When you are about to die, you don't see your whole life flashing back before your eyes. You may shake, you may cry, you may shit your pants but your life does not flash back before your eyes.
The truth is that, when you are about to die, when yo...
"How much money do you think we've gained?" Aidan asked.
"Thousands of dollars!" Ambrose shouted.
"We don't talk about dollars, here." I smiled at her. "But pounds." Another detail that raised my curiosity - where was she from?
"Where are you from?" Aidan asked her.
"Near the forest!" She smiled. "We have a huge house and four dogs!"
"Where are you from?" I asked him.
"California." He smiled.
The TV made another sound that caught our attention. A small text appeared with a drawing underneath it.
"With these ten matchsticks, you can see a deer. There is an eleventh matchstick which represents the bullet of a hunter that is going to kill the animal, unless you find the answer." Ambrose gasped as Aidan read. "By moving one - one and only - matchstick, you have to make the deer avoid the bullet. Good luck."
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"We can't let him die!" Ambrose shouted with her sad blue eyes.
"No one's dying, Ambrose!" I have never really liked children and I hated their empathy even more. "How are we supposed to answer? Draw on the wall?" I asked looking at Aidan.
He took a step forward and stared at the screen. He carefully brought a hand to the device.
"It's touch-sensitive." He noticed.
"Okay, good." I sighed. Aidan stared at me with a confused look. "I've always hated matchstick riddles," I explained. "Neither those with numbers."
"I guess this one's for you, then." He smiled.
"What? Aidan! No! I'm going to make us lose!"
"And the deer is gonna die!" Ambrose cried.
"No one's going to die!" I shouted once again.
Her eyes snapped open, I must have scared her. I have never been good with kids. I never had the patience to handle them and I have to admit that they were pretty much terrifying me.
"Nolah?" Aidan worryingly whispered.
"I'm sorry-" I whispered too. "I'm so sorry."
It was inevitable, each time I was put under a little bit of pressure, I would completely lose control, I would panic, I would shout, and I would not be able to concentrate. Pressure is one of the most powerful weapons anyone could use against me.
"I'm sorry." I squatted in front in front of Ambrose.
"We have to save him!" She begged.
"You're right." I stood up. "We do." I looked at Aidan.
I stood in front of the TV and tried to focus. I stared at the screen, knowing that the answer might be just before my eyes. I tried to mentally distance myself from the riddle.
