Time Runs Out

pt. 2

We all walk back to class, still thinking about the sophomore girl. I look around me, at the familiar faces in the hallway, and look at their clocks. Most everyone has enough time left to make it until they are about 80.

I still don't know how much is left on my clock.

People used to tell each other all the time, but the newly updated clocks can now sense when we tell someone else their remaining time, though no one knows how this is even possible.

In all honestly, the fact that the images above our head are so technologically advanced is pretty scary.

Every time we tell someone else, we lose a year of our life. So, naturally, no one tells anyone about their time left anymore.

The person only finds out when they realize that everyone around them has stopped, and is watching with large eyes, waiting to see how they will go.

And by then, it's too late to do anything.

We all walk into class, knowing who's turn it will be soon. Keaton Blue, the junior boy with autism. He is innocent, living life day by day, not realizing that in about four days, it will be his turn to be laid in his box.

And no one wants to tell him, and break his heart.

Because Keaton is one of those kids who is always happy, always bubbly. He makes science more interesting with his Random Fact Of The Day, and his sarcastic comments on our current topic of study.

He invited me to his birthday party every year since we were 8, and almost 10 years later, he still does. He always waves to me in the hallway.

"Hi Kelsea! See you in physics!"

And I smile and wave back.

Junior year is a hard year, and physics is a hard class, but somehow he makes it better.

I snap back to reality to realize that Keaton is walking through the door of the physics classroom.

His eyes scan the room, and they land on me, sitting at our lab table.

"Kelsea! Did you know that all of the planets of the solar system can fit between the earth and the moon?" he asks, while skipping over to our table, completely unfazed from the death we all just witnessed.

I chuckle, amused at how excited he is at this fact in particular. He knows how much i love astronomy, and makes sure that every Friday is an astronomy-themed fact.

He sat down next to me, and pulled out his textbook, notebook, and sparkling green pencil.

He claims that this pencil has special powers.

Yesterday, it was immortality.

I didn't have the heart to tell him that he was, in fact, mortal, and that this fact would be proven in exactly--

I look up at his clock.

3 days, 22 hours, 52 minutes, and 3 seconds.

I can't help but wonder what his cause of death will be.

Will it would be painful, or easy? Would he die in his sleep, or have a heart attack like the girl today? Should I tell him about the time he has left, and lose a year of my life? Or let him find out by himself, seconds before he dies, when everyone is watching?

He snaps in front of my face three times, looking annoyed that I didn't hear his story. Once he is satisfied that I am, in fact, listening, he continues.

The bell chimes, and Keaton glares up at the ceiling, bothered that the bell interrupted his story just seconds after I started listening.

I grab his hand.

"Tell me after class, okay?"

He grins.

"Okay. My birthday party is on Tuesday, you'll come, right?"

And my heart breaks.

"Of course."

Even though there will be no party on Tuesday, just a visitation, a burial, and a physics class the next day that will not be even close to the same.