The last day

I remember the last day of my first year of middle school. I’ll never forget that day, I’ll never forget how red my cheeks were, how messy my hair was, how watery my eyes were, how everything was distant and blurry, and the feeling of the shards of glass pricking the skin of my face, hands, and legs.That day, I had lost everything I had gained that year. Now, I’m haunted by these memories. So,I might as well tell you the story of how it all unfolded. It all started when I was on a call with my best friend, Maya, the day before the last day. We were talking about how we were gonna have the perfect day and how it would be amazing. I remember the warmth I felt in that moment and the surety I felt. I felt a smile on my face, and I felt like everything was falling into place and that the universe was serving me. Little did I know the grueling truth. I was only being fooled with a mirage, something that seems real or possible but is in fact not. And I fell for it. That innocent, naive, little girl who still had so much to learn. Anyways, back to the story, I can reminisce later. After that, I ended the call, brushed my teeth, and went to bed all with a smile on my face the whole time. In the morning, I woke up and wore my favorite outfit. I felt like I was the sun, and I was shooting rays of sunshine. I felt like that, as stupid as it sounds, I just did. My mom made me the best breakfast, with sunny side up eggs, bacon, pancakes, fruit, bread, and any type of spread you can think of. It was like the breakfast you would see in movies, and wish for. After that, I finished getting ready, I tied my hair back, I brushed my teeth, and did a little make up. I went to the kitchen and grabbed my lunch. And I walked out the door, I felt the cool breeze brush against my ponytail and the sweltering sun. It was an odd combination, but it felt right, it felt like how it was supposed to be. When I arrived at school, I saw all my friends in a weird circle. Cult like, and I didn’t even know what to say. Chalk on the ground was used to draw the circle and this weird symbol in the middle of it. And what was even stranger was that Maya was in the middle of it all. It was like she was being bowed down to, like how mortals would bow down to gods, and offer everything they had. It was something horrendous and sadistic, I’ll tell you that much. Maya’s eyes were glowing and then they started flashing. And then I blacked out. When I woke up, my mind was foggy and disheveled.I felt like a puzzle piece of my memory was gone. Something wasn’t right. I looked around and everything looked normal enough. I was in my classroom listening to my teacher talk about the last day of school activities we’d be able to do. Surprisingly, they were all things I enjoyed doing, which was strange because my interests were niche. Ok, something was even more wrong, this day was exactly like how she imagined, it was too good to be true. How could my teacher know exactly what type of day I wanted? I decided to find Maya, to try and piece this all together. There was just one problem though, she wasn’t in my class. So, I decided to lie to my teacher. So, I could leave the classroom. I left and I started wandering the halls, hoping to find her. When I took the stairs down, I spotted her. She had an obscure bottle in her hand, which she was tightly gripping too. It also looks like she was tightly gripping to life, because her face was ashen and her eye bags were very deep and dark. Her hair was messy. I tried getting her to really talk to me, to tell me what was going on, but she stayed silent, her mouth tightly closed. Until, suddenly, I heard the sound of loud footsteps.Going clankity clank clank. That was the sound of our social studies teacher’s shoes, Mr.Shora. At that moment, I didn't know what to do. So, I stayed perfectly still, hoping that would make a difference. I heard the footsteps getting closer, and I started to shiver. And a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead. And she just stood there, it looked like her mind was somewhere else. Suddenly, Mr.Shora barreled toward us. And He started yelling at us, his eyebrows furrowed, his hands in fists, white knuckles. And in a single moment, Maya threw the glass at my head. I crumpled down and the glass started to spread to my hands and in my legs. My hair was messy and all in my face. And my eyes started welling up with tears, which smudged my mascara. My cheeks were the colour of a tomato, and I didnt even know what to think or say. Why would she do that? After I stopped crying, and my original emotion faded, I got up, And I felt this fire burning in me urging me to resort to violence, because she was obviously not going to answer, and because it seemed like she didn't even want to be my friend, god did she ever want to be my friend, I had thought. Though I felt weak, emotionally and mentally, I tried to muster up some strength. So, I could punch her, and punch her harder than she’s ever been punched before, because she deserved just that, and worse. I tried to get the proper form, but I just kind of looked like an oompa loompa. Despite that, I followed through with the punch, and, surprisingly, she didn’t resist or block the punch. It’s not like it would have been hard, I was the world’s weakest person, and even with her weakened state, she could have beat me in a fight. By that I was confused. Giving me no more time for confusion, she breaks the silence, and tells me she doesn’t want to fight, tells me that she would never do anything to hurt me. At that moment, something broke in me, and I started laughing like a maniac, and acting like one. I replied with “ well that’s ironic isn’t it, since you did hurt me, hurt me more than anyone else, you literally threw a glass at me, that’s it, we’re not friends anymore”. “I can explain,” Mya yelled in desperation, “but can you?” I say bitterly. After I made that last statement, I attempted to punch her, but I was restrained by a teacher. I didn’t even realize teachers had come, and as I looked around more, I also saw a cluster of students with phones recording, who had recorded our fight. Oh gods, this was the worst day of my life. And what was even worse is that everyone had a video of it. As I stood there, teachers ushered the students out of the vicinity. Being among these teachers that I respected so much, in this situation made red flood to my cheeks, made my chest heavy, and it made me feel like I was gonna die. My chest started to get tight, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.Then, I felt a hand around my back, it was the hand of my favourite teacher, Ms.Johnson. She was trying to calm me down. “Try to breathe sweetheart” she said softly and then she led me through a breathing exercise. After I collected myself, I was led to the office by Ms.Johnson. And so was Maya, My ex best friend. At the time, I hated her guts, I hoped she would suffer a fate worse than death. Anyways, in the office I was greeted by a bunch of bustling teachers, and a gigantic professional first aid kit. I was immediately seated and attended too. When I was all bandaged up, they got me and Maya to go to the school counselor. When we entered the room instead of the councilor, we were greeted by Mr.Shora. I felt like something was off the moment I stepped into that room, and I was even more sure when I saw the look of terror in Maya’s face, and when she started fidgeting with her hair, which she always does when she’s nervous.. My thoughts were interrupted when Mr.Shora started said weird things that didn’t make sense. He said we were monsters and that we would never make it. And then he pulled out this sword, made of a weird material, and pointed it at me. And then Maya intervened, she opened her mouth, and a deafening scream came out. Her eyes turned white and then they started flickering. And it felt like deja vu somehow. The next thing I remember is waking up in a car which Maya was vigorously driving. It felt like we would go off the road or something. And at the time, I didn’t understand why Maya was doing all this, driving this car so fast, everything she had done, acting so strange, I felt like I didn’t even know her. Today, I'm grateful for her and I understand. You will also understand her after finishing reading the end of this story. So, back to the story. After a few minutes, pieces of what had happened came back to me. I was filled with questions, and the least Maya could do was answer them. So, I yelled at Maya “what the hell is going on? I want answers, Maya.”I did this because I was entitled to answers, and because I needed to hang on to any piece of truth or reality. Maya took a deep breath and started to explain, she said “ Well, I don’t really know where to start, but um, I was sent to attend your school, because there were suspicions that you might be one of us”. I replied angrily “one of what” “ One of us sirens” Maya said“ What are you talking about? What’s a siren? Are you going insane?” I said “I’m not going insane, you’re a siren. Sirens are mythological beings who have wings, and a tail. Sirens have the power to use their song or to use a scream to manipulate people or reality in any way they want " Maya explained". “You just proved me right, you are insane. I get it. I might be a little weird, and that’s probably why you don’t want to be friends with me. BUT I’M NOT A SIREN!!!” As these words came out, I started crying. “Leila, I do want to be friends with you, I can explain everything if you let me. Also, Leila I’m telling the truth, you are a siren. One of your parents was a siren, so you had a chance of being one” Maya said softly and with such sorrow. At the realization that she was telling the truth, I started to hyperventilate. This was too much to handle.“ I don’t have a tail, wings, or magical powers, how can I be a Siren?” I said. She replied “ As you get older you will grow wings and a tail. You do have powers, you just probably don't know how to use them”. I was silent for a long time and so was she. Until she blurted out “I’m honestly so sorry. This must be a lot to process, and you had like the worst last day too. You know I tried to give you the best last day, I even used a potion bottle, so I could do just that. And in the end, It was the worst day, and I even hit you in the head with the glass. I’m sorry about that by the way. I asked “But why did you do it, why did you throw a potion bottle at me?” I did it because I wanted to get you away from Mr.Shora, and if you were hurt you would have to go to the office, away from him. but he still tried to attack you in the counselor's room so I didn’t really protect you, but still. I interrupted and said “woah woah Leila slow down. Maya continued and said “ And the thing you saw me do this morning was a ritual to try and control everyone in our school, and how the day would go. It didn’t really work though, I so badly wanted you to have the best last day that I didn’t have”. As she says this I start to remember what happens. So,what happens now?” I asked. Maya glanced at me with her eyes full of sorrow. “ We need to get you to the Siren camp," she said. “It is the only place where you will truly be safe, and where you can learn about your powers and who you really are.” The thought of leaving everything behind my family, my school and my old life was terrifying, but I had a strange sense of relief knowing there was a place I could belong. As we drove in silence, I started to notice Maya’s hands shaking on the steering wheel and a flicker of pain in her eyes whenever she glanced my way. Despite everything she did to me that day she had risked so much to protect me. “Maya, I said hesitantly. I'm sorry for not trusting you and for not understanding.” She smiled a small and sad smile and said “It’s okay Leila, I understand this is a lot to take in” we continued driving into the unknown. Despite the uncertainty I had I felt a strange sense of peace, knowing we were in this together.