The Haunting of Mind :: The Haunting of Mind Essays

The Haunting of Mind The ghosts made their presence known at 9:36 p.m. the first evening. Later in life, when Rachel Fleischman thought back on the events at the house, she marveled that the exact time was so firmly set in her mind. She wasn't wearing a watch, and didn't recall asking anyone else the time. She remembered, almost as if the presences told her, wanting her to remember for their sake, and for the sake of posterity. The four of them sat around the table in the kitchen of the haunted house. Rachel sat in her own chair while Julie sat in Mark's lap. Brandon remained standing, leaning against an empty chair from behind. Mark's diary was open on the table and reached around Julie's body to record his first entry. He read aloud as he wrote. "Evening One: We have experienced no unusual events so far. Paranormal residents have not attempted to make contact. Morale is still high. Maybe our luck will increase later this evening." Brandon smiled at him. "We have almost three hours 'till midnight. Something might happen yet." Julie's arm was wrapped behind Mark's neck and her hand played distractedly with his dark, curly hair. "Happen? Like what? You really think dishes will start flying around and the furniture will rearrange itself? Come on." Brandon shrugged. His brown eyes were noncommittal. "I'm not saying anything, just that we shouldn't jump to conclusions." He began drumming his fingers on the back of the chair. "I hate feeling . . . anxious like this, like I'm waiting to see what I got for Christmas." Rachel nodded. "Or waiting to see what grades you received in Chemistry." Julie groaned. "Please don't mention homework." Rachel and the others laughed. Mark's eyes glinted. "Why don't we give the ghosts a call?" He looked at the others with a mischievous grin. Julie rolled her eyes. She immediately took her hand away from Mark's hair and got up off the chair. She turned to face Mark with both hands on her hips. "You brought a Ouija board, didn't you? Even after Mr. Olson told you not to bring it?" Mark simply laughed. "Are you ever going to grow up?" Julie asked, almost pleading. "It's all psychosomatic garbage. It's not real. You're just letting your unconscious do everything." "I doubt you've ever tried it, so how would you know?" Mark countered.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 18

Around ten the next morning, the phone jolted me out of a dream I'd been having about jellyfish and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Rolling over, I picked it up, discovering in the process that I ached a lot less than I had last night. Immortal healing in action. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Hey, it's Seth.† Seth! Yesterday's events rushed back to me. The birthday party. The ice cream. The perfume. I again wondered who he'd had to meet after dropping me off at the bookstore. â€Å"Hi,† I gushed, sitting up. â€Å"How are you?† â€Å"Not bad. I'm, uh, over at Emerald City, and I didn't see you†¦ they said it's your day off.† â€Å"Yeah, I'll be back tomorrow.† â€Å"Okay. So, um, do you want to maybe do something today? Lunch? Or a movie maybe? Unless you have other plans†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No†¦ not exactly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I bit my lip, silencing the immediate acceptance that wanted to spring forth. I still had that strange, inexplicable attraction and sense of comfortable familiarity with Seth. I would have liked to hang out with him more, but I had already tried walking the line of friendship and dating with Roman, only to have that blow up in my face. It would be far better never to get started with Seth, despite my longings. Besides, I hadn't forgotten about my angelic bodyguard; I didn't really want him tagging along. Best to keep Carter indoors as long as possible. â€Å"But I'm sick.† â€Å"Really? I'm sorry.† â€Å"Yeah, you know†¦ just that kind of run-down feeling.† It wasn't entirely a lie. â€Å"I don't really feel up to getting out today.† â€Å"Oh. Okay. Do you need anything? Do you want me to bring you any food maybe?† â€Å"No†¦ no,† I hastily assured him, banishing images of Seth feeding me chicken soup while I lounged around in cute pajamas. Christ. This was going to be harder than I thought. â€Å"I don't want you to have to keep taking care of me. Thanks, though.† â€Å"I don't mind. I mean, no problem.† â€Å"I should be in tomorrow, if this doesn't get worse†¦ so I'll see you then. Maybe we can have coffee. Or rather, I'll have coffee and you can†¦ not have coffee.† â€Å"Okay. I'd like that. Not having coffee, I mean. Would you mind†¦ that is, can I check on you later? Call you again?† â€Å"Sure.† The phone was safe enough. â€Å"Okay. If you need anything before then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know how to reach you.† We said our goodbyes and disconnected, and I clambered out of bed to see what mischief Carter had managed this morning. I found the angel sitting on a stool by my kitchen counter, feeding Aubrey sausage with one hand while he held some sort of breakfast sandwich in the other. An enormous McDonald's bag sat on the counter near him. â€Å"I made breakfast,† he told me, eyes on Aubrey. â€Å"Don't give her that,† I chastised. â€Å"It's bad for her.† â€Å"Cats don't eat kernels of dry food in the wilderness.† â€Å"Aubrey couldn't survive in the wilderness.† I scratched her head, but she was more interested in licking the grease off her chops. Opening the bag, I found a variety of sandwiches and hash brown patties. â€Å"I didn't know what you'd want,† Carter explained as I pulled out a Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit. I bit into it, melting at that scrumptiousness, grateful weight gain and cholesterol were nonevents for me. â€Å"Hey, wait. Did you actually go to McDonald's?† â€Å"Yup.† I swallowed the food. â€Å"You just left? Just now?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"What kind of bodyguard are you? What if the nephilim came back and attacked me?† He eyed me and shrugged. â€Å"You look okay to me.† â€Å"You're not very good at this.† â€Å"Who was on the phone?† â€Å"Seth.† â€Å"The author?† â€Å"Yeah. Wanted to hang out today. I told him I was sick.† â€Å"Poor guy. You're breaking his heart.† â€Å"Better that than something else.† I finished the sandwich and went for a second one. Aubrey watched me hopefully. â€Å"So what are we doing today?† â€Å"Nothing. At least, I'm not going out, if that's what you mean.† â€Å"You aren't going to attract nephilim attention that way.† He glanced around my apartment and grimaced when I didn't respond. â€Å"It's going to be a long day then. I hope you at least have cable.† We spent the rest of the morning more or less staying out of each other's way. I let him use my laptop, and he got caught up in surfing eBay. What he could be looking for, I had no idea. As for me, I stayed in my pajamas after all, tossing a robe over them and deeming that good enough. I attempted to call Roman once, knowing I'd need to face him eventually, but I only managed to leave a voice mail message. I hung up with a sigh, opting to curl up on the couch with a book Seth had recommended in one of his e-mails. Just as I was starting to think I'd recovered from the dense breakfast and needed lunch, Carter suddenly peered over the top of the laptop, like a hound sniffing the wind. â€Å"I have to go,† he told me abruptly, standing up. â€Å"What? What do you mean?† † Nephilim signature.† I bolted upright from my lounging position. â€Å"What? Where?† â€Å"Not here.† With that, he blinked out of sight. I sat there, looking around uneasily. Whereas earlier I'd felt stifled by his presence, his sudden disappearance became a gaping hole in my environment. I was exposed. Vulnerable. When he didn't return in a few minutes, I tried unsuccessfully to pay attention to my book, finally giving up after I'd reread the same sentence five times. Still wanting lunch, I called and ordered a pizza, making sure I included enough for Carter. Doing this wasn't the best of ideas on my part since it meant opening the door eventually. When I did, I expected no less than an army of nephilim outside. Instead, I only found a bored-looking pizza guy, demanding $15.07. I munched on the pizza and tried to watch television with little luck. Turning to the laptop, I checked my e-mail and found that Seth had sent me a funny letter, much more eloquent than our earlier conversation, per usual. It only provided temporary distraction, and I was on the verge of breaking out the paint-by-number kit when Carter blinked back into my living room. â€Å"What the hell was that? Where have you been?† The angel regarded me with a calm, wry smile. â€Å"Easy there, haven't you ever heard of respecting boundaries in a relationship? It was in that book you were so quick to discard.† â€Å"Cut it out. You can't just say ‘ nephilim signature' and then disappear like that.† â€Å"I can actually. I have to.† He found the cold pizza on my counter and bit into a piece. Swallowing, he continued, â€Å"This nephilim's got a real twisted sense of humor. Every once in a while, it likes to unmask†¦ flash us, so to speak. This time it came from West Seattle.† â€Å"You can detect that from this far away?† â€Å"Jerome and I can. We never catch the creep, but we have to check it out anyway. Leads us on a merry chase.† The implications seemed obvious to me. â€Å"So you leave me? What if it's a setup? What if it flashes you over there and then zaps back to me while all the attention's away?† â€Å"It can't just ‘zap' around. Nephilim don't move like higher immortals do; they're constrained by the same limitations as you, fortunately. This one would have to get in a car and drive back over here, just like everyone else, which would hardly be a speedy process. You're protected by miles of traffic congestion.† â€Å"Weird.† â€Å"Like we said, they're unpredictable. They like breaking rules, shaking up the status quo just to see what we'll do.† â€Å"Weird,† I repeated. â€Å"Does it even know you're there? That it's making you drop everything and come?† â€Å"If the nephilim's close enough, it'd be able to sense the teleporting but nothing else past that. As long as we're masked, our identities, strength, and whatever stay hidden. So, if it is lurking, it knows two higher immortals came to check it out, but not much more than that.† â€Å"And it just watches and waits,† I concluded. â€Å"Kind of twisted. Lord, these things are a pain in the ass.† â€Å"Tell me about it. They ‘do not go gently into that good night.' â€Å" I blinked at the poetic reference. â€Å"Wait†¦ that's what's going to happen? You're going to kill†¦ er, destroy it or something?† Carter cocked his head toward me curiously. â€Å"What'd you think would happen? Ten years and parole?† â€Å"I†¦ don't know. I just figured†¦ wow. I don't know. Are you into that? The whole smiting thing? I mean, I suppose you guys vanquish evil on a regular basis, huh?† â€Å"We smite, as you so cutely term it, when we have to. Demons tend to be more into it than we are. In fact, Nanette even offered to come up and take care of this nephilim,† he recalled, referring to Portland's archdemoness. â€Å"But I told Jerome I'd help.† â€Å"Wouldn't Jerome want to do it himself?† â€Å"Do you refuse backup when it's offered?† he asked me, answering my question with a question which, really, was no answer at all. Thinking about it, he laughed softly. â€Å"Of course, I forget, Georgina rushes in where angels fear to tread.† â€Å"Yeah, yeah, I know how that quote really goes.† I stood up and stretched. â€Å"Well, if the excitement's over, I think I'll take a bath.† â€Å"Wow. The harsh lifestyle of a succubus. I wish I had your job.† â€Å"Hey, our side's always recruiting. You might need to be a little prettier to be an incubus, though. And a little more charming.† â€Å"Untrue. Mortal women go for jerks. I see it all the time.† â€Å"Touche.† I left him and took my bath, afterward finally giving up my pajamas for jeans and a T-shirt. I returned to the living room, turned on the television, and found The African-Queen just starting. Carter closed the laptop and watched with me. I'd always liked Katharine Hepburn but couldn't help marvel at what a dull day this was turning out to be. Avoiding going outside wouldn't do me any good in the long term since I'd have to drag Carter around with me tomorrow anyway when I went to work. My self-imposed enclosure today only prolonged the inevitable. In light of this, I considered breaking the cabin fever by seeing if he wanted to go to dinner after the movie. He shot up before I could speak, once more sensing a nephilim signature. â€Å"Twice in one day?† â€Å"It happens.† â€Å"Where now?† â€Å"Lynn wood.† â€Å"This guy gets around.† But I was speaking to empty air; Carter had disappeared. Sighing, I turned back to the movie, feeling a little more at ease after the angel's last explanation. The nephilim was in Lynnwood, trying to be a nuisance to Jerome and Carter. Commuting time was rapidly approaching, and Lynnwood was no small jump away. No nephilim would beat the angel back. As Carter had pointed out, I was safe for the time being. I had no need to panic. Yet, I nearly jumped out of my skin anyway when I heard the phone ring a few minutes later. Nervously, I picked up the receiver, imagining a nephilim blasting out of it. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Hey. It's me again.† â€Å"Seth. Hi.† â€Å"Hope I'm not bothering you. I just wanted to see how you are†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Better,† I told him sincerely. â€Å"I liked your e-mail.† â€Å"Did you? Cool.† Our normal silence fell. â€Å"So†¦ did you get a lot of writing done today?† â€Å"I did actually. About ten pages. That never sounds like a lot, but – â€Å" A knock sounded at the door, and a chill ran down my spine. â€Å"Can-can you hang on?† â€Å"Sure.† Hesitantly, I prowled toward the door like a cat burglar, as though slow and drawn-out movements would actually do something against an insanely powerful supernatural being. Reaching the door, I carefully peered out the peephole. Roman. Exhaling with relief, I opened the door, resisting the urge to throw my arms around him. â€Å"Hi.† â€Å"Are you talking to me?† asked Seth through the phone. â€Å"Hi,† Roman told me, looking just as uncertain as I felt. â€Å"Can†¦ I come in?† † Er, no I'm not, I mean, yes you can, and yes I am talking to you now.† I stepped aside so Roman could enter. â€Å"Look Seth, can I, um, call you back? Or maybe†¦ I'll just see you tomorrow, okay?† â€Å"Uh, yeah. I guess. Everything okay?† â€Å"It's fine. Thanks for calling.† We hung up, and I gave Roman my full attention. â€Å"Seth Mortensen, famous author?† â€Å"I've been sick today,† I explained, using the same excuse I'd given Seth. â€Å"He just wanted to check on me.† â€Å"Terribly considerate of him.† Roman put his hands in his pockets and paced. â€Å"We're just friends.† â€Å"Of course you are. Because you don't date, right?† â€Å"Roman – † I cut off the onslaught that wanted to rush out, switching to safer territory. â€Å"Can I get you anything? Soda? Coffee?† â€Å"I can't stay. I was passing through and got your message. I just thought I'd†¦ I don't know what I was thinking. It was stupid.† He turned as if to leave, and I frantically reached out, grabbing his arm. â€Å"Wait. Don't. Please.† He turned to face me, looking down from his lofty height, the normally good-humored face grave today. Fighting my natural reaction at such proximity, I felt surprised when his expression softened, and he noted, mildly astonished, â€Å"You really aren't feeling well.† â€Å"W-what makes you say that?† I had shape-shifted my bruises away as Jerome had suggested and whatever smarting pain I felt was no longer visible. Gingerly, he reached out and stroked my cheek, fingers becoming bolder. â€Å"I don't know†¦ you're just†¦ kind of pale, I guess.† I started to point out I wasn't wearing makeup and then realized I wanted to appear sick. â€Å"Probably a cold.† He let his hand drop. â€Å"Is there anything I can do for you? I don't like†¦ seeing you like this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lord, how bad did I look? â€Å"I'm fine. I just need rest. Look, about the other night – â€Å" â€Å"I'm sorry,† he interrupted. â€Å"I shouldn't have pushed you – â€Å" I stared, amazed. â€Å"You didn't do anything. It was me. I was the nutjob. I'm the one who couldn't handle things.† â€Å"No, it was my fault. I knew how you felt about getting serious, and I still kissed you.† â€Å"I did as much kissing as you. That wasn't the problem. Me freaking out was the problem. I was drunk and stupid. I shouldn't have done that to you.† â€Å"It's no problem. Really. I'm just glad you're okay.† A faint smile glimmered on his handsome features, and I remembered Seth saying I was easy to forgive. â€Å"Look, since we both feel we're at fault, maybe we can make it up to each other. Go out sometime this week and – â€Å" â€Å"No.† The calm certainty in my voice startled both of us. â€Å"Georgina – â€Å" â€Å"No. Roman, we aren't going out anymore†¦ and I don't think we can really pull off friends either.† I swallowed. â€Å"It'd be better if we just make a clean break – â€Å" â€Å"Georgina,† he exclaimed, eyes widening. â€Å"You can't be serious. You and I – â€Å" â€Å"I know. I know. But I can't do this. Not now.† â€Å"You're breaking up with me.† â€Å"Well, we weren't ever really going out†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What happened to you?† he demanded. â€Å"What happened to you at some point in your life that made you so terrified of getting close to another person? What makes you run like this? Who hurt you?† â€Å"Look, it's complicated. And it doesn't matter. That past is gone, remember? I just can't do this with you now, okay?† â€Å"Is there someone else? Doug? Or Seth?† â€Å"No! There's no one. I just can't be with you.† We went around and around, rephrasing the same points in different ways, our emotions growing and growing. It felt like forever, but really only a few minutes passed as he pressed and I refused. He never turned angry or pushy, but his dismay was clearly apparent, and I felt certain I'd cry as soon as he left. Finally, glancing at the time, he ran a hand ruefully through his dark hair, turquoise eyes luminous with regret. â€Å"I have to go. I want to talk to you more – â€Å" â€Å"No. I don't think we should. It's better. I've really liked being with you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He laughed harshly, walking toward the door. â€Å"Don't say that. Don't sugar coat things.† â€Å"Roman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I felt horrible. Anger and grief were written all over his face. â€Å"Please understand – â€Å" â€Å"See you around, Georgina. Or maybe not.† He had barely slammed the door when tears spilled down my cheeks. Going to my bedroom, I lay down on my bed, ready for a good cry that never came. No more tears issued forth, in spite of my mixed feelings of despair and relief. Part of me wanted to call Roman back right now, make him return to me; the other part coolly warned I now had clear reason to cut Seth off as soon as possible before things escalated. Good Lord, why did it seem I was always hurting people I cared about? What was it about me that made me repeat this cycle over and over? Roman's devastated face still hovered in my mind, but I took comfort in the fact that he hadn't been traumatized as much as Kyriakos. Not nearly as much. The discovery of my affair with Ariston had led to condemnation from both our families and an impending divorce coupled with the loss of my dowry. I think I might have been able to handle that scorn, even the hateful looks. What I could not handle was the way Kyriakos had been stripped of all life and caring. I almost wished he would turn angry and lash out at me, but there was nothing like that within him. Nothing at all. I had destroyed him. After several days of separation, I found him sitting on one of the rocky outcroppings overlooking the water. I tried to engage him in conversation a number of times, but he wasn't responding to any of it. He would only stare out at that expanse of blue, face dead and expressionless. I stood by him, my own emotions writhing inside me. I had reveled in being a forbidden object of desire with Ariston, but I also wanted to be one of love with Kyriakos. I couldn't have it both ways apparently. I reached out to wipe the tears from his cheeks, and he slapped my hand away. It was the closest he had ever come to hitting me. â€Å"Don't,† he warned, leaping up. â€Å"Don't ever touch me again. You sicken me.† I felt my own tears now, even if his anger meant he was still alive. â€Å"Please†¦ it was a mistake. I don't know what happened.† He laughed hollowly, a terrible, mirthless sound. â€Å"Don't you? You seemed to know perfectly well at the time. So did he.† â€Å"It was a mistake.† He turned his back to me and walked over to the edge of the cliff, staring out at the sea. He spread his arms out and tipped his head back, letting the wind blow over him. Gulls cried nearby. † Wh-what are you doing?† â€Å"I am flying,† he told me. â€Å"If I keep flying†¦ right over this edge, I will be happy again. Or better yet, I won't feel anything at all. I won't think about you anymore. I won't think about your face or your eyes or the way you smile or the way you smell. I won't love you anymore. I won't hurt anymore.† I approached him, half-afraid my presence would make him go over. â€Å"Stop it. You're scaring me. You don't mean any of this.† â€Å"Don't I?† He looked at me, and there was no more anger or cynicism. Only grief. Sorrow. Despair. Depression blacker than a moonless night. It was terrible and frightening. I wanted him to snap at me again, to yell at me. I would have even let him hit me, if only to see some sort of heat in him. There was none of that, though. Only darkness. He gave me a sad, bleak smile. The smile of one already dead. â€Å"I will never forgive you.† â€Å"Please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You were my life, Letha†¦ but no more. No more. I have no life now.† He walked away, and even as my heart broke, I exhaled in relief to see him moving away from the cliff. I wanted to run after him but gave him his space instead. Sitting down in his spot, I drew my knees up and buried my face in them, half wishing I was dead. â€Å"He'll come back here, you know,† a voice suddenly said behind me. â€Å"The pull is too strong. And next time, he may go over.† I jerked my head up, startled. I hadn't heard anyone approach. I didn't recognize the man who now stood there, odd in a town where everyone knew everyone else. He was slim and well-groomed, dressed in clothes more elegant than I usually saw around here. â€Å"Who are you?† â€Å"They call me Niphon,† he said with a small bow. â€Å"And you are Letha, Marthanes ‘ daughter, formerly wife of Kyriakos.† â€Å"I still am his wife.† â€Å"But not for long.† I turned my face away. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"I want to help you, Letha. I'd like to help you with this mess you've gotten yourself into.† â€Å"No one can help me. Not unless you can undo the past.† â€Å"No. No one can undo the past. I can make people forget it, though.† I slowly turned back to him, assessing his bright eyes and dapper manner. â€Å"Stop joking. I'm not in the mood.† â€Å"I assure you, I am most earnest.† Staring at him, I suddenly somehow knew he was telling the truth, as impossible as it was to believe. Later I would learn that Niphon was an imp, but at the time, I had only sensed that he had a strange air about him, the whispering of power that promised he really could do what he said. â€Å"How?† His eyes gleamed, not unlike Hugh's when he was on the edge of a major deal. â€Å"To erase the memory of what you've done is no small feat. It carries a price.† â€Å"Can you make me forget too?† â€Å"No. But I can make everyone else forget. Your family, your friends, the town. Him.† â€Å"I don't know†¦ I don't think I could go back to them then. Even if they didn't remember, I still would. I couldn't face Kyriakos like that. Unless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated, wondering if it might not be better never to come in contact with them again. â€Å"Can you make them forget me altogether? Make it like I've never been born?† Niphondrew a sharp, excited breath. â€Å"Yes, oh yes. But a favor like that†¦ a favor like that carries an even higher price†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He'd explained it to me then, what I'd have to give in return to completely blot me from the minds of those I'd known. My soul was a given. I'd carry it as long as I walked the earth, but it would have a lease on it, so to speak. That was the standard price for any hellish deal. But hell wanted more of me: my eternal service in the corruption of souls. I would spend the rest of my days seducing men, fulfilling their fantasies for my own gain and for those whom I served. It was an ironic fate, considering what had brought me to this point. To aid me, I'd gain the ability to take any form I chose, as well as the power to enhance my own charm. And of course, I'd have eternal life. Immortality and invulnerability. For some, that might have been benefit alone. â€Å"You'd be good. One of the best. I can sense it within you.† Imps had the ability to look into a person's soul and nature. â€Å"Most people think desire is only in the body, but it's here too.† He touched my forehead. â€Å"And you would never die. You would stay young and beautiful forever, until the earth perishes.† â€Å"And after that?† He smiled. â€Å"That's a long way off, Letha, whereas your husband's life is at stake now.† That had been what sold me. The knowledge that I could save Kyriakos and give him a new life, a life free of me where he would have a chance to be happy once more. A life where I could slink away from my disgrace and maybe even be rightfully punished. My soul – which I barely understood anyway – seemed a small price. I'd agreed to the bargain, first shaking on it, then putting my mark on paperwork I couldn't read. Niphon left me, and I returned to town. It was eerily simple. When I returned, it was exactly as he had promised. The wish had already been carried out. No one knew me. Passing people – people I'd known my entire life – gave me the glances reserved for strangers. My own sisters walked by me without recognition. I wanted to find Kyriakos, to see if it was the same for him, but I couldn't muster the courage. I didn't want him to see my face, not ever again, even if he didn't recognize it. So I spent the day wandering, trying to accept the fact that I was gone to these people. It was harder than I thought it would be. And sadder. When nightfall came, I retreated again to the outskirts of town. I had nowhere to stay, after all. No family or friends. Instead, I sat in the dark, watching the moon and stars, wondering what I was supposed to do now. The answer came quickly. She rose almost from the ground, at first appearing as nothing more than a shadow, then gradually coalescing into the shape of a woman. The air vibrated with power around her, and suddenly I felt suffocated. I backed up, terror filling every part of me, my lungs unable to take in air. Wind rose from nowhere, whipping my hair and flattening the grass around me. Then, she stood before me, and the night was still again. Lilith. Queen of the Succubi. Lady of the Night. The First Woman. Fear like I had never known swept over me – and lust. I had never been attracted to a woman before, but Lilith has that effect on everyone. It is fixed in her being. No one can resist her. She wore a tall, slim shape that night, willowy and lovely. Her skin was the pale white of the aristocracy of that time – a white never achieved by those of us who worked outside regularly. Her hair was a raven's wing of black, falling in gleaming waves to her ankles. And her eyes†¦ well, let me just say there's a reason the old myths call succubi â€Å"flame-eyed.† Her eyes were beautiful and deadly, promising anything you could ever want or desire if only you would let her help you. I still can't remember what color they were, but I could not look away from them that night. â€Å"Letha,† she crooned, approaching me. The air shimmered around her, and I actually trembled now from my desire. I wanted to run but instead sank to my knees, both from respect and the inability to stand. She came to me and tipped my chin so that I had to look in those eyes again. Sharp, black nails dug painfully into my skin, and it felt wonderful. â€Å"You will be my own daughter now, spreading discord and passion for the rest of your days. You will be both punisher and tester, a creature of both dreams and nightmares. Mortals will do anything for you, just for a touch. You will be loved and desired until the earth is dust.† I whimpered at her proximity, and then she moved closer still, lifting me up so I stood before her. Those glorious lips came to mine, and that kiss shot orgasmic pleasure through my body. My cries were lost, smothered in that kiss. I closed my eyes, unable to look at her and unable to break away. I soaked into that ecstasy pulsing over and over in my body. And yet, as I let that bliss consume me, something else happened too. My mortality was being stripped away. It felt like disintegrating, like I had become ashes in the wind. I wondered if that was how death felt. Like you were nothing. Gone. Then, just as quickly, I was put back together, myself once more. But I could feel the power burning through me now, different from the life that filled humans. My immortality shone like a star in the night, cold and pure. No longer would old age threaten. No longer would sickness haunt me. No longer would my flesh be passionately driven by the knowledge that time was short, that I had to leave my mark on the world. That I had to pass on my blood. I opened my eyes, and the onslaught of pleasure disappeared. So did Lilith. I stood alone in the darkness, quivering with my newfound power. And with that power, I could feel something more: an itch in my flesh. An itch that told me my skin could become anything I wanted it to be with only a thought. I was reborn. I was empowered. And I was hungry†¦ â€Å"What's wrong?† Blinking back tears, I looked up at Carter. He stood in the doorway to my bedroom, pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes, face concerned. â€Å"Nothing,† I muttered, burying my face in my pillow. â€Å"No nephilim ?† â€Å"No nephilim.† An awkward pause followed. â€Å"Look†¦ are you sure you're okay? Because you don't look okay.† â€Å"I'm fine. Didn't you hear me?† He still wouldn't give up, though. â€Å"I know we're not that close, but if you need to talk – â€Å" â€Å"Like you'd understand,† I scoffed, venom in my voice. â€Å"You've never had a heart. You don't know what it's like, so don't even pretend like you do.† â€Å"Georgina.† â€Å"Go. Away. Please.† I turned back toward my pillow, waiting for another protest, but none came. When I dared a peek, the angel was gone.

Sports Heroes O.J. Simpson and Others Essay - 928 Words

The dictionary definition of a hero is someone who is admired of their achievements or their noble qualities. To me, the definition of a hero is someone who helps people and is caring. In this world there are so many people mistaken for heroes. One example of a â€Å"hero† is O.J. Simpson. O.J was best known for being the running back of the Buffalo Bills and was nicknamed â€Å"The Juice†. Although he was a Heisman Trophy winner he was also a major suspect of a murder case involving his wife and her new boyfriend. Even though all the evidence was there he was found innocent and never went to jail. OJ Simpson was an amazing football player, but he should be judged by everything he does not just his achievements. One person I think is a hero in all†¦show more content†¦Even when he was treated so badly he was always the kind person in the situation. One quote that always moves me is â€Å"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity†. This quote shows everything that King fought for. April 4, 1968 was a powerful and sad day. As many of us know this heroes life was cut short after his most famous speech â€Å"I Have A Dream†. King was standing outside his hotel room and was murdered by a greedy man. This hero will always be remembered for his accomplishments and his determination to do the right thing. Abraham Lincoln is one of America’s most recognized heroes. Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and helped end slavery. Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 to two great parents who Lincoln admired. Lincoln grew up a worker and was always helping others. Lincoln was president during The Civil War. Lincoln wanted slavery to end. Luckily on January 1, 1863 Lincoln signed the proclamation for slaves to be set free and never be a slave again. Lincoln fits my definition of a hero because he ultimately wanted what was best for the American people. I think that Lincoln was so brave to be president during the Civil War and not being sucked into what was popular. Lincoln was known for making great quotes, one of my favorite quotes is â€Å"A house divided cannot stand†. I think this quote is soShow MoreRelatedAthletes: Above the Law1825 Words   |  8 PagesIt was called â€Å"Acceptance,† a story about a father whose alcoholism kills his son, an All-Am erican football star. A second chance is then offered in the form of two new sons, one homosexual and the other intellectually disabled. As far as the outcome, you would have to â€Å"†¦wait for the movie†. 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Heroes, authors, entertainers, athletes, even preachers - all were employed to sell during the 1800s and early 1900s. Evidence of these high-profile endorsements is found in a variety of formats. The trade card, used most heavily as an advertising device

James Baldwins Notes of a Native Son Essay example

James Baldwins Notes of a Native Son demonstrates his complex and unique relationship with his father. Baldwins relationship with his father is very similar to most father-son relationships but the effect of racial discrimination on the lives of both, (the father and the son) makes it distinctive. At the outset, Baldwin accepts the fact that his father was only trying to look out for him, but deep down, he cannot help but feel that his father was imposing his thoughts and experiences on him. Baldwins depiction of his relationship with his father while he was alive is full of loathing and detest for him and his ideologies, but as he matures, he discovers his father in himself. His fathers hatred in relation to the white American†¦show more content†¦The white world had shut the door on him and he finally conceded the burden of being black. Baldwin affirms, I had discovered the weight of the white people in the world (222). Baldwin realized that his father was not trying to pa ss along his racist beliefs. He was simply trying to save them from the agonizing conduct of the whites towards them. He found the reason behind the bitterness in his father. Baldwin also became aware that the bitterness, which he had once hated in his father, was now a part of him The bitterness which had helped to kill my father could also kill me (222). Baldwin did not want live a lonely life; the fear of becoming, what his father once was, dwelled in Baldwin. He realized that he had to free himself of the bitterness, before the bitterness distanced him from his family (like it had, for his father). Baldwin felt torn between the feeling of hatred that he had always felt for his father and a gnawing feeling of guilt for not being able to understand the reason for his fathers detached behavior. He emphasizes, The moment I saw him I knew why I had put off this visit so long. I told my mother that I did not want to see him because I hated him. But this was not true. It was only that I had hated him and I wanted to hold onto this hatred (230). Baldwin was afraid to admit that his hatred was meaningless; but that feeling of hate had resided in him for as long as he could remember. Baldwin was not sure if heShow MoreRelated James Baldwins Narration and Analysis in Notes of a Native Son1233 Words   |  5 Pagesand hate in James Baldwin’s essay â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† Throughout this essay James Baldwin continually makes references to life and death, blacks and whites, and love and hate. He uses his small experiences to explain a much larger, more complicated pict ure of life. From the first paragraph of the essay to the last paragraph, Baldwin continually makes connections on his point of view on life; beginning with the day his father died, to the time that his father was buried. James Baldwin is anRead More James Baldwins Life in Notes of a Native Son Essay1374 Words   |  6 Pages James Baldwin lived during an extremely tumultuous time where hatred ruled the country. Race riots, beatings, and injustice flooded the cities that he, as well as most African Americans, was forced to live with every day. Many people, out of fright, suppressed their opposition to the blatant inequalities of the nation. However, some people refused to let themselves be put down solely because of their skin color and so they publicly announced their opposition. One such person was James BaldwinRead MoreInfluences of Racism in James Baldwins Notes of a Native Son644 Words   |  3 Pagesto school or even work? Yes, another set of influences. In Notes of a Native Son we see all these things come into play as we read about how James Baldwin tries to understand racism. 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History of Police - 1058 Words

The history of Police Paper Samuel G. Gilley CJA/214 – Introduction to Police Theory and Practices June 10, 2012 Judith Brodsky Abstract This paper is about the history of police in America. This paper will describe the impact of Sir Robert Peel on American policing. Also, it will discuss the different stages of police in America. In addition, it will analyze the relationship between the government and the policing organizations throughout the United States. Police history is something everyone should know about. Police have been around for a long time. The history of police is important to know about because it helps people understand why some of the†¦show more content†¦These logics from Great Britain. In 1634, Boston created its first watch. These watchmen patrolled at night through the city against fires, disorder, and crime. When the town got more people, the nightwatch became day and night watch. Using the English tradition, they used all men to serve as watchmen. This duty turned into a professional position later, after there were men trying to avoid this duty. Most of the first American police departments were versions of the watch system that was expanded. The first police officers in America did not wear uniforms or carry weapons. They were only were identified by a distinguishing cap and badge. Once the levels of crime and violence augmented, police started to carry weapons in the nineteenth century (Schmalleger, 200 9).. The political era had men without formal education, those in unscrupulous health, and people with criminal records. There were officers who did not have job security because they could be fired on the spot. Sometimes after an election all the officers could be fired and rehired. According to â€Å"Schmalleger, 2009)†, officers in big cities made more money than factory workers. Local politicians used to reward their friends jobs on the police force. Also, there were cities entire areas not really patrolled (Schmalleger, 2009). Telephones did not exist, so people in the city could not call anyone about crime. Officers patrolled on foot and their supervisor could not keepShow MoreRelatedPolice History711 Words   |  3 PagesPolice History Gamaliel Diaz- Maldonado University of Phoenix Introduction To Police Theories And Practice (CJA/214) April 11, 2013 Police history The United States and Puerto Rico have a fast growing society. This Society with a different points of view and social class who divide the people and his positions in our community. Analyzing the situation in deferent’s point of views we always see a common merge to make the real situation work out for us and the persons who surrounds us. ForRead MoreHistory of Police Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesHistory of Police History of Police The role of police officers is very significant to American history. 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Presidents of the Philippines Free Essays

Inocencio, Salve Regina S. W;F 11:00-12:30 BSCA 2-2March 6, 2013 Presidents of the Philippine Republic President| Birthday| Native Land| Term of Office| AKA/ Alias| Distinction| Greatest Achievement/ Legacy| Downfall| Cause of Death| Remarks| 1. Emilio Aguinaldo| March 22, 1869| Kawit, Cavite| January 20,  1899–April 1,1901| Heneral Miong| * He was the youngest (at age 28) to have become the country’s preside * The longest-lived former president (having survived to age 94)| * Gained the freedom of the Philippines from the Spaniards. We will write a custom essay sample on Presidents of the Philippines or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Philippines’ first President| * The invasion of the Americans| (February 6, 1964 )Coronary thrombosis| * He is still a good president of the Philippines even though there are lots of controversies about him. He did his best to protect his people from the invaders. | 2. Manuel L. Quezon| August 19, 1878| Baler, Aurora| November 15, 1935-August 1, 1944| Nonong| * He is the president of the  Commonwealth of the Philippines| * Father of the  National Language * He appears on the Philippine twenty peso bill| | (August 1, 1944)Tuberculosis | * He did a great job to improve the economy. 3. Jose P. Laurel| March 9, 1891| Tanauan, Batangas| December 4, 1942  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ October 14, 1943| JPL| * The puppet president of the Philippines. He was controlled by the Japanese in heading the country| * He was selected, by the National Assembly, under vigorous Japanese influence, to serve as President. | * He violated his Oath of Office and headed an illegal government of the Philippines . | (November 6, 1959)Unspecified| * I cannot say that Laurel is a good leader in the country because there are many wrong doings that he did. He was also been accused as a traitor. 4. Sergio Osmena| September 9, 1878| Cebu City, Cebu| August 1, 1944-May 28, 1946| SO| * The first  Visayan   to become President of the Philippines. | * Founder of  Nacionalista Party * Together with Manuel Roxas, Pres. Sergio Osmena went on a mission to the US to ask for the Philippines’ independence. The mission was called OSROX. The Philippines was granted its independence. | | (19 October 1961)Unspecified| * Despite of the war, Osmena was still brave to fight for the Philippines. He didn’t leave his countrymen in the fight. He also did rehabilitations in order to reserve the Philippines from war. | 5. Manuel Roxas| January 1, 1892| Capiz, Capiz| May 28, 1946-April 15, 1948| Manoling| * The first president of the independent  Third Republic of the Philippines| * Ratification of the Bell Trade Act * The Inclusion of the Parity amendment in the constitution * The signing of the 1947 Military Bases Agreement * The enactment of Hare – Hawes cutting Law in 1932 Tydings Mcduffie Act which led to the granting of the Philippine independence on July 04, 1946| | (April 15, 1948)Heart attack| * His term only last 1 year 10 months and 18 days. But even though he only served short, he managed to contribute in rescuing the country from its dire economic straits. He has he trait of agood leader. | 6. Elpidio R. Quirino| November 16, 1890| Vigan, Ilocos Sur| April 17, 1948-December 30, 1953| Pidiong| | * Hydroelectric project in Lanao * The establishment of PACSA * He signed the Magna Carta of Labor and Minimum Wage Law * Amnesty for the Huks| The Quirino administration was generally challenged by the  Hukbalahaps, who ransacked towns and barrios| (February 29, 1956)Hart Failure| * He was marked notable with reconstruction and economic gain But, his administration tainted by widespread corruption. | 7. Ramon Magsaysay| August 31, 1907| Iba, Zambales| December 30, 1953-March 17, 1957| Monching| * He was the first Philippine President born during the 20th century. | * His administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-free; his presidency was cited as the Philippines’ Golden Years * He led the foundation of the  Southeast Asia Treaty Organization  also known as the Manila Pact of 1954 * He is the first Philippine president to wear a barong tagalog in his inauguration| | (March 17, 1957)Plane crash| * He brought back the trust of the Filipinos to the government and militaries by proving integrity I his term. He is a good man to all. | 8. Carlos P. Garcia| November 4, 1896| Talibon, Bohol| March 18, 1957-December 30, 1961| CPG| | * He  exercised the  Filipino First Policy * He acted on the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement * Initiated the â€Å"The Austerity Program†| | (June 14, 1971)Heart attack | * He believes that the government should no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests in the national economy. Because of this the country learned to stand on its own. | 9. Diosdado Macapagal| September 28, 1910| Lubao, Pampanga| December 30, 1961-December 30, 1965| Dado| | * He introduced the country’s first  land reform  law * He   placed the peso on the free currency exchange market * He shifted the country’s observance of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. | | (April 21, 1997)Heart failure,  pneumonia  and  renal  complications| * He focused on suppressing graft and corruption in the country. He also pursue the agricultural land reform code of 1963. And this favored the farmers. This does mean he is for the masses. | 10. Ferdinand E. Marcos| September 11, 1917|   Sarrat,  Ilocos Norte| December 30, 1965-February 25, 1986| Macoy| * The dictator who proclaimed martial law | * He proclaimed martial law and reigned 20 years as the President of the Philippines * Laws written by Marcos are still in force and in effect. | Corruption, political mismanagement, assassination of Benigno â€Å"Ninoy† Aquino Jr. | (September 28, 1989)Kidney failure| * Marcos’ term is worst. His administration was marred by massive corruption, political repression, and human rights violations. He is a selfish and greedy leader. | 11. Maria Corazon C. Aquino| January 25, 1933| Paniqui, Tarlac| February 25, 1986- June 30, 1992| Cory| * She uses a yellow ribbon as a symbol of democracy. | * The first female president of the Philippines and in Asia * She was named Woman of the Year by the Time Magazine in 1986 * Mother of Philippine Democracy| * Coup attempts , natural disaster like the erruption of the Mt. Pinatubo, the earthquake in Luzon, the typhoon Uring and it is also n her term where MV Dona Paz sank| (August 1, 2009)Colon Cancer| * Despite the fact that she doesn’t have any learning about politics, she still runs for the democracy. She is a fearless and selfless woman. | 12. Fidel V. Ramos| March 18, 1928| Lingayen, Pangasinan| June 30, 1992-June 30, 1998| Eddie| | * He declared his support for reinstating the death penalty * It is in his term the Philippines experienced rapid economic growth and expansion * He signed into law  Republic Act 7636-  Anti-Subversion Law. * 1997 Asian Financial Crisis| (March 18, 1928- Present)| *   As a result of his hands-on approach to the economy, the Philippines were dubbed by various internationally as  Asia’s Next Economic Tiger. He is a hard- working man and appropriate to be a leader. | 13. Joseph E. Estrada| April 19, 1937| Tondo, Manila| June 30, 1998  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ January 20, 2001| Erap| * He is an actor before becomi ng the President of the Philippines| * He declared an â€Å"all-out-war† against the  Moro Islamic Liberation Front| * Jueteng case * Jose Pidal issue| (April 19, 1937- Present)| * Estrada is a brave man. A fighter against those people who are enemy of the country. But, he is not also that idealistic leader. Still there are controversies about corruption and gambling. | 14. Gloria M. Arroyo|   April 5, 1947|   Lubao, Pampanga| January 20, 2001  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ June 30, 2010| Ate Glo| | * She focuses on infrastructures like the Clark,rehabilitation of NLEX and SLEX, MRT/ LRT extension and the PNR * Tourist industry boost in her term| * Electoral sabotage * Corruption| (April 5, 1947- Present)| * She is not the model of a person with integrity. Her family especially her husband took money from the government’s income. Yes she have many deeds to improve infrastructures but she is no good as a president. | 15. Benigno Aquino III| February 8, 1960| Manila| June 30, 2010- present| Noynoy| * Came from the family who contributed to gain the democracy of the people from Marcos. | * He signed  Executive Order No. 9, eorganizing the Presidential Commission on the  Visiting Forces Agreement * He  signed  Proclamation No. 3, declaring November 23, 2010, as a national day of remembrance for the victims in the  Maguindanao massacre. * Implemented Executive Order # 7 which suspends the privileges of executives of 122 Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). | | (February 8, 1960- Present)| * Aquino is walking in the shoes of his parents. He is cleaning the government from corruption and improving the economy. But, despite of this many are still not satisfied with his performance| How to cite Presidents of the Philippines, Essay examples

Change Management in Health Care

Question: Discuss about theChange Management in Health Care. Answer: Change Management in Huntington Memorial Hospital Introduction Huntington Memorial Hospital is among the best health centers in the US. Research suggests that the 500 bed facility approximately 27000 admissions on an annual basis. Additionally, its emergency rooms have more than 57000 visits annually on average (Huntington Hospital, 2016). The mission of the hospital is to assure that the patients receive quality service through optimum utilization of the highly skilled and passionate professionals and incorporation of modern technology (Scott, 2012). To ensure that the facility is up to date with the changing technology, the management has installed a decentralized information system for every department. Thus, the staff members have easy access to information related to the department they work in. The communication process among the personnel is also faster as the workers access either the personalized or the organizational information through their corporate mails (Day Shannon, 2015). Although the decentralized system has helped improve the transfer of data among the healthcare professionals, the system presents numerous challenges to attainment of the set mission and thus there is a need to change it to a more centralized one. In the medical center, a restorative specialist is endowed with the commitment of giving best care administrations to the patients. Therapeutic care should be without missteps. In any case, there are diverse frequencies of botches and carelessness that are still seen in the health facility as far as solution strategies. Convictions have shown that missteps happen more a significant part of the time where the nurse director plan to help patients as opposed to mischief them. It is apparent that nobody yet the medical attendants will be reprimanded for these slip-ups. These bungles are a blend of components from remedial administrations circumstances, mis-organization of social protection supplies, correspondence holes among prosperity specialists, weaknesses in orderly preparing and insufficiency in chaperon's parts. Specialists must fulfill their parts with dependability to ensure patient's security and trustworthiness of human administrations structure. The medicinal services system must actualize e-solution to keep away from any event of therapeutic bungles in the treatment of patients. Specialists must be upheld, enlivened, and asked to consider the change, best wellbeing practices and issue emerging in the health facility. A medicinal overseer should have the ability to recognize the conceivable outcomes of a mistake happening amid solution, progression in restorative frameworks and cognizance of master commitments (Pdr, Pataki, Sebestyn, 2011) Outline of Change The required change within the hospital is centralization of the information system. The existing decentralized one presents the healthcare center with numerous challenges, one of them being that a specialist from one department faces barriers when accessing the information from other departments (Como et al., 2014). Each department has an information system where the specialists input medical data, such as diagnosis, treatment, medication of patients, nurses in charge of patients, supplies within the department. For a doctor in the cancer department to access information from the emergency room, he or she would have to ask for clearance from the ER head of department. The inability to access relevant information has resulted in increased medical errors for patients dealing with more than one department. For example, a patient suffering from cancer and thrombosis and admitted in the cancer ward, the required medication of thrombosis is overlooked. This could be either due to lack of knowledge or due to lack of timely access to information. As a result, there is reduced quality of services, endangerment of the lives of patients, and the hospital faces the threat of lawsuits. Centralization of the information system would help the specialists access the files of patients from different departments and assign the best treatment and care in a timely manner (Engineer et al., 2015). Approach to be used in Managing Change The best model for managing the change of the information system is the Kotters 8 Step Process of Change Management (Campbell, 2014). Although it is time consuming, it would help prepare all the staff members to embrace change and be a part of the process. The first process entails increasing the urgency of change through highlighting the medical errors that have occurred due to lack of access of adequate information. Moreover, pointing out the health centers that have a centralized system and reduced errors would enable the members of the firm see the need to change the existing system. Building the guiding team is the second step. Assembling the information system technicians of all departments would guarantee a composition of people with adequate knowledge on the operations of all departments. Involving the heads of department would increase the enthusiasm and commitment to improving the quality standards of the hospital. The third step is development of a vision and a strategy that are in line with the mission of the hospital of maintenance of high quality standards through incorporation of advanced technology. The strategies would entail sensitizing and educating people on the essence of improving the communication system and evaluating methods of improvement. This would provide a platform for the fourth step, which is of communication of the centralized information system (Dunphy, 2013). Through communication, the team leader would increase awareness on the components and features of the information system. Some of them are the use of one server system for the whole hospital, operation from the different computers, use of passwords for restricted documents, and granting accessibility for authorized persons only. Teaching the team members on the necessity to access the documents, advantages that the organization would have, and the roles they would play to ensure successful launch of a more effective and efficient system would improve the work synergy. Frequent talking of change to the other employees would improve their acquaintance to the new system (Casali Day, 2015). After communication of the change, there would be a need to embrace empowering actions that aid in removing barriers of change. For example, engagement of workers would help deal with any negative attitudes. Frequent communication with the management of the organization would increase the level of support of the change (Bartunek Woodman, 2015). Continual assessment of barriers and dealing with them would improve the cooperation level. The sixth step, which involves creation of short wins, members of the hospitals would be encouraged to participate through rewards (Burke, 2003). For example, those who give viable suggestions on how to incorporate the new information would be recognized and awarded. Moreover, there could be development of a small project of two departments sharing information to aid the workers associate with the success the information system would bring. It is also necessary to produce more change through consolidating gains. In this level, it would be necessary to centralize the whole information system. In case of any element that conflict against the mission of the healthcare, it would be restructured. Setting achievable objectives would not only help in identification of areas of improvement but also in discovery of new innovative concepts that would increase the benefits. Rotation of responsibilities among the team members would elevate innovativeness. The last step is consolidation of change as a new culture. This would help the workers cease to hold onto the concepts of the decentralized system. Some of the effective strategies are frequent talking of the new system, recognizing the contributors, and ensuring the key leaders of change influence more people (Campbell, 2012). Key Elements to be Managed during Change Since change faces numerous challenges, it is important to manage elements that would reduce the barriers of incorporation of the new system. One of the key elements is resistance to change. Since people fear the unknown, their first reaction to a new concept is rejecting it. Instead of focusing on the benefits, they dwell on the disadvantages (Charlesworth et al., 2016). For example, the management may reject the new system due to the high implementation cost. The elevated cost would be due to the expensive server that would serve the whole hospital, construction of a secure location for the server, and development of the program. The workers, on the other hand, could reject change due to fear of losing their jobs. For example, the departmental technicians may think that the system would only require one operator. To manage this challenge, it would be important to manage the communication strategies. One of the tactics would be enlightenment of the management of the organization. Presenting the need to improve the system in light of the benefits and disadvantages would result in the leaders making an informed judgment (Booth, Zwar Harris, 2013). Enlightenment of the workers on the requirement of change and giving an assurance of job security would reduce the level of resistance. Another communication strategy is elimination of rumors. People within the organization may distribute incorrect information giving rise to resistance to change. To eliminate such an occurrence, all the members of the organization would be notified about the change through the corporate mails, meetings, and notice boards (Allen, 2016). Another crucial element that requires management is the skills and labor (Carter, 2015). The change process requires people who are capable of developing a program that supports the number of staff members and patients of the organization. Other essential persons are computer hardware specialists who would install the server, designers of the server room and constructors. Some of these skills are available in the firm, such as the constructors and technicians who can develop the program. However, there would be a need to outsource the hardware installation task and the designing of the server. All the staff members would require going through a training program to enlighten them on how to operate the new system. It is also important to manage closely the goal of the change to prevent any probability of individuals deviating from the set vision. One of the strategies to ensure the attainment of set objective is its frequent communication. All people working in the organization would be aware of the target of the project. Employee engagement and issuing rewards would increase their motivation of ensuring the success of the new system (Pdr, Pataki Sebestyn, 2011). For example, there would be recognition and issuing bonuses for workers who research and come up with ways of increasing the level of efficiency and effectiveness of the Information system. Moreover, training the team members on working as a team and handling conflicts would improve the workforce synergy and commitment to the goal. How to Measure Success To ensure the effectiveness of the change implemented in the organization, there is a need to assess the results, which reflect the level of success. From the results, there could be development of ways of overcoming the present disadvantages and challenges to improve the efficiency level. One method of measuring success is benchmarking (Rufo, 2012). The new system is compared to the system of an organization whose level of performance is very high. For example, comparisons and differences could be evaluated between the organization and John Hopkins Hospital, which uses the centralized information system. The differences that do not present any advantages but disadvantages would be an indication of sources of improvement. Another measure of success is the gap analysis technique, which compares the current system to the set goals of the project during the change process. The difference between the expected results and the current position is an indication of points of correction. However, if the difference is zero, then the system was successfully implemented. This technique would entail collection of data from the staff members and the patients through administration of questionnaires. Using non-biased and close-ended questions would help improve on the accuracy of data collected. The open-ended questions, on the other hand, would help reflect whether the system has sufficiently met the expectation level (Grohar-Murray, DiCroce Langan, 2016). Low the unmet expectations signify high success level. How to use Outcomes in Future One of the ways the outcomes could be useful is through improvement of the implemented system to meet the expectations among the employees and patients, and the set goals. The results indicate some of the pitfalls of the system. Working on them would raise the quality standards, therefore ensuring that the success level is higher than during the evaluation process. Moreover, there would be improved guarantee of the information system working towards the set organizational mission (Hayes, 2014). The successful models and factors that promote the success of the change process could act as a platform for future changes in the organization (Lawrence, 2014). For example, if the communication strategies applied helped reduce the level of resistance to change, they could be applicable in addressing other changes in the system since they would have a higher probability of success than those not tested in the hospital. The management could also learn from the failures and challenges. Consequently, there would be improvement of the model during future use. Conclusion Centralization of the information system is a major change that Huntington Memorial Hospital requires. To ensure that there is successful implementation of change, the most appropriate model to be used is Kotters eight-step process model. There would be elimination of barriers to change through managing resistance to change, communication, required skills, and the set goals. After the implementation process, the evaluation process to be used for evaluating the success of the project would be benchmarking and comparison of the set goals to the current operation of the system. From these results, the hospital could improve the efficiency and effectiveness level of the new system. Moreover, the models applied during this change management process could be useful in future implementation of change since change is inevitable. 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