The cold winter nights were frozen; artic winds flowed through the small town in the North Pole. Glaciers surrounded the place, the population was only about 100-150 people, this, even included tourists who frequently visited the town for the yearly hike to the centre of the icy wasteland. Gwen untied the snow dogs from her sledge and trudged through the melting roadside into a creaky café. The door swung dramatically as the gust of the wind clasped it shut sharply.
“One coffee please” she asked as she slid off her thick gloves, her small fingers were as red as strawberries.

  Gwen was at the age of 14 but was very mature, she took no ridicule from anyone and believed she could achieve anything if she just set her mind too it. She was right, she was determined and strong and once she had a goal, god help the person who stood in her way. Such bravery and commitment was unusual to be seen in such a dainty child, but Gwen was different. Her fiery personality stunned many and she often left them burned in her way. Living life to the fullest was the main motto that she lived and breathed by, “life is short and you only get one crack at it, so make the most of it”. The night got deeper and the temperature dropped even further below freezing point, she buttoned up her coat and headed for home. The dogs were weak and tired and lay in the snow like domestic animals. Gwen with a sharp snap of the rails got them to their feet and off they went into the distant night.

  The next day the sun rose early in the crimson morning sky, Gwen yawned then sat upright in her bed. Her small bedroom had a slanted window that looked over the town. It was always a beautiful sight in summer as the northern lights flickers across the horizon like a great artist’s creation. She loved art, including the posters of the artic challenge that were pinned up every year. They always had magnificent detail and neon colours. The paper was glossy and smooth and looked nearly royal as the sun set at night and reflected against it. Gwen always thought the world was a small place, not very imaginable dreams occurred in her head. She wanted to win the artic challenge but was far too young to enter; she had at least 6 more years to wait till she could at least be considered a contestant. Life would have to be put on hold until she was old enough, but until then she had plenty of time to practise with her trustworthy dogs.

  That day, an unfamiliar face arrived in town; he looked Hollywood fresh with pearly white teeth and black thick rimmed sunglasses, even when it was snowing. He spoke with a very American accent, which to Gwen, was terribly annoying, seeing as though she was from Ireland. He had a camera crew with him that followed his every move. First they settled in the hotel for a couple of hours and then showed their faces in the town hall looking for some action. This place wasn’t the most interesting but still had a light hearted aura to it.
“Hey Gwen” said someone from the corner of the room, “come here”.
Gwen saw who it was and walked over, it was Pete, one of her close friends.
“Hello, do you have any idea who this new face is? Looks fake and suspicious if you ask me” Gwen replied sitting down.
“All I have heard is its some famous Hollywood director looking for the next top model, some sort of American hit TV series I think” said Pete sipping some hot coco.
“Hmm really...” whispered Gwen intrigued.
She got up from where she was sitting and walked closer over to this 'director'. He looked up and smiled broadly in her direction, it looked as if he had spotted what he was looking for.

“Well hello there poppet” he greeted her smiling still.
“Hi” replied Gwen leaning on a nearby table.
“You’re perfect for the part! Wow look at that pale skin, the big blue eyes, you could be the next big thing kid” he exclaimed jabbing his finger in Gwen’s face.
“Yeah, but no thanks, I’m not leaving this town, it’s my home and my life” answered Gwen heading for the door.
“Wait, hold up, you could be millionaire model, the looks, the money, everything. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, not every kid gets offered such a brilliant career” The man said smiling again.
“No thanks sir” replied Gwen walking out the hall.

  Unfortunately the next day Gwen was awoken to find her mother was terribly sick, the only way she could survive would to have an expensive operation which the family simply could not afford. It was tragic and it seemed there was no way out, until Gwen realised what the Hollywood guy had said about her fortune. She could except the opportunity and then get the money to pay for her mother’s treatment, it wouldn’t take that long then after her mum was right as rain, she could easily just quit the modelling agency and move back to the artic town which she loved so dearly.
So it was settled, Gwen was going to work in Hollywood.

  The flight was the next day, there was lots of turbulence and then the plane felt as if it was diving downwards, as if there was no control, just falling, without any end. Gwen looked out the window and saw the devastating truth. The plane was falling; it was going to crash right into the sea and is swallowed up by the engulfing water which was below freezing. There was no mercy for the passengers on board that flight that dreadful day. Gwen was unconscious when the plane hit the water at an incredible force; she had previously passed out from the shock of the whole experience. Her heart had stopped beating and she was now classed as dead.

  The funeral took place a few weeks later once the body was recovered from the icy sea. She was known as the perfect imperfection. She was pretty and had the most perfect life in front of her, but the imperfect aircraft took away her life. Many people blamed the pilot, some blamed the plane, but the honest truth was just it was a mistake, a mistake that could have happened to anybody, but it just had to happen to her. Nobody knew the petrol tank would explode from overheating, its just one of those things.

  So as the world carried on spinning after the unfortunate events, People learned to appreciate what they had for the time being, instead of living for more in the future.