Light (Version 2)

The Beginning

Luz's POV in the human realm

I was 12 when I started acting what people would like to call "weird." I'd carry my red bat, which my dad had given me before he died of leukemia, everywhere with me. People would look at me weirdly wherever I'd go. Whenever I'd go by parents, they'd hold on to their kids a little tighter.

I didn't try to seem weird or "scary". I just hadn't felt a connection with anything this much, since my bat and Good Witch Azura book are my only true memories of my dad.

My mom was obviously worried. When I was 14, I went onto her computer to see a "counseling camp" website opened. All my information was in it, all she had to do was press "Next" and pay.

I panicked. Of course, I thought I was normal. I thought that joking around about sausage links being guts in the school play wasn't weird. It was just realistic.

My mom didn't say anything about the camp to me for a while. I thought about confronting her many times, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. We had been so close.

A month passed, school ended, and finally, she brought it up.

"Luz...I decided to sign you up for a camp to help you with this.. phase, it starts in two days and will go through all of June and July." She said and looked at me with a half-smile.

"Phase?" I wanted to say.

But no.

I just stood there, as my vision got blurry from tears welling up in my eyes.

"I understand it will be hard... but it's what is best for you!" She said, reaching her hand out to pinch my cheek.

I smacked it away and walked out of the house. I needed to clear my head.

That day, I probably kicked about 5 trees in anger.

I walked through the door and saw my mom making dinner. She opened her mouth to say something but decided not to.

It was probably best that she didn't.

I went upstairs and started packing stuff up. I didn't care about folding it, I would just shove it in.

I made sure to sneak my bat into the bottom of my duffel bag.

After a few minutes, my mom yelled, "Dinner!"

She had made my favorite, Mexican rice with homemade guacamole and tortilla chips.

I wasn't going to have her trying to buy my forgiveness. I took my plate and walked upstairs to my bedroom.

She didn't try to stop me.

—

That night, I laid in bed and imagined what this camp would be like.

Sharing cabins with other girls who need counseling. Would I be the only one there who doesn't actually need to be there? After all, I'm normal, it's just everyone else in the world who acts like I'm not.

I fell asleep on that thought.

—

The next day, I woke up at 8:30 and found breakfast waiting for me on my bedside table, still warm.

Also my favorite, chocolate chip pancakes and chocolate milk.

I didn't get this much because of all the sugar, and to my mom, I'm already crazy as is.

I devoured them and headed downstairs. My mom was at the table reading a book and watched me as I crossed the room to put my plate in the kitchen sink. Then, I decided to grab a white turtleneck and baggy black jeans with holes in the knees to wear when I get out of the shower.