The Alcohol Consumption Of Residents Of On Campus - 894 Words

Method Participants Approximately 150 college students will participate in the proposed study, 75 males and 75 females. The participants will range from 18 to 21 years of age. Participants will be in equal amounts from each residence hall in the University of Houston which underage students reside in as well as off-campus residents. The group criteria will be limited to students under the age of 21 with equal amounts of males and females. Participation in the study will be voluntary. The incentive for this study is if they choose to participate, then they will receive a gift card. The proposed study will attempt to observe the difference between the alcohol consumption of residents of on campus Design The study will be an experimental between-subjects design. There will be one independent variables and it will have two levels. The independent variable will be the residency type of the student (On-campus and Off-campus). The residency type will be determined through a survey before choosing the participants. The dependent variable will be the alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption will be tested through ETG testing. Procedure Participants will be voluntary and brought in with the incentive of receiving a gift card at the end of the study. There will be 150 participants; 75 males and 75 females, all under 21. The large number of participants reduces the amount of variability and gives a more accurate portrayal of underage college students. A survey will be given toShow MoreRelatedEffects Of On Campus Housing On College Students Drinking Behavior1565 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of on-campus housing on college students’ drinking behavior: A Literature Review Educational scholars have widely researched the effects of on-campus housing on the behavior of college students and one of the behavioral effects is on drinking behavior. Researchers from both the United States and New Zealand have found that students living in residential halls on campus demonstrate the greatest rates for drinking and peer pressure for drinking (Rickwood, et al., 2011.). Leontini, et al.Read More College Students and Alcohol Essays1138 Words   |  5 Pages College Students and Alcohol College student drunkenness is far from new and neither are college and university efforts to control it. What is new, however, is the potential to make real progress on this age-old problem based on scientific research results. New research-based information about the consequences of high-risk college drinking and how to reduce it can empower colleges and universities, communities, and other interested organizations to take effective action. Hazardous drinking amongRead MoreEssay about The College Rioting Problem1713 Words   |  7 Pagescelebration turns into a violent mob. Celebratory riots are characterized by the fact that they involve a large unruly group under the influence of alcohol with no political goals or understood focus for the violence. The rational of this campus craze has left many school administrators, city officials, and students perplexed. â€Å"I just don’t understand it†¦We had alcohol in my day but this wasn’t happening,† said Ed Klotzbier, Northeastern Universitys Vice President of Student Affairs. To investigate theRead MoreEssay on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse2432 Words   |  10 PagesAlcohol is the number one drug problem among America’s youth. More senior high school students use alcohol than any other psychoactive drug. Family doctors, pediatricians, schoolteachers, and parents know that alcohol is overwhelmingly the drug of choice among today’s youth, although trendier substances such as cocaine are often given more attention in the headlines (Carla Felsted, p. vii). Furthermore, it is widely acknowledged that drinking alcohol is a part of the youth culture in America;Read MoreStress Among Students Essay1433 Words   |  6 Pagesrelation between child stress and life style (Michels et al., 2015). They found that psychological stress induces comfort food consumption which can lead to weight gain. Therefore, they supported a unidirectional relation between stress and weight gain (Michels et al., 2015). Hence, there is evidence to support that stress ca n lead to overweight and unhealthy food consumption. Due to the vulnerable stage of transition for a first-year student university can be very stressful. A new student has toRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuana And The State Of Massachusetts1441 Words   |  6 Pagesbusinesses in the growth, packaging distribution and sales categories. We will even be able to use hemp to create building materials and begin creating certain products out of this material therefore creating yet another industry. This product much like alcohol will be taxed, most likely rather heavily, creating more tax revenue for the state. It will also take illegal drug dealers off of our streets potentially making our communities much safer and reducing the tax money spent on prosecuting cannabis dealersRead MoreProgram Implementation Pl An Alternative Option Of Socializing For The Members Of My Floor1712 Words   |  7 Pagesof the embedded social norms of the college setting and explain why it is not necessary to follow them. By doing so, my goal is to educate the m embers of my floor about alcohol awareness and breaking social norms through this policy. I will have three different sets pamphlets; all that specifically educate on the use of alcohol and partying safe here at Cal. The pamphlets will be placed in common areas throughout the floor such as the bathroom stalls, the laundry room, the star case, the elevatorRead MorePreventing College Students Abuse From Alcohol Consumption2075 Words   |  9 PagesStopping College Students Abuse from Alcohol Consumption The problem college students have, especially freshmen, is about abusing alcohol consumption after feeling free and independent due to leaving their homes. Now that they have their own dorms to sleep in and do not have their parents breathing over their shoulder for everything they do, who is going to tell them not to have a few alcoholic drinks and instead finish their assignment due the next morning? Being that college students are turningRead MoreCollege Binge Drinking Epidemic2548 Words   |  11 PagesCollege Binge Drinking Epidemic Throughout the years, drinking alcohol in excessive amounts has become somewhat synonymous with the college experience. It has become an expected occurrence for college-aged students to drink and party regularly, and overtime has transformed into an accepted social norm of college life. Extreme drinking has been a consistent social problem that has substantially grown on college campuses all around the United States for the past few decades. In fact, binge drinkingRead More Substance Abuse on Campus Essay2226 Words   |  9 Pages1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction 2) BASIC ISSUES AND MODELS A†¦. Alcohol Involvement over the Life Span: A Developmental Perspective on Etiology and Course. B†¦. Neuropsychological Effects of Substance Abuse. C†¦. The Disease Model of Addiction. D†¦. Alternative Theories of Substance Abuse Implications for Understanding Substance Abuse and Dependence in College Students. 3) POLICIES, PROGRAMMING, AND PREVENTION A†¦. Policy Development: An Essential Element in Addressing Campus Substance Abuse Issues. B†¦. From Reactive

Essay on Women Empowerment - 5257 Words

http://www.onestopias.com/tutorials/sociology/basic-concepts/types-of-societies.asp http://www.cbd.int/decisions/ http://www.preservearticles.com/economics/ http://in.news.yahoo.com/internet-diplomacy-changing-world-highlighted-sonepat-meet-104338539.html http://www.onlinegkguide.com/current-affairs/india/january-2011/ http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/25474/1/Unit-1.pdf http://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Definition.php http://epw.in/epw/user/userindex.jsp http://www.indiaonline.in/Administration/AdminHierarchy/index.aspx http://depot.gdnet.org/cms/grp/general/India_proposal.pdf http://india_resource.tripod.com/social.htm http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/9962/1/MPRA_paper_9962.pdf†¦show more content†¦Womens empowerment is vital to sustainable development and the realization of human rights for all. Where women’s status is low, family size tends to be large, which makes it more difficult for families to thrive. Population and development and reproductive health programmes are more effective when they address the educational opportunities, status and empowerment of women. When women are empowered, whole families benefit, and these benefits often have ripple effects to future generations. The roles that men and women play in society are not biologically determined - they are socially determined, changing and changeable. Although they may be justified as being required by culture or religion, these roles vary widely by locality and change over time. Key issues and linkages: 1)Reproductive health: Women, for both physiological and social reasons, are more vulnerable than men to reproductive health problems. Reproductive health problems, including maternal mortality and morbidity, represent a major - but preventable - cause of death and disability for women in developing countries. Failure to provide information, services and conditions to help women protect their reproduction health therefore constitutes gender-based discrimination and a violation of women’s rights to health and life. 2)Show MoreRelatedEssay on Women Empowerment5266 Words   |  22 Pagesin/sites/upload_files/dit/files/SocialMediaFrameworkDraftforPublicConsultation_192011.pdf Essay on Women Empowerment Meetika Srivastava affiliation not provided to SSRN October 4, 2009 Abstract:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. A woman is entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communitiesRead MoreWomen Empowerment Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pages19th century, was an era which greatly empowered the status of lower and middle class women. Women from both classes suffered from the stereotypes and inequality between men and women. Lower class women working in factories were abused and paid considerably less than their male counterparts. Middle class women were expected to be idle, ignorant and unaffiliated with her husband’s work. This prejudice caused women to become increasingly aware of their inferior status in society and brought forth frequentRead MorePornography and Women Empowerment Essay2178 Words   |  9 PagesWomen today have made strides in narrowing the gender gap with men, beating them in college admission (Francis), and reducing the pay-gap between the sexes by about 17 cents on the dollar over the past 20 years (United States). Despite noticeable advances for women, the notions of sexual female taboo and misogyny still remain ever present. Gender roles and sexuality are a major conflict in American politics today. In the race for the republican nomination for president, Rick Santorum has stated thatRead More Empowerment of Women Essay examples691 Words   |  3 Pagesbelief by saying that they are stronger and more capable; thus, making them more qualified for the important roles in society. They place themselves on pedestals and force women to believe in their own inferiority to men and their incapability to excel educationally, politically, economically, and domestically. But the truth is that women will eventually advance in all these areas and come to realize that they do not need men to survive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Steinbeck, in his short story The Chrysanthemums depictsRead MoreEssay on The Empowerment of Women in Trifles by Glaspell708 Words   |  3 PagesFrom the beginning the women of â€Å"Trifles† by Susan Glaspell do not seem to have a significant role in the play. These women appear to just be along for the ride while their husbands do the dirty work of searching through the crime scene. In the end even though they serve as secondary characters to their husbands, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters play a large role in portraying the theme of this play, and without them the plot would not have been conducted nearly the same way to get the message out toRead MoreWomen Empowerment in the Old Testament Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesAlthough women throughout history are portrayed as the weaker of the two sexes, unable to defend themselves much less stand equally against their male counterparts, some stand out against the mundane background of the â€Å"idealâ⠂¬  woman. Labeled throughout history as troublemakers, perhaps these women are only attempting to exercise their power. Surely, their power is not found in their physical strength, but this power stems from a deeper source, their very essence as sexual beings. Women in the OldRead MoreEmpowerment of Women through the Film Cleopatra Essay1616 Words   |  7 Pagesmain message Cleopatra is presenting to society in the 1960s is the empowerment of women. Although Cleopatra is depicted in many different ways in other films and plays, the 1963 film portrays her as a ruler who tried to bridge gaps between men and women. She overthrew her brother’s power and exiled him and Cleopatra wanted to be seen as equal by both Caesar and Antony. This reflects the women’s movement of the 1960s when women mainly stayed at home and took care of children. On December 14, 1961Read MoreWomen Empowerment Through Political Reforms Essay2101 Words   |  9 Pagesilliteracy rate in India was 48% in 1995 Women had 62% illiteracy, whereas men had 34% (UNDP, 1997). The literacy rates are lower in rural areas then urban areas (fao.org). These statistics show that there is inequality in terms of education. Nobel Prize–winning economist Amartya Sen states that human capital is important for production potential. The empowerment of women is necessary because it is going to build the human capital of the nation. Women’s empowerment and equality will play a significantRead More The Empowerment of Women through Education Essay examples5165 Words   |  21 PagesThe Empowerment of Women through Education I’m embarrassed to admit that I had to look up Bangladesh on a map when I found out I was accepted to the program â€Å"Development and Community in Bangladesh.† Obviously, I knew very little about the country, it’s history, it’s economy, it’s political system, it’s religion, and it’s cultural practices. Though in the beginning this seemed to be a great disadvantage to me, it has provided me with a great opportunity to learn about Bangladesh and form my ownRead MoreEssay Homers Women: Empowerment from an Unlikely Feminist1959 Words   |  8 Pages Women have always been treated unfairly in society. Even in the modern era, women have just begun to receive their rights, many of which their male counterparts received long before. Women have their unique history and when looking back and learning of the histories behind people, including the background on women, the first place historians look are written works. Greek society is no differ ent since much is known about it through Greek literature, such as the epics the Iliad and the Odyssey. However

The Hunters Phantom Chapter 3 Free Essays

string(36) " when it sounded almost like a sob\." The bright morning sun shone on the long, winding drive that led to the garage behind the boardinghouse. Puffs of white cloud scudded across the light blue sky. It was such a peaceful scene that it was almost impossible to believe that anything bad had ever happened in this place. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 3 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The last time I was here, thought Stefan, putting on his sunglasses, it was a wasteland. When the kitsune had held sway in Fel ‘s Church, it had been a war zone. Children against parents, teenage girls mutilating themselves, the town half-destroyed. Blood on the streets, pain and suffering everywhere. Behind him, the front door opened. Stefan turned quickly to see Mrs. Flowers coming out of the house. The old woman wore a long black dress, and her eyes were shielded by a straw hat covered with artificial flowers. She looked tired and worn, but her smile was as gentle as always. â€Å"Stefan,† she said. â€Å"The world is here this morning, the way it should be.† Mrs. Flowers stepped closer and gazed up into his face, her sharp blue eyes warm with sympathy. She looked as if she were about to ask him something, but at the last minute seemed to change her mind and instead said, â€Å"Meredith cal ed, and Matt, too. It seems that, against al the odds, everyone has survived unscathed.† She hesitated, and then squeezed his arm. â€Å"Almost everyone.† Something twisted painful y in Stefan’s chest. He didn’t want to talk about Damon. He couldn’t, not yet. Instead, he bowed his head. â€Å"We owe you a great debt, Mrs. Flowers,† he said, choosing his words with care. â€Å"We never could have defeated the kitsune without you – you were the one who held them at bay and defended the town for so long. None of us wil ever forget that.† Mrs. Flowers’s smile deepened, an unexpected dimple flickering in one cheek. â€Å"Thank you, Stefan,† she said with equal formality. â€Å"There is no one I would have rather fought alongside than you and the others.† She sighed and patted his shoulder. â€Å"Although I must be getting old at last; I feel the need to spend most of today dozing in a chair in the garden. Fighting evil takes more out of me than it used to.† Stefan offered his arm to assist her down the porch steps, and she smiled at him once more. â€Å"Tel Elena that I’l make those tea biscuits she likes whenever she’s ready to leave her family and come visit,† she said, then turned toward her rose garden. Elena and her family. Stefan imagined his love, her silky blond hair tumbling about her shoulders, little Margaret in her lap. Elena had another shot at a real human life now, which was worth everything. It had been Stefan’s fault that Elena lost her first life – he knew that with a hard certainty that gnawed at his insides. He had brought Katherine to Fel ‘s Church, and Katherine had destroyed Elena. This time he would make sure Elena was protected. With one last glance at Mrs. Flowers in her garden, he squared his shoulders and walked into the woods. Birds sang at the sun-dappled edges of the forest, but Stefan was headed much deeper in, where ancient oaks grew and the underbrush was thick. Where no one would see him, where he could hunt. Stopping in a smal clearing several miles in, Stefan took off his sunglasses and listened. From nearby came the soft crackle of something moving beneath a bush. He concentrated, reaching out with his mind. It was a rabbit, its heart beating rapidly, looking for its own morning meal. Stefan focused his mind on it. Come to me, he thought, gently and persuasively. He sensed the rabbit stiffen for a moment; then it hopped slowly out from under a bush, its eyes glassy. It came toward him docilely and, with an extra mental nudge from Stefan, stopped at his feet. Stefan scooped it up and turned it over to reach the tender throat, where its pulse fluttered. With a silent apology to the animal, Stefan gave himself over to his hunger, al owing his fangs to click into place. He tore into the rabbit’s throat, drinking the blood slowly, trying not to wince at the taste. While the kitsune had threatened Fel ‘s Church, Elena, Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt had insisted he feed on them, knowing human blood would keep him as strong as possible for the fight. Their blood had been almost otherworldly: Meredith’s fiery and strong; Matt’s pure and wholesome; Bonnie’s sweet as dessert; Elena’s heady and invigorating. Despite the foul taste of the rabbit in his mouth, his canines prickled with remembered hunger. But now he wouldn’t drink human blood, he told himself firmly. He couldn’t keep crossing that line, even if they were wil ing. Not unless his friends’ safety was at risk. The change from human to animal blood would be painful; he remembered that from when he had first stopped drinking human blood – aching teeth, nausea, irritability, the feeling that he was starving even when his stomach was ful – but it was the only option. When the rabbit’s heartbeat stopped altogether, Stefan gently disengaged. He held the limp body in his hands for a moment, then set it on the ground and covered it with leaves. Thank you, little one, he thought. He was stil hungry, but he had already taken one life this morning. Damon would have laughed. Stefan could almost hear him. Noble Stefan, he would scoff, his black eyes narrowing in half-affectionate disdain. You’re missing all the best parts of being a vampire while you wrestle with your conscience, you fool. As if summoned by his thoughts, a crow cawed overhead. For a moment, Stefan ful y expected the bird to plummet to earth and transform into his brother. When it didn’t, Stefan gave a short half laugh at his own stupidity and was surprised when it sounded almost like a sob. You read "The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 3" in category "Essay examples" Damon was never coming back. His brother was gone. They’d had centuries of bitterness between them and had only just started to repair their relationship, joining together to fight the evil that always seemed drawn to Fel ‘s Church and to shield Elena from it. But Damon was dead, and now Stefan was the only one left to protect Elena and their friends. A latent worm of fear squirmed in his chest. There was so much that could go wrong. Humans were so vulnerable, and now that Elena had no special powers, she was as vulnerable as any of them. The thought sent him reeling, and immediately he took off, running straight toward Elena’s house on the other side of the woods. Elena was his responsibility now. And he would never let anything hurt her again. The upstairs landing was almost the same as Elena remembered it: shining dark wood with an Oriental carpet runner, a few little tables with knickknacks and photographs, a couch near the big picture window overlooking the front drive. But halfway to the stairs, Elena paused, glimpsing something new. Among the silver-framed photos on one of the smal tables was a picture of herself and Meredith and Bonnie, faces close together, grinning widely in caps and gowns and proudly brandishing diplomas. Elena picked it up, holding it close. She had graduated from high school. It felt odd to see this other Elena, as she couldn’t help thinking of her, her blond hair pul ed back in an elegant French twist, creamy skin flushed with excitement, smiling with her best friends, and not remember a thing about it. And she looked so carefree, this Elena, so ful of joy and hope and expectations for the future. This Elena knew nothing of the horror of the Dark Dimension or the havoc the kitsune had caused. This Elena was happy. Glancing quickly among the photos, Elena located a few more she hadn’t seen before. Apparently this other Elena had been queen of the Snow Bal , though Elena remembered Caroline had won that crown af ter Elena’s death. In this picture, however, Queen Elena was resplendent in pale violet silk, surrounded by her court: Bonnie fluffy and adorable in shiny blue taffeta; Meredith sophisticated in black; auburn-haired Caroline looking aggrieved in a tight silver dress that left very little to the imagination; and Sue Carson, pretty in pale pink, smiling straight into the camera, very much alive. Tears stung Elena’s eyes once more. They had saved her. Elena and Meredith and Bonnie and Matt and Stefan had saved Sue Carson. Then Elena’s gaze landed on another photograph, this one of Aunt Judith in a long, lacy wedding dress, Robert standing proudly beside her in a morning suit. With them was the other Elena, clearly the maid of honor, in a dress the color of green leaves, holding a bouquet of pink roses. Beside her stood Margaret, shining blond head ducked shyly, grasping Elena’s dress with one hand. She was wearing a ful -skirted white flower girl’s dress tied with a wide green sash, and she clutched a basket of roses in her other hand. Elena’s hands shook a little as she put this picture down. It looked as if a good time had been had by al . What a pity she hadn’t actual y been there. Downstairs, a glass clinked against the table, and she heard Aunt Judith laugh. Putting aside al the strangeness of this new past she’d have to learn, Elena hurried down the stairs, ready to greet her future. In the dining room, Aunt Judith poured orange juice from a blue jug while Robert spooned batter onto the waffle iron. Margaret was kneeling behind her chair, narrating an intense conversation between her stuffed rabbit and a toy tiger. A great surge of joy fil ed Elena’s chest, and she grabbed Aunt Judith in a tight hug and spun her around. Orange juice spil ed across the floor in a wide arc. â€Å"Elena!† scolded Aunt Judith, half laughing. â€Å"What’s the matter with you?† â€Å"Nothing! I just I love you, Aunt Judith,† Elena said, hugging her tighter. â€Å"I real y do.† â€Å"Oh,† said Aunt Judith, her eyes soft. â€Å"Oh, Elena, I love you, too.† â€Å"And what a beautiful day,† Elena said, pirouetting away. â€Å"A wonderful day to be alive.† She dropped a kiss on Margaret’s blond head. Aunt Judith reached for the paper towels. Robert cleared his throat. â€Å"Are we to take it that you’ve forgiven us for grounding you last weekend?† Oh. Elena tried to figure out how to respond, but after she’d been living on her own for months, the whole concept of being grounded by Aunt Judith and Robert seemed ridiculous. Stil , she widened her eyes and put on an appropriately contrite expression. â€Å"I’m truly sorry, Aunt Judith and Robert. It won’t happen again.† Whatever it is. Robert’s shoulders relaxed. â€Å"We’l say no more about it, then,† he said with obvious relief. He slid a hot waffle onto her plate and handed her the syrup. â€Å"Do you have anything fun planned for today?† â€Å"Stefan is picking me up after breakfast,† Elena said, then paused. The last time she had talked to Aunt Judith, after the disastrous Founder’s Day pageant, Aunt Judith and Robert had been seriously anti-Stefan. They, like most of the town, had suspected him of being responsible for Mr. Tanner’s death. But apparently they had no problem with Stefan in this world, because Robert simply nodded. And, she reminded herself, if the Guardians had done what she asked, Mr. Tanner was alive, so they couldn’t have suspected Stefan of kil ing him†¦ Oh, it was al so confusing! She went on: â€Å"We’re going to hang out in town, maybe catch up with Meredith and the others.† She couldn’t wait to see the town back to its old, safe self and to be with Stefan when, for once, they weren’t battling some horrible evil but could just be a normal couple. Aunt Judith grinned. â€Å"So, just another lazy day, hmm? I’m glad you’re having a nice summer before you go off to col ege, Elena. You worked so hard al last year.† â€Å"Mmm,† said Elena vaguely, cutting into her waffle. She hoped the Guardians had gotten her into Dalcrest, a smal col ege a couple hours away, as she’d requested. â€Å"Come on up, Meggie,† Robert said, buttering the little girl’s waffle. Margaret scrambled up onto her chair, and Elena smiled at the obvious affection on Robert’s face. Margaret was clearly his darling little girl. Catching Elena’s eye, Margaret growled and thrust the toy tiger across the table toward her. Elena jumped. The little girl snarled, and her face was momentarily transformed into something savage. â€Å"He wants to eat you with his big teeth,† Margaret said, her little-girl voice hoarse. â€Å"He’s coming to get you.† â€Å"Margaret!† Aunt Judith scolded as Elena shuddered. Margaret’s briefly feral look reminded her of the kitsune, of the girls they had driven mad. But then Margaret gave her a huge grin and made the tiger nuzzle Elena’s arm. The doorbel rang. Elena crammed the last bite of waffle into her mouth. â€Å"That’s Stefan,† she mumbled around it. â€Å"See you later.† She wiped her lips and checked her hair in the mirror before opening the door. And there was Stefan, as handsome as ever. Elegant Roman features, high cheekbones, a classical straight nose, and sensual y curving mouth. He held his sunglasses loosely in one hand, and his leaf green eyes caught hers with a gaze of pure love. Elena broke into a wide, involuntary smile. Oh, Stefan, she thought to him, I love you, I love you. It’s so wonderful to be home. I can’t stop missing Damon and wishing we could have done something differently and saved him – and I wouldn’t want to stop thinking of him – but I can’t help being happy, too. Wait. She felt like someone had slammed on the brakes and she’d been thrown against a seat belt. Though Elena was sending the words, and a huge wave of affection and love with them, toward Stefan, there was no response, no return of emotions. It was as if there were an invisible wal between her and Stefan, blocking her thoughts from reaching him. â€Å"Elena?† Stefan said aloud, his smile faltering. Oh. She hadn’t realized. She hadn’t even thought about this. When the Guardians took her powers, they must have taken everything. Including her telepathic connection to Stefan. It had lingered†¦ She was sure she had stil heard him, and reached his mind, after she had lost her connection to Bonnie. But now it was gone completely. Leaning forward, she grasped his shirt, pul ed him to her, and kissed him fiercely. Oh, thank God, she thought, as she felt the familiar, comforting sense of their minds entwining. Stefan’s lips curled into a smile beneath hers. I thought I’d lost you, she thought, that I wouldn’t be able to reach you like this anymore, either. Unlike with the telepathic connection they’d shared, she knew the thoughts weren’t reaching Stefan as words but as images and emotions. From him, she felt a wordless, steady stream of unfailing love. A throat was cleared pointedly behind them. Elena reluctantly released Stefan and turned to see Aunt Judith watching them. Stefan straightened with an embarrassed blush, the slightest look of apprehension in his eyes. Elena grinned. She loved that he’d been through hel – literal y – but was stil scared to upset Elena’s aunt. She put her hand on his arm, trying to send a message that Aunt Judith now accepted their relationship, but Aunt Judith’s warm smile and greeting said it for her. â€Å"Hel o, Stefan. You’l be back by six, won’t you, Elena?† Aunt Judith asked. â€Å"Robert’s got a late meeting, so I thought you, Margaret, and I could go out for a girls’ night together.† She looked hopeful yet hesitant, like someone knocking on a door that might be slammed in her face. Elena’s stomach knotted with guilt. Have I been avoiding Aunt Judith this summer? She could imagine that, if she hadn’t died, she might have been eager to move on with her life and chafed at the family that wanted to keep her home and safe. But this Elena knew better – knew how lucky she was to have Aunt Judith and Robert. And it seemed that this Elena had a lot of making up to do. â€Å"Sounds like fun!† she said cheerful y, pasting a bright smile on her face. â€Å"Can I invite Bonnie and Meredith? They’d love a girls’ night.† And it would be nice, she thought, to have friends around who were as clueless about what had been going on in this version of Fel ‘s Church as she was. â€Å"Wonderful,† Aunt Judith said, looking happier and more relaxed. â€Å"Have a good time, kids.† As Elena headed out the door, Margaret ran out of the kitchen. â€Å"Elena!† she said, wrapping her arms tightly around Elena’s waist. Elena bent and kissed the top of her head. â€Å"I’l catch you later, bunny rabbit,† she said. Margaret motioned for Elena and Stefan to kneel down, then put her lips right next to their ears. â€Å"Don’t forget to come back this time,† she whispered before retreating inside. For a moment, Elena just knelt there, frozen. Stefan squeezed her hand, pul ing her up, and even without their telepathic connection, she knew they were having the same thought. As they headed away from the house, Stefan took her by the shoulders. His green eyes gazed into hers, and he bent forward to brush a light kiss upon her lips. â€Å"Margaret’s a little girl,† he said firmly. â€Å"It could just be that she doesn’t want her big sister to leave. Maybe she’s worried about you going off to col ege.† â€Å"Maybe,† Elena murmured as Stefan wrapped his arms around her. She inhaled his green, woodsy scent and felt her breathing slow and the knot in her stomach loosen. â€Å"And if not,† she said slowly, â€Å"we’l work it out. We always do. But right now I want to see what the Guardians gave us.† How to cite The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 3, Essay examples