Working Title: Heartbeat Protagonists: girl (Tara?) and boy (Eli?) Genre: Romance Themes: Unrequited love between friends; loss POV: Third person...limited? omniscient? Misc. thoughts: 1. Begin in the middle of the action, with the two characters preparing to say good-bye. The girl loves the boy. The girl is already sick. Does she already know? She does know, but she keeps it a secret from the boy. 2. Time passes. The two stay in touch; the boy lives life to his fullest while the girl gradually finds out more of her illness. 3. What is her illness? Cancer? Heart condition? Heart condition seems more fitting, considering the dual implications of a “heart condition” (medical and emotional). 4. The two meet after a year or two pass. The boy still doesn’t know. The girl tries to keep him in the dark but is too weak and eventually faints. As such, she is forced to spill the truth. Perhaps the two should argue about why she never mentioned anything earlier. Maybe this argument leads into a confession about her feelings for him... 5. Did he already know about her feelings? Has she hidden them well enough for him to really be clueless? How will he react upon the sudden revelation? Will he accept her? Push her away? 6. At this stage, maybe she has already come to terms with her fate. Or maybe she’s just putting on a facade of calmness? Perhaps she collapses a second time, more severe than the first, and finally breaks down about her fears. 7. The two are again forced to separate. Maybe they reach some sort of tentative understanding. The boy agrees to visit again soon... Ending options: 1. Tragic #1: The girl passes away before the boy can return, causing him to contemplate his loss and ask himself what his feelings for the girl really were. 2. Tragic #2: The girl is miraculously cured, but the boy dies randomly in an accident before the two can meet again. Would work especially well if he finally returned her feelings. 3. Bittersweet #1: The girl dies but not before meeting the boy again. Are their feelings mutual? Do they share a kiss? Or do they simply reach an understanding? 4. Bittersweet #2: The girl lives, miraculously, but the two do not end up together. 5. Happy #1: The girl is miraculously saved and ends up with the boy.