Foreseen

Chapter One - Transformation

Chapter One

- Rose -

The dreaded day was arriving.

Two minutes.

That's how long it was going to be until the worst experience of my life was going to transpire.

Two minutes.

That was when I would turn eighteen.

Eighteen.

Everyone wanted to turn eighteen, right? Who didn't look forward to it? Everyone wanted to become an adult. They all rushed time to age them into an adult, but as soon as time complied, they pleaded to turn back and be a child again, but that's not really how it works. Time is our teacher and we its students, and Time is gladly teaching us a vital lesson.

Slow down.

Live life to the fullest and don't waste a single second. Make it all count. Every second your given: make it count. Smile at someone who looks like they need someone, comfort those with the bloodshot eyes and tear streaked skin, make a new friend - especially those who need it most, you could be their only one and their saviour from reaching the breaking point too far where they can't be pulled from the cliff and be saved - and give. Give all you have to give. Be thankful for what you have - it's most likely more than you really need. Don't envy those who have what you don't, be happy for their fortune. Don't wallow in the sadness that you're picked on, pick yourself up, hold your head high, and realise you serve a fantastic purpose in taking the teasing. You're saving someone else who may be wood whereas you're steel and they would break beyond repair, into pieces, from being chipped away at ever so slightly until they can't be fixed. No one can save them, the damage would have been done.

You're their saviour. You're saving someone.

That's what time is teaching us, and trust me. I was more than happy to take it slow. I didn't want the clock to chime midnight.

"Rose dear, are you okay? I'll be here if you need me. I won't leave you unless you want me to. I'm here, love," my mom said to me as she gripped my hand. My heart was hammering against my rib cage as if it was trying to break free - it didn't want to experience this any more than I did. I didn't blame it. I would help rip it free if I could, then I'd be freed as well seeing as I would have nothing to sustain my vitals.

"It's alright, mom. I'm ready. I can do this, okay? You don't have to worry about me," I said back and gave a reassuring smile, slightly squeezing her hand to add emphasis. She smiled sadly back, knowing exactly what it was like. I nodded once and turned my head to stare straight ahead. I glanced at the clock. It read 11:59 pm. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and prepared for the clock to make the final tick, telling me it's midnight, tomorrow.

My birthday.

The day everyone dreads. It was supposed to be a happy day. It was supposed to be a day full of surprises. It was supposed to be a day full of laughter, enjoyment, smiles. It was supposed to be a day of celebration. It was supposed to be a day never forgotten.

But things never are quite how they're supposed to be, are they?

The clock made the final tick, symbolising it was finally midnight, and I doubled over, unintentionally/instinctively ripping my hand from my mother's grip and cupping both hands over my left eye. I clamped my teeth together and held back the screams clawing at my throat, begging for release. If I didn't grant it the freedom it desired it was going to rip its way out of my throat. It was only a matter of time.

Time.

Time and I were enemies. This was nothing like I imagined. Time was a cruel, unyielding teacher. It held back nothing, and it would coldly present you a head on a platter if that's what it took to get you to comprehend your lesson you refused to learn.