truth

"What is reality anyway?" Sylvia asks her mother at the breakfast table.

It is an overly bright morning and Sylvia is waiting for her school bus to come. It is her 13^th birthday today. After receiving the usual "happy birthday" greeting from her mother, she had a sudden curiosity for realism and decided to talk about it.

"Why do you ask?" She replies, taking a noisy sip of coffee.

"I don’t know," Sylvia says, her hands on her chin. "I guess I’m curious."

Her mother nods tiredly, taking another large sip of coffee. She puts down her mug gently and places her hand on top of Sylvia.

"Honey, I think it’s time I told you how your father really died."

Sylvia looks at her mother in surprise. Her father, who died the exact same date when she was born, was said to have died in a car crash. Sylvia, having no idea how the matter of reality relates to her late-father, becomes attentive and alert. This is becoming serious.Suddenly, they both jump with an unevenly loud honk of a bus horn. They nod to each other signaling they will continue this conversation after school.

"Don’t forget your lunch." Sylvia’s mother said with a smile, lightening up the mood.

Sylvia smiles back warmly. "Thanks," she replies taking the paper bag held in front of her.

On the bus, Sylvia is greeted by her best friend, Daisy. "Happy Birthday, Sylvia!" She then thrusts a tiny package wrapped in gold foil and tied shut with a clear blue ribbon. Sylvia gasps in happiness. Daisy is the only person who ever gives Sylvia any presents. Her family has this strange custom of banning gifts. She takes the cute present and gives Daisy a bear hug.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!"

"Uuuwaaaaaagh!" Daisy gasps. "Don’t make me regret giving you that for your birthday. *choke*…"

Sylvia immediately lets go. "Sorry ’bout that, D. I’m just so happy!" Sylvia claps her hands while jumping up and down as she says this, proving her point.

She then gives Daisy the face. "Soo, what’d you get me?" Sylvia purrs, lips pouted and everything.

"Oh no. That may work for every freakin’ boy in the school, but it won’t work on me." Daisy says, hands already raised and backing away.

"Heck, I gave it a try." Sylvia says shrugging and sits on the bus seat next to Daisy.

As Sylvia arrives at her middle school, she feels something is different about what she sees around her. Somehow, everyone looks more distinct but almost unrecognizable at the same time. However, she rapidly assumes it must be some kind of fuzz in her eyes. Every now and then, she also becomes sleepy and is overcome by surprise and fear, as if a freezing cold bucket of acid was poured over her heart, for no reason. A daydream always comes with that feeling, but she forgets as soon as the reverie is over. Oy! I’m having daydreams before history class?! Something must be really wrong with me! Sylvia jokes to herself throughout the day.

When Sylvia finally arrives home, she decides to open Daisy’s Birthday gift, vowing to be extra-mean to the wrappings as revenge for the present’s taunting shuffling against the loose box in her backpack throughout the day. She slowly (so much for "extra-mean") unties the blue ribbon and—"Sylvia! Stop what you’re doing!

Sylvia darts her head to the direction of her red-faced mother. "Don’t move," Sylvia’s mother orders. "Put the box on the floor and back away."

"But isn’t that considered moving…"

"JUST PUT IT DOWN!" Sylvia’s mother shrieks with such hostility, Sylvia obeys immediately. She bends down and places the half open gift gently on the floor.

"What’s going on?" Sylvia manages to squeak out.

The church tower suddenly sounds, dong dong dong dong, each low ring vibrating through their ears with pomp and circumstance. The time is exactly four o’clock. Sylvia sees her mother’s eyes widen with fear.

"No!" her mother whispered hoarsely.

The package immediately gives off tremendous heat and a blinding white light bursts from it, engulfing Sylvia’s world. Shielding her eyes, Sylvia screams one final time, "WHAT’S GOING ON?!" before disappearing into the white light.

Poof.