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by Kiara Smith

“Megan, hurry up for school or you’re gonna be late!” mom called out. “I’m putting the spare key under the door because I picked up an extra shift. Dinner’s in the oven!”

 

For as long as I can remember, my mom was a working machine, barely home and barely attentive to her own life. I hated that, the house was huge, too big of a setting for just me and my mom. I only ever stayed here when necessary, for my second life with my best friend Jack was the exact fit for me. He had everything, a mom and dad who ate family dinners every night, and most importantly, they accepted me.

 

But Jack was having family issues, so bad that he’d missed school for weeks. I tried his cell, his house, never a response, only a chilling echo of an empty house when I knocked on the door. I couldn’t stay here the whole Christmas break, not by myself at that, after school I would go to his house, I’d already packed a bag, desperately trying to leave.

 

Today was different though, the arrival at school was abnormal, more as out of place. Everything felt different, I couldn’t exactly tell what it was, but the days were down, no Christmas lights or decorations, and without Jack at school, I was more alone than ever before. By fifth period I’d cracked, I couldn’t take it. I needed an escape so I ran to the bathroom to catch my breath… and the crack was so loud it was the last thing I heard before I felt it. Then I FELT it. I looked up only to see Jack in the corner crying.

 

“They wouldn’t let me go either…”