Everything is a Metaphor (Camren)

"I'll choose not to choose."

Listen to: Fingertips by Ryan O'Shaughnessy

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Zoom in.

The two girls are walking hand in hand, their faces hidden from the wintry midnight air only when they turn to laugh into each other's shoulders. The taller one is tripping over herself, but in her poor senses dampened by alcohol, she blames it on the girl next to her; says that she's making her so giddy, so happy, she can't even stand up straight. People feel like that all the time; have that feeling of joy, so strong it propels them every which way because dammit, they just can't contain it. Happiness does that: it overwhelms you until you simply lose control.

The two girls are walking hand in hand, unable to contain their grins.

The two girls are walking hand in hand, grips so tight their footsteps are in sync.

Walking hand in hand, into the street, blinded by happiness and joy and-

And light.

Just before things go black, the shorter girl stops the taller one dead in the street. Eyes gleaming, she says, "I feel like I've known you my whole life. Is that too cliche?"

"No," The taller girl says, her smile hardening. "I feel the same way."

And the two girls are connected. Together. Hand in hand. Marveling at one another.

Until the blare of a car horn reaches their ears and, finally, the screaming.

"Lauren!"

The last thing she sees is Camila's face. Pupils dilating with fright; mouth struggling to open wide enough for her screams; her entire body trembling like a dog caught in a snow storm-

Zoom out.

Lauren wakes up. One hand is in her hair, the other holding onto her chest so tight she can feel her heart just beneath the skin, beating as fast and loud as a failing cardiac monitor's beeping. The blare of the car horn continues to ring in her ears, and terror grasps her again as she realizes the nightmare may not be over-

Until, finally, she turns to her left. There on her bedside table, spazzing out, is her alarm clock.

Wait- Her alarm clock? Ringing? But-?

"Lucy?" Lauren mumbles at first, her hands searching the bed for her missing girlfriend. Then, finding nothing, she shrieks, "Lucy?!" She jumps out of bed when there's no instant response, but just as soon as her feet hit the ground, she collapses back onto the mattress, unable to stand. Shit. what happened last night?

Lucy calls from the bathroom, "I'm in here." Her voice is tired, tone annoyed and reserved. Lauren hasn't heard her sound such a way since the last time they argued- over a year ago.

But that's not how Lauren knows something is wrong. What reveals that certainty is the fact that her alarm clock had to wake her up. Her alarm clock never has to wake her up.

"What the hell?" Lauren exasperates once Lucy descends from the bathroom, perfectly dressed and ready for class. Her hair is up in a tight ponytail, complementing her dark red sweatshirt. She even bothered to put on makeup- something she never does before 3 pm.

Lauren's mouth drops even further. "Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"I don't know," Lucy sighs, pursing her lips to dry her red lipstick. She turns away from Lauren to grab her book bag off its hook on the bathroom door.

"Maybe I just assumed you wouldn't be up for classes after last night."

"But you always wake me up, even when I'm sick-"