It was a dark and sad night in November. I finished my long work. I gathered my instruments around me. I wanted to give a spark of life to the dead body at my feet. It was one o'clock in the morning. Rain hit the window. My candle had almost gone out. Suddenly, I saw the yellow eye of the creature open. It began to breathe. Its arms and legs moved.
I felt terrible. I worked for two years for this goal. I did not sleep and I lost my health. I chose the parts of the body to be beautiful. But the creature was not beautiful. His skin was yellow and thin. You could see the muscles under his skin. He had long black hair and white teeth. But he had watery eyes and black lips. He looked like a nightmare.
My feelings changed quickly. I felt horror and disgust in my heart. I could not look at the creature I made. I ran out of the room. I went to my bedroom and walked around. I could not sleep. Finally, I lay down on my bed in my clothes. I wanted to forget my work.
I had a terrible dream. I saw Elizabeth in the street. She looked healthy and happy. I kissed her. But then her face changed. She looked like the dead body of my mother. I saw a shroud around her. I saw worms in the cloth. I woke up in horror. My body was cold and I was shaking.
The yellow light of the moon came into the room. I saw the monster. He held the curtain of my bed. He looked at me with his yellow eyes. He opened his mouth and made a strange sound. He smiled at me. He put out his hand to touch me. I ran out of the room. I ran downstairs to the courtyard. I stayed there all night. I was very afraid of the monster.
No person could look at that face. A mummy was more beautiful than this creature. I looked at him before he was alive. He was ugly then. But when he moved, he was a demon.
I was very miserable all night. My pulse was very fast. Sometimes I felt very weak. My beautiful dream had become a nightmare. The change was very fast.
Morning came. It was a gray and wet day. I looked at the church clock. It was six o'clock. The gate opened and I went into the street. I walked quickly. I was afraid that I would see the monster around every corner. I did not go back to my rooms. I walked in the rain.
I walked for a long time. I wanted to escape my thoughts. My heart beat fast because I was scared. I did not look behind me. I felt like a ghost was following me.
Then I came to an inn. A carriage arrived from Switzerland. I saw my friend, Clerval. He jumped out of the carriage. Clerval was very happy to see me. I was also very happy. I forgot my horror for a moment. I felt joy for the first time in many months.
We walked toward my house. Clerval talked about our friends. He told me about his father. His father finally let him study at the university. Clerval was excited to be in Ingolstadt. I asked Clerval about my family. He said they were happy.
Then Clerval looked at my face. He saw that I was very sick. He said I was thin and pale. I told him I worked too hard. I was shaking. I did not want to talk about the monster.
We arrived at my house. I was afraid to go inside. I thought the monster was still in my room. I told Clerval to wait downstairs. I ran up the stairs. I was very cold with fear. I opened the door quickly.
The room was empty. The monster was not there. My bedroom was also empty. I was very happy. I clapped my hands. I ran down to Clerval.
We went to my room for breakfast. I could not sit down. I felt very strange. My heart beat fast. I jumped over the chairs. I clapped my hands and laughed.
Clerval was afraid. He saw a wild look in my eyes. He asked me what was wrong. I thought I saw the monster in the room. I screamed for help. Then I had a fit. I fell to the floor.
I was very sick for many months. I had a fever. Clerval stayed with me. He was my nurse. Clerval did not tell my father how serious my sickness was. He did not want to make my father sad. Clerval took care of me every day.
I talked about the monster while I was sick. Clerval was surprised. At first, he thought I was only dreaming. But I talked about the monster many times. Clerval began to think something terrible happened to me.
I slowly got better. Spring arrived. I saw green leaves on the trees outside my window. The beautiful weather helped me. I felt happy again. I was not sad or angry anymore.
I thanked Clerval for his help. I felt bad because Clerval spent his winter helping me. Clerval told me to be quiet and rest. Then he told me about a letter. The letter was from Elizabeth.