The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: existence. What fun they had had together, he and Tuppence! And
now--oh, he couldn't believe it--it couldn't be true!
TUPPENCE--DEAD! Little Tuppence, brimming over with life! It was
a dream, a horrible dream. Nothing more.
They brought him a note, a few kind words of sympathy from Peel
Edgerton, who had read the news in the paper. (There had been a
large headline: EX-V.A.D. FEARED DROWNED.) The letter ended with
the offer of a post on a ranch in the Argentine, where Sir James
had considerable interests.
"Kind old beggar," muttered Tommy, as he flung it aside.
The door opened, and Julius burst in with his usual violence. He
 Secret Adversary |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Awakening & Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin: always with me."
"Well, the reason--you know how evil-minded the world is--some
one was talking of Alcee Arobin visiting you. Of course, it
wouldn't matter if Mr. Arobin had not such a dreadful reputation.
Monsieur Ratignolle was telling me that his attentions alone are
considered enough to ruin a woman s name."
"Does he boast of his successes?" asked Edna, indifferently,
squinting at her picture.
"No, I think not. I believe he is a decent fellow as far as
that goes. But his character is so well known among the men. I
shan't be able to come back and see you; it was very, very
 Awakening & Selected Short Stories |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: Exquisite scents were evaporating.
Matho glided over the pavement, which was encrusted with gold, mother-
of-pearl, and glass; and, in spite of the polished smoothness of the
ground, it seemed to him that his feet sank as though he were walking
on sand.
Behind the silver lamp he had perceived a large square of azure held
in the air by four cords from above, and he advanced with loins bent
and mouth open.
Flamingoes' wings, fitted on branches of black coral, lay about among
purple cushions, tortoiseshell strigils, cedar boxes, and ivory
spatulas. There were antelopes' horns with rings and bracelets strung
 Salammbo |