Pure and innocent, she existed. She’s lost in her own mind. Like being frozen in time, she would get herself stuck in a dream. Life revolved around her and she had no control. She was who they wanted her to be. Her fantasy was sculpted by society, her heart guided to be as was told.
She was eight when it started, the delusion. A land with magic and wonder. As if it were actually happening, her emotions overflowed. The mind could lift her, guide her joy and innocence.
She is no longer eight, no longer four feet tall, no longer reading in an elementary classroom, no longer eating on the kids menu. She is coming near her sixteenth birthday. The end of her childhood. All at once life freezes, she remembers her first book, her first smile to a page, the first time she laughed to a story. Something she has always been so close to. Something she has always treasured feels like it’s pulled away. The pressure of a mistakeless student. The oppression of a righteous daughter.
Now it seems such a celebratory day, a day that is meant to mark a new beginning, mark the date she is to turn into a true woman. Is now a death date, an ending, a funeral that no one will ever even notice happened. The death of happiness, the ending of childhood, and the funeral of her true self. The day of birth now turning into something she never wants to celebrate. Something she can only dream of being able to run away from.
As the days slip away, hours rush by, minutes and seconds are forced forward by the hand of a clock. She feels herself reaching for the end. She can see the end in her elusions. Across the end line they glare at her.
Her pace slowed down to a walk, then slow, inching steps. Before long she stopped and looked around. They all watch her. Tears roll down her face, piercing her cheeks. She can't help but feel insignificant.
Her hands sweat and the book slid further. Finally it fell, slipping from her grasp and falling down, hitting the floor. The once simple tears turned into rivers down her face. What seemed to be a crowd of people stepped closer, their eyes never breaking. Weights pulled her down to the floor, she tried to push but it only took seconds for her knees to bend and hit the floor.
The pain of eyes piercing through her skin, as her hands held the cold floor. Out came her last cry before head dropped down. Giving into the force which pushed her, she faced the bitter floor. She gazed at it and it reflected her appearance like glass. She closed her eyes, not being able to bear the sight of herself. When she reopened them, the line still stood, the people still there, but now there was a new turn.
A new ending, it shined brightly. Like the sun it gave her skin warmth. It was closer to her than the other line. It only required her to take one step. She felt herself stand, and she turned towards the new line, as her tears dried. She did not realize the blade she was holding in her hand, she did not know how sharp it was, or how fast it could cut her. She picked up her foot and moved closer to the new line. Her hand raised up from her side, pulling up the blade she had not noticed. She finally let herself take that last step through the finish line, and the sharp blade pierced her soft delicate skin. Blood poured to her feet.
Now there was no more birthday, no more worry about that death date she wanted to run from. But now there was no way to worry.
She fell, and this time didn't get back up. What she had feared turned into demons, whom took her soul. Tricking the once pure and innocent little girl, into ending all hope and happiness she could have ever had.