I wrote this not too long ago when my class had to write a creative essay and mine just turned out like this.

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Suicide according to dictionary.com is “the intentional taking of one’s life” while euthanasia is defined as “the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition”. How is it that euthanasia is more acceptable than suicide? Are they not the same thing; they both including taking the life of someone that doesn’t want to live anymore. The only thing that is different is that one is assisted while one is self-inflicted. In the United States it is a crime to commit suicide; however in some states such as Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont, euthanasia is legal.

The moonlight squeezed past the crack of the door, casting jagged shadows onto the abandoned floor. Emptiness swarmed inside as the sound of the clock striking midnight echoed through the room. The chilly winter wind whispered through the broken windows making the already freezing temperature seem even colder. A shadow was cast onto the lonesome curtain; still and frozen. The figure played their violin as a deep red began to form around the owner of the shadow. The earth, like the floor, was abandoned by the figure.

A person donned in white and blue clothing entered the room as the figure on the bed slowly sat up. 
“Are you ready?” asked the former.
“Certainly, I’ve been anticipating it,” replied the latter.
“Here is your medication. It was nice having you here,”
“Thank you for all your help. I’m glad to be able to escape this place,” the figure on the bed said excitedly.
The person donned in the white and blue clothing exited the room once the figure on the bed took all of her medicine. Another soul had abandoned the earth.

Both of those people were my friends. We all grew up together in Montana, none of us ever leaving the state except for vacations. Both of them were severely depressed. Let’s call the first friend ‘A’ and the second ‘B’. ‘A’ always wanted to get help but was afraid of what her peers and her parents would say; ‘A’ was always jealous of ‘B’ and admired ‘B’ because ‘B’ had the courage to get help. However, the help wasn’t as helpful as ‘B’ expected as in the end, ‘B’ chose the same path as ‘A’.

After ‘A’ died, a lot of people were surprised, angry and in mourning. ‘A’ was looked down upon, cursed at and hated. Since ‘A’ was too afraid to tell people about her condition, a lot of people were confused. In their eyes, ‘A’s life was pretty good. What they didn’t see or seem to understand was the suffering, pain and how some of their actions affected ‘A’ in a negative way. They didn’t see how they were some of the reasons that ‘A’ chose that path yet they continued to ignore ‘A’s reasons and not try to understand ‘A’s feelings and opinions; only blaming ‘A’ for the pain that they were feeling afterwards.

After ‘B’ died, the aftermath was a lot calmer. Since ‘B’ was a lot more open about their own feelings, a lot of people were willing to understand ‘B’ and why ‘B’ decided to choose that path. A lot of people were just in mourning and nothing else. Since they knew about ‘B’s condition, they were more understanding, aware and cautious around ‘B’ when she was still alive. Even though they were more cautious, they still did and said things that hurt ‘B’ a lot.

Although ‘A’ and ‘B’ both did the same thing, end their lives, they are both treated vastly differently. Since their actions had the same intention and ended the same way, why is euthanasia a lot more supported and accepted. In fact, it is legal in some parts of the United States including Montana yet suicide is considered a crime. How can that be?

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Did any of it seem familiar at all?