"My Ellie"

"What?! You dont wanna be my Pookie?"

"Mom! I'm going out now!"

"No, the hell you're not! You heard the news! People are getting sick!"

"God dammit... Forgot that," Lily thinks to herself as she runs down the stairs, going to the kitchen where her mom is. Lily puts her hands in the pockets of her jeans, leaning on the kitchen counter next to her mom."Mama, I promise I'll be fine. It's not like the world's gonna end if I go to the park. Weren't you the one who told Dad I needed to go outside more?" Lily asks, walking up to her mom, Sarah, who is currently cooking dinner for her husband. "No, your dad told me that. And outside when it's not six in the afternoon, summer, and when people are sick. You wanna fuck around and find out?" Sarah asks her daughter, pointing the spatula at Lily. Lily smirks, moving the spatula out of her face. "Okay, one, that smells like egg. And two, you act like you didn't sneak out back then. At least I told you where I was going. Gotta give me credit, I'm a little better," Lily sighs, crossing her arms. "And plus, I'll wear a mask. I'll keep an eye out," Lily says, giving her mom that cheeky look. Sarah sighs and smiles. "You send me a photo if you see cop cars, tell me all the drama," Sarah says, and kisses Lily's forehead. Lily smiles and leans into her mom before pulling away. "Will do, Mama! Make sure Daddy doesn't eat all the sourdough! Love ya!" Lily shouts, passing the calendar marking June 20th, 2024.

✧༺♥༻∞

Lily gets her shoes on, and she heads out the door. It was getting hot in Chicago; climate change messed everything up, especially the summers. Lily gets on her bike and heads to the park. Lily puts on her headphones and plays her music while heading to the park.

"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac starts playing.

"Classic," Lily whispers to herself, and she keeps riding. Passing by her neighbors, waving, she wasn't much for conversation, not since the pandemic of 2020, but she didn't speak much on that. "Lily!" Sannie shouts, seeing her friend finally show up to the park. Lily stops her bike and leans it on the fence. "Hey Sannie! How've you been? Missed my pookie wookie dookie smookie bear!" Lily says, and Sannie fakes a gag while laughing. "Never call me that again," Sannie laughs, and Lily joins her. 'What? You don't wanna be my pookie wookie dookie smookie bear?", Lily asks playfully. Lily wraps her arm around Sannie's shoulder as they walk to the swings.

There's a growl, then a scream, then two more screams, then seven more, and no one will know why or when until they see it themselves.

(Wrote this book back in 2021, please ignore if it's cringe, I was still balls deep in my 2020 e-girl phase😭)