The Beginning of Forever...

December 6, 1921

December 6, 1921

Chapter 1

            “Elizabeth it’s time to wake up!” my mom yelled as I was just opening my eyes to the blinding morning light.

Ugh my sixteenth birthday, I thought to myself as I was slowly getting out of bed. I had been dreading this day for weeks. Mainly because my best friend, Andrea, had been planning some huge party that I begged not to happen. 

            My mother had entered my room as soon as I got out of bed. “Honey, you’re going to be late for school if you don’t hurry up and get ready.” She said in a hurry, almost too fast for my awakening ears. “Oh! By the way, happy sixteenth birthday!”

            “Mom, can’t I just skip school today? I mean I’m feeling kinda sick.” I said trying my best to create a believable fake cough. I had never been one for acting.

“No. Today is a big day. You’re friend Andrea has been planning this day for weeks, and don’t you think that might upset her?”

“Fine, I’ll go.” I mumbled standing up and heading to the bathroom. I just wanted the day to end as fast as possible. I was one of those kids that sit in the back of the room without making any noise just to avoid the unneeded attention. 

            I brushed my teeth and took a bath before heading to my room to get dressed.  I wanted to wear something nice to make Andrea happy, but I didn’t want it to be flashy like the other girls at school wore on their birthdays.   I stand about 5’4” and weigh about 120 lbs. I have short curly chocolate brown hair that stops just below my chin. I have bright blue eyes and I guess my looks could be considered just a tad above average, but no boys ever bothered to talk to me. Probably because it seemed like I never talk. 

I had decided on wearing my favorite dress and flats to match. Since its winter time I decided to wear my coat that was just overlapping my dress.  I had always dressed different than my other classmates.  I was the first in my class to have the bob haircut.  After I had finished getting ready I decided to head downstairs for breakfast.  My mother had fixed my favorite. It was Canadian bacon and blueberry waffles.  When I finished my meal I waited for Andrea to arrive.  When she knocked on the door yelling something unintelligible I put on my new hat and walked out the door. 

            “It took forever to get to your house today. The snow covered all of the ice and I was falling all over the place.” Andrea said in her ditzy nasally tone. She had never been the brightest crayon in the box. 

            “You would fall down everywhere. We both know it wasn’t just the icy sidewalk that made you fall.”

            “You know what? Just…shut up! Okay. We both know I fall down a lot.”

            “Okay, okay. So, how do I look? My mom just got me this hat. It was in one of those fashion magazines.” I asked. I just wanted her to see my new clothes.

            “Oh. My. Gosh. You actually listened to me for once!” she exclaimed, while pulling me into an inescapable hug. “Maybe that boy Thomas will ask you to the ‘Winter Formal’.” She said using air quotes.

            “maybe.” I responded zoned out. All I could think about while she spoke was the “surprise” party she had been planning.

            When we arrived at school it was just beginning to pick up snowing like it had most of the night before.  The first three classes went along as usual, me sitting in the back doing my work quietly while the other students chatted away about the latest gossip.  Then lunch came around and I met up with Andrea at her locker to get into the forever extending lunch line. It was my junior year at George Washington High School. I had skipped a grade due to my fantastic grades as a freshman. 

            While standing in line hearing to Andrea’s usual babbling I saw him.  He was the most popular boy in the school. A senior. His name was Dominic Marino. He usually dated all of the popular girls.  He was the captain of the football team. He had the most beautiful facial features in the entire high school. His hair was perfectly slicked back with waves that reminded me of the ocean.  The dream guy. I was so deep in a Trans I couldn’t even hear Andrea’s randomness.  I didn’t even notice he was walking toward me until Andrea was waving her hand in my face asking if anyone was home.

            “Hello Liz, Andrea. Um…could I talk to you alone for a second?” He asked looking at me and then looking at Andrea with a look in his eyes that suggested he wanted her to go away.

            “Sure…I mean yeah.” I managed to croak out though you could hear the dryness in my throat.  At which point Andrea got the hint and walked away sitting at our regular lunch table.

            “Well, I know next week is Winter Formal and all. I was just wondering if you would like to maybe go with me…unless you’re going with somebody else?” he asked with obvious nervousness that wasn’t even necessary—considering his popularity and his unbelievable good looks.

            “That would actually be perfect. I would love to go with you.” I said with a smile that I imagine looked like it was about to split my face.  Retarded. Probably.  

“Awesome! So I’ll see you around then.” He said with a sigh of relief and the smile that I had just experienced, and with that he walked away.  I was reunited with Andrea after I got my lunch, and sat down in my seat. I was then bombarded with all kinds of questions. I said the occasional “uhhu” and “yeah” with a couple nods of the head before she had been fully satisfied with the information she wanted. 

            The rest of the day went by fairly quickly until my last period when I decided to get mouthy with a teacher.  He told me I had to stay after school, and I did.  I wasn’t released until 6:30 instead of our usual 4 o’clock.  By the time I left the school it was already dark outside. Everything was fine until I was halfway home.  I had to cross the road to get to the sidewalk.  When I was walking across it an oncoming automobile slid on ice and hit me dead on.  I laid there in the middle of the road dying.  The vehicle had driven off.  I gained enough strength to pull myself into the alleyway.

There were slash marks all over my body. I was constantly fighting the unconsciousness that was trying to take over my body.  In-between my battle I could hear footsteps all around me, and what sounded like two…maybe three people arguing over something.  All I remember after that is hearing their agreement, and the instant fire I felt burning through my veins.