Causing The Rise And Fall

The Day of the Oreos

My heart pounds as the light, oh so bright, shines in my face.

"Willie May Oliver," the tough yet soft voice says. "There is something I need to tell you. I've been meaning to, but," his words escape him. I am 7 at the time. All glitter, loud, outgoing, boy bands, superstars, friends, innocent. All of that has changed now.

The light in front of me was just a table lamp, but under the occasion it seemed bright. "You, darling have something inside of you. Something I wish I still have. You will not understand this now," His eyes fill up with tears. This is a rare sight from Dad. I stare down at my stomach. He was right. I didn't understand. For a split second I thought he was talking about the Oreos we ate earlier. I was wondering why he was getting emotional over a cookie.

"Willie, you have a power. One of the most powerful powers there are. If not, the most powerful power there is," I was most definitely confused. Dad wasn't really serious often. I didn't know why he chose now to be. That is why I said some silly, rather stupid stuff.

"Willie, my sweet, sweet Willie. You know people, well, everything dies?" "Yeah Dad," "You know that things are born?" "Yeah Dad." Why is he asking me such obvious question?

The tears that collected in his eyes started to fall slowly and and silently. "Do you understand what I'm saying Willie?" "Dad, I'm not really understanding anything right now. This stuff your saying, why you're crying, why its 2:00 and I still haven't had lunch," Dad chuckled at my last comment. He then made a quick comment about Taco Bell after this. Whatever this was.

"Willie, I have been trying to tell you, you have a power. Sorta like a superhero." He gave me a heart warming smile. "Like Spiderman." My mouth curled in disgust. I didn't for some unknown reason, like Spiderman. Or any superhero. Let alone be one. After a moment he came to a realization. "Or a supervillain." He whispered under his breath. This did not interest me at all.

"Silly Dad, powers are only in movies, and books." I said matter-of-factly. "Spiderman isn't real." I quickly added. "Well you see, that is not true in this case," he looked like he finally had the courage to say something.

"Willie May Oliver. You, my darling, my sweet sweet girl, can control something. Life and death."

After a split second thinking about my dad's honesty, I came to a conclusion that he was correct. And I remember something like a scream escaping my throat.