If You Could Turn Back Time, What Would You Change?

We asked our members: If you could turn back time, what would you change? (Those who said “Nothing!” were disqualified for not playing along.) Here’s our fave.

It's a very interesting question, isn't it? The possibilities are endless. I could change any significant point in history if I felt like it. I could save JFK, warn the citizens of Pompeii, or even talk Donald Trump out of running for president.

Okay, that last one might be impossible, even with the ability to travel back in time. But, what would I change? Honestly, I would tell my grandfather to get a screening for cancer a lot earlier than he did.

A bit sad, right? Let's give this a bit of context for those who don't quite understand.

I grew up in a great household, surrounded by people who loved and cared for me. I was lucky enough to have both of my parents and paternal grandparents (my maternal grandparents live overseas and I still haven't met them yet, unfortunately). My grandfather was one of my favourite people in the world and one of the major male role models in my life (the other being my father).

For as long as I can remember, my 'grandpa', as I affectionately called him, looked after me, taught me many life skills and kept me entertained as a child.

He was a genuinely kind soul, who spent his life serving others, whether it was serving his country in the Second World War, or serving the community through local charities.

Being his only granddaughter, I would say I received a lot of attention from him. I loved my grandfather so dearly and I could never have imagined anything bad happening to him... Oh, sweet childhood naivety.

When I was 11, I heard about my grandfather getting a regular cancer scan. He used to smoke when he was younger, which caused him to have early stage emphysema. When he got that diagnosis as a young adult, he immediately quit and never picked up another cigarette again. Usually, when he went for a scan, nothing would appear. But this time, something did: Bowel cancer.

It was already spreading, so the only way to remove it was through surgery. Except my grandfather, in his mid-80s, was too old and fragile to go under the knife, and so it never happened. My grandpa was eventually admitted to hospital, where they expected him to live his final days in palliative care. He instead did this in a nursing home, as he wanted to be with my grandmother - his wife – who was already living there. He passed away a year after his diagnosis.

So, why did I say I would tell my grandfather to get a cancer screening before he did? Because, maybe, just maybe, it might have prolonged his life slightly. If they found the cancer in its very early stages, he might've been able to live longer, if not be cured. I could've had more time with one of my favourite people to ever walk this earth.

Of course, this may all be false hope; maybe an earlier screening would've changed nothing. But I suppose the fantasy of time travel allows us to imagine a life that could have been. Would my grandfather living longer have impacted the world in any way? Maybe not so much, outside of his local community. But, I can promise you, it would've made my life even better.

Congratulations to Angelica for winning this writing challenge, answering: If I Could Turn Back Time. Angelica wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: Universal.