Lucid

{ Chapter One }

// flashback //

"Mommy why are there no colors?" I stare up at the woman who raised me for the past 4 years.

"What do you mean, baby?" She gingerly takes me into her arms.

"No colors. Not in the sky, not on the ground, not on people, not even you."

That was the day my mother took me to the hospital.

"No colors Athena." She pulled me into her arms.

That was the day I was diagnosed with Achromatopsia, color blindness.

"No colors mommy."

We got into the habit of her dressing me, her choosing what colors for the other one. It was a routine. Her light hair always seemed like mine, set in wild waves that traveled down her back and ended just above her hips. Her eyes were light, even I could see it in the colorless world. But she was mom, colorless, quiet, happy mom.

// end //

The smell of coffee filled my nose. I took in a deep breath of the air and looked around, everything still in black and white.

"Athena!" The barista shouts from the counter, my favorite drink already on the counter. Maybe I come here too often... Nah.

I make my way over to the counter dragging my suitcase behind me and grab my drink. "It's on the house."

"Thanks Adeline." I flash a smile and take myself to a chair in the window.

I set my suitcase on the floor next to me and pull a tiny table to me and set down my laptop on top of it. I immediately go to Twitter. I scroll up and down seeing posts about weed and the red carpet event happening tonight in Los Angeles.

I stare at the grey steam coming off my coffee and let out a soft sigh. I grabbed my glasses wishing they could somehow let me see in color.

I reach into my bag grabbing one plane ticket to Los Angeles. There was rumored to be a doctor who can help the color blind see colors, very vague, but colors.

I smiled widely and closed my laptop and shoved it into my suitcase. I pull up the handle and stand up walking toward the door and out to the street.

I whistle for a taxi. I've always heard they were yellow, but I single them out by the advertisements on top.

I wave my arm frantically into the street and a taxi stops in front of me. I toss my stuff into the backseat and slide in right beside it. "George bush airport please."

I live in Texas. Houston, Texas. George Bush is an hour from my apartments by the Houston Galleria.

As the cabs drive I see the large buildings pass by. The cars zoom past us and I marvel at the beautiful city.

Once we arrive at the airport I pay the man and grab my luggage and go through the entrance and everything to board.

Once I'm on the plane I immediately fall asleep.

// landing //

"Welcome to Los Angeles International. All passengers must grab their things and depart the plane. Thank you for flying United Airlines."

A lady nudges my shoulder, shaking me a few times. "Ma'am.. We've just landed." I wake up and look at her, She smiles. "Oh good I thought you were dead."

I sit up and she walks away. I look around to find the plane completely empty. I grab my laptop and quickly walk toward the front of the plane.

I walk over to baggage claim and wait in the large crowd of sleepy, cranky, and smelly people who are all waiting on their luggage as well.