I grab a Tylenol bottle from behind the books on the shelves and throw it onto the bed. I grab another from under my bed and throw it onto the bed. Another one is fished from inside my backpack, thrown onto the bed to join the others. I sit on the edge of the bed and arrange them on the bedside table. One of those bottles is already empty. Another is half empty. Another is still sealed. Picking randomly, I tip the content of the bottle into my mouth. I follow up with some chamomile tea from my tumbler. They do not go down without a fight. I can feel them scratching my esophagus on the way down. After placing the bottle and the tumbler back on the bedside table, I take my place and lie down on the bed. I pull the covers up to my neck. The covers are warm.
I sigh. I stare at the ceiling. The luminescent stars look different than how I remember it. Dad had helped me put the stars up when Mum and I moved here. I feel around the covers and find a fallen star. This is the missing one. My hand clutches around it. It has been here with me for days without my realization. I glance at my phone. It is unfortunate that I could not contact Dad, no matter how much I ask Mum about it. It is okay. I am sure he is living a better life. Mum will live a better life. [REDACTED] will live a better life. Everyone in school will live a better life. I look at the small star in my palm. It is me. I am this one star in a sky full of brighter stars. I have fallen. It is okay. I place my hands over my chest and close my eyes. It is okay. The deed is done.
END OF LOG
AWAITING VERIFICATION (3s)_
> alter memory > delete day log
[20371018] IS IMPORTANT FOR TIMELINE CONTINUITY.
CONFIRM DELETION [20371018]?
> confirm
DELETING FILE:\\DAY LOG\20371018
> verify
SYSTEM PROMPT: DAY LOG [20371018] MISSING. ASSIMILATION DISRUPTED.
> manual override
ENTER CREDENTIALS_
> HelenRK 874735698
LEVEL 4 CLEARANCE
OVERRIDE AUTHORISED
YOU ARE READING
TX-2033-LEEKNIGHT-1004-AM
Historia CortaA grief-stricken mother relives the final days of her troubled daughter while attempting to preserve and restore data from her memory logs. *** In the midst of her divorce proceedings with her estranged husband, Helen raises their troubled daughter...
