I stared at the e-mail again, my hands trembling slightly. The words “award nomination (提名)” glowed on the screen, but my heart raced like a trapped bird. Bianca, my orange cat, jumped onto the desk and rubbed her head against my arm, her soft fur calming me a little. Closing the laptop, I took a deep breath and walked to the kitchen to make coffee. The morning sun painted golden stripes on the floor, and the smell of roasted beans filled the air. Outside, the Pacific Ocean waves crashed gently, a sound I'd loved for years. New York felt like another universe compared to this quiet coastal town.
Carrying my mug to the wooden deck, I sat down and watched seagulls circle above the water. A cool breeze blew my hair back, but it couldn't ease the tightness in my chest. “New York, "I whispered to myself. Tall buildings, crowded streets, and strangers everywhere --- how could I survive there? I'd always avoided big cities after moving back from Toronto. My small house by the ocean was my safe harbor, where I wrote mysteries about brave detectives. Now, life was asking me to become as brave as my characters.
When Kathy arrived for our usual coffee time, her eyes were wide with excitement. “New York! This is amazing!" she shouted, almost spilling her latte. Her enthusiasm made me shrink into my chair. “I know, but...” I sighed, playing with the handle of my mug. “Last year's ceremony was in Seattle. I drove there, wore my old blue dress, and nobody cared if I made mistakes. New York is different. What if I get lost? What if I say something stupid in front of famous writers?” My voice grew quieter. “And... what if I lose?”
Kathy reached over and patted my hand, “You've already won by being nominated. Thousands of writers dream of this chance.” She smiled warmly. “Remember why you started writing? It wasn't for awards. It was because you love stories.”
注意:.续写词数应为150左右; 2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Her words lingered in my mind long after she left. __________
And then I was there, at the big, scary New York. ___________