9 Lives

Day 3

I woke up at about 9:00 the next day I groaned and rolled over, the sun intruding on my blissful sleep. I closed my eyes again. I gave a frustrated sigh when the sun refused to leave. I picked up a book and began to read. I was completely immersed in the story for about an hour. I got out of bed to get breakfast.

I saw my parents sitting on the couch the looked at me and my mother smiled weakly.

"Good morning!" she said with forced happiness. I give a smile back. I knew this time was being pretty hard on both of my parents.

I walk to the kitchen and pour myself some cereal. I look out the window. What was I going to do? I wondered. I was living out the last days of my laugh, and I wasn't doing anything minutely different from the first. I was eating and sleeping.

I had been taken out of school. I had not much else to do besides eating and sleeping in those circumstances. I hadn't realized how much I loved school until I didn't have to slave over it every day.

I gave a sigh. What was I going to do for the next few days? I sighed and went back to bed.

***

I woke up at about 3:00. I still had not fainted. I picked up Pride and Prejudice and began reading.

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you...." I read as I faded into a dream world.

I was sinking once again. I closed my eyes. I couldn't stand this anymore. I fell onto the sand.

"Anitha?" I heard a vaguely familiar voice ask. I open my eyes to someone standing over me. I quickly stood up and looked the man up and down. This was the man whose face came out of the ring.

"You...?"

"Me," the man said smiling.

"I have survived nine lives syndrome and am here to help you."

"How do I stop this! What do I do!"

"Hurry, your time is almost finished. I need you to go to Irudimena Village in this world. I need you then to go to the wise man's cottage. Ask anyone, they will know. I expect I will see you in a few days. Farewell." he handed me a map.

I faded from the world. I sat up when I emerged in the real world. I pulled a map that was in my hand. I looked at it. Irudimena Village in that world? I pulled the covers up over my head and slept.