Amelia Baker

Ever since the day I was born, my life has been scripted out for me: my relationships, actions, personality traits, my death! The people that surround me suffocate me with pressure. It’s like dozens of elephants standing on my chest or weights dragging me down deep into the ocean like I just can’t escape. The worst part is that stuff they tell me isn’t even true! There isn’t such a thing as a “prophecy,” it’s only seen in fairytales or films. It’s ridiculous what little paper can do to make everyone believe in something. 

I closed my journal as loud footsteps approached my door. 

“Amelia, honey, it’s time for dinner,” a soothing voice said as the door creaked open.

I gritted my teeth, “Actually, I’m not going to dinner tonight.”

My mothers’ soft smile quickly dropped, and her voice became serious, “And why not?”

“I was wondering if I can go to a party tonight… with a couple of friends?” I smiled.

My mother paused, “No.”

“Amelia, you know better, a hero does not go out to parties! You should start planning your attempt to save the world!”

My mother was a true believer in the prophecy. Since the age of four, I have never had the chance to live life like a normal kid. Mainly because of my one and only mother, my health and safety was her only priority.

“Mother, I’m not a hero, I’m just an ordinary child,” I responded irritatedly. 

“I should be out having fun and living life, but I’m stuck in this jail cell you guys call home.”

“Amelia Marie Baker, what did I tell you about arguing with me. Like the prophecy says-”

Quickly interrupting her, “I don’t care what the prophecy says, mom, you automatically believed some paper that a random man handed to you on the street!”

My mother paused at the doorway, “Time is running out, and our lives depend on whether you believe it or not, it’s your choice if you want us to die,” she paused. 

“No dinner for you tonight, straight to bed you go,” she said as she closed the door.

I collapsed my face into my pillow on my bed, just waiting for the day for my parents to wake up! I rolled over and took my laptop off from its charger. The blue tint appeared on my face as I entered my password: prophecy. Something my parents forced my password to be, unfortunately. While my computer loaded up, I received a text notification on my phone. 

“Huh, a message from Jason,” I said, surprised.

As I opened the text message, an image popped up with a quote saying, “Don’t let people decide your future, let your heart decide who you are.”

I smiled. Jason's my best friend, we’ve been friends since the age of four. We were inseparable ever since. However, it drove my parents mad as it matched what the prophecy said, “A girl of few friends.” I turned off my phone and began to facetime Jason on my computer. 

“Did you like the message?” Jason asked as he answered the phone.

“Yes! It was perfect timing, my mother and I just had another disagreement,” I responded. 

“Let me guess…” he waited.

 “Is it about the prophecy?” 

“Like usual, she got mad because I wanted to skip dinner to go to a party like a normal teenager,” I explained.

“I don’t know how to feel about this prophecy,” Jason chuckled.

I sighed, “I don’t know how to make of it either, it says “that at the age of sixteen when the world is going through a crisis, I’ll be the one to stop the day,” I mocked.

“Doesn’t it say how you die?” Jason asked.

“Yep, it even says that I will die saving everyone’s lives,” I responded.

“Wouldn’t that mean you would die right after you save the world?” Jason asked.

“Who cares,” I laughed, “None of it’s true. I’m pretty sure the old man who handed that paper to my parents was pulling a silly prank on them.”

“Wouldn’t it be cool if it was real though! Amelia Baker, a hero, saved the world. I can see many movies made about you!” Jason exclaimed.

“Trust me, pigs will fly when I would be put into a movie,” I replied.

Jason's eyes widened as he read his phone.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.

“It’s like you just have seen a ghost.”

“Um, it’s nothing,” Jason quickly replied.

I stopped what I was doing and gave Jason the look, the look to confess whatever he was trying to keep from me.

“Fine, don’t be mad, but Carmen just posted about you… again.”

“Great, what is she making fun of now,” I said as I unlocked my phone.

I opened the app to see an edited picture of me with a superhero outfit with a caption that says, “Weirdo Amelia coming to save the world.”

“How did she find out about this?” I asked.

“I mean, your mother sort of emailed the entire school,” Jason said slowly.

“WHAT?!” I yelled.

I slammed my laptop closed and stormed out of my room. I turned the corner to see my family eating around the dinner table finishing up. 

“You emailed the entire school about me?” I asked my mother, raising my voice.

“Well of course, why wouldn’t I? People deserve to know,” My mother responded calmly.

“Mom, prophecies aren’t real. I’m tired of dad, grandma, friends, family, and you putting pressure on me for something that doesn’t exist!” I yelled.

My mother stood up from the table and dusted her outfit. Her face was stern and her eyes stared into my soul. 

“Enough,” Mother said.

“No, I’m not letting this go anymore. Tell me, “what am I going to save the world from,” I mocked.

“A virus,” she responded.

“A virus, gosh, I never knew a virus could be so deadly,” I joked.

Her voice grew serious, “The Coronavirus…”

“Hun look!” my dad said, worried as he rushed to the television.

My father turned up the sound from the television to listen to the news. My mother gasped loudly, which caught my attention. 

I began to listen to the newscaster, “We have received news that there are fifteen cases now in the U.S…”

I stopped listening, the only thing I could hear was the sound of my heart beating. Everything around me became a blur and I found it hard to breathe. 

My mother shook me yelling, “It’s time.”

The only words that I could utter were, “Oh my God.”