarious and terrifying reality. Without wasting much time, I ordered my body to calm down, surprised to find it 'heard' me and froze on the spot. "Reach into the bed," I ordered, much like a drill sergeant. My body responded, feeling around for my head. After several attempts, it finally picked me up. It was a strange sensation, like being picked up by your own hands and yet they are not connected to you. My lost body looked at me, or at least where my head was meant to be. It stumbled around trying to place my head back. But as soon as it let me go, I fell to the floor with a soft thud. I sighed, or at least mentally sighed. If I didn't figure out how to get to work like this, I'd be fired for sure. So, instead of giving up, I began working out a sort of system. I quickly became my body’s eyes, navigating it around while it carried me. It was like being inside my personal vehicle...my personal robot. I decided not to panic, but approach the situation as a puzzle. I chose clothes that were easy for my body to put on and was careful to balance my head on my body while getting dressed. Though it was an unbelievable struggle, after a series of minor victories and defeats, I was finally dressed and surrounded by a destroyed room. Executing simple tasks like making food and showering became monumental challenges. I learnt to simplify everything I could, and after what seemed like an eternity (read: 2 hours), I overcame the house-front stumbling and almost fell into my car. At work, my colleagues thought I was playing a prank. You have no idea how many people screamed or fainted, it was amusing and worrisome alike. The day was full of commotion and commiseration, but above all things, it was full of resilience. I had a heated conversation with my boss, who was terrified but finally patted ‘me’ on the back, saying, “Well, as long as your business nous and determination are still intact, we can work something out.” My journey continued in this manner, a bizarre adventure of endless challenges and victories. It was a tutorial in resilience, adaptability and the power of the mind over the body. My head and body might be separate, but my spirit sure wasn't, and I proved every day that a grasp of courage is sometimes all you need to face the most absurd obstacles.