"M&Ms" by Yuan M

     Feet shuffling, kids screaming, music from inside the stores fills your ears, the aroma from the food court enters your nostrils as you can’t help but feel a sense of hunger. The mall has always been a place of fun and excitement when I was growing up. The shopping mall represents a place that is apart of my youth, where I could spend quality time with my family. On this summer day however, I was uncertain whether I would be able to spend even another hour with them.
     I was around 4 years old when I went to the mall with my family. We just went shopping for the upcoming school year. After a long day of walking, perspiration was on my face and I was exhausted. I went with my older sister to the vending machine to get a drink. The cool and crisp taste the ice, cold water helped quench my thirst. On the way back to my parents, I asked my sister, “Can I get some candy, Ate?” My sister reluctantly handed be 75 cents as I started approaching the dispensers filled with candy. My mouth starts to water as my eyes veer through the various assortments color and flavor that are in front of me. I finally decided on the peanut M&Ms as I have never tried them before. I held a rainbow of colors into the small, pale palm of my hand. My eyes glitter with excitement as I am about to indulge in a sweet surprise. I take one of the blue peanut M&Ms and place it in my mouth. The taste of the chocolate and peanut butter hits my taste buds. Then, I suddenly hear silence, it was like the world around me has stopped. It happened in a flash, and my skin started to swell up all over. My eyes started becoming watery, I started becoming cold all over and I had this feeling that I wanted to throw up. It was so severe in my throat however, my throat swelled up so much it was like somebody was trying to choke me. It was so hard to breathe that I eventually collapsed on the floor. My eyes were so watery to the point everything was blurry to my vision, I had trouble keeping my eyes open.  Muffled noises started surrounding me as my sister was screaming for help. Eventually my parents came, they called 911, and immediately started carrying me out of the mall. My family was frantically trying to get me to the ambulance as stares were glaring in my direction. I could barely keep my eyes open at this point.  Everything else I remember was a blur; but the next time I opened my eyes, a bright light was making it hard for my vision to adjust to the light intensity. I remember waking up in a hospital bed with an IV injected into my arm, dressed in a hospital dress and my entire family surrounding my bed. The doctor later explained to me and my family that I had a near fatal allergic reaction to whatever was in the M&Ms that I ate. The doctor came to the conclusion that it was most likely the peanut content in the M&M that triggered my allergic reaction. The doctor recommended me to visit an immunologist to test any other substances I might be allergic to.
     My parents later took me to an immunologist where they extracted some blood from me, and as a result, they confirmed that peanuts were the cause of my allergic reaction. The immunologist prescribed me to carry an epipen at all times. An epipen is a device that administers a dose of epinephrine, a substance that is used as a treatment in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
     Even at such a young age, I was grateful that nothing bad happened to me because that experience definitely could’ve been fatal. Everywhere I go, I always make sure I have my epipen with me and always look out for myself when I go out to eat. As a child, I was so encapsulated by vibrant colors and tasty flavors; however, I learned that even the most small, wonderful things in life can be bad for you in some cases. This experience was honestly a blessing in

disguise, at a young age I learned that life is short and in one instant it all could go away. I was so young at the time so it was hard for me to really comprehend what was going on, but in hindsight I now realize how important this experience was and how it shaped me into the person I am today. I used to be really insecure about having my allergy, but over time I’ve accepted that its a part of me and is something that makes me unique. It is important to live life to the fullest and make the most of every moment because you never know when life can be taken away from you. That day, a small, bright piece of candy almost took mine.