When given a choice between different lives which would you choose?
It was just a normal day in Reston, Virginia. A bit chilly, but Rachel was super tired from working on homework so late, again. She had been up late because of rehearsal then when she came home she still had that history paper to finish. As much as she tried to cover it up, anyone who took a second glance at her would see how bone-dead tired she is. But she could care less about what the general public thought. "I'm going to be famous one day, and all of this will just be a funny memory" was what she would tell herself on a daily basis. She loved to dance, and boy could you tell when she hadn't danced yet that day. She would be in the worst mood as she left the house. But the second she got out of class, she had the biggest grin on her face you would have thought it was straight out of the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". It had been a rough morning, and by morning I mean the early hours and because of that. She could just tell it was going to be a bad day.
When she came home that night, her body ached all over. She knew she wasn't going to be able to move, but she still had a smile on that face. The last time she had done her duet with her best friend everyone even the directors had told her that she had "shined brighter then diamonds". Though it had been a good day for dancing she still had homework to do and it was already 10:00.
At 2 AM, Rachel was finally able to close her eyes and escape into her dreams. Her sweet, pure dreams were interrupted by her dad coming in late. Any time he comes home late from work, he comes into her room, and pretends to massage her. But that's not what he's doing at all. He is really just violating her. She continues to pretend to be asleep because she know that if she lets him know that she is awake that he will do more then what he is doing. Maybe to some people they actually like that, but for Rachel is was just painful. Worst than when she tore her hip muscle; worse than all the pains that mother nature loved to bring her every month. It was the pain that woke her. She always hated when her father would do this to her. Not just because it was just so wrong, but because she use to think of her father as her hero. What hero would do such awful things to his own child? Apparently, her's would. After he leaves, she cries into her pillow asking for someone, anyone to help her. It was because of those years and years of tears that I have come to her tonight of all nights. Because I cannot let this continue to happen without given her a chance of escaping.
I have been watching her for some time, and I think she was the only one I would ever think of offering this to. A long time ago, I was in a similar situation, but back then things were very different. It was a different time era.
“Hello, Rachel” I greeted her warmly.
“W-who are you? She responded.
“To you, I am whoever you need, whenever I am needed. But in this world, I used to be known as Nicole Grace Rasmussen. I used to be in the same position as you. Like you, I thought there was no other way out. I thought this was how it was everywhere. You know better though, don’t you?”
“I-what do you want from me?”
“It’s not what I want from you, but what I want to give to you. I do believe that your 18th birthday is in 3 days. I must warn you though. This gift is an important one. One only pure of soul and body may receive and use it.”
“I don’t understand. What gift?”
“I want to give you the chance to choose a different life. You will be able to observe other versions of yourself for the next three nights until midnight on your birthday in which you will have a choice to make. Which life do you want to live?”
“Why me?”
“You remind me of someone I use to know.”
“Who?”
“My sister. Ready to go?” she nods her head. “Then come here child.”
Rachel's POV
I walked into Nicole’s motherly white arms, even though she looked much too young to be a mother. I was swept immediately back to my bedroom, but it did not look like my bedroom. The dancer posters were all replaced with different famous people. My closet, which was normally practically empty except for the few dresses and boxes of old dance stuff, but instead it was full of designer clothes, shoes, and bags.
“Is this my room?” I look over at the clock, it’s the same old, red clock my brother had given me before freshman year of high school that never seemed to be able to wake me up; it says 6 o’clock. “Where am I?”
“Getting ready for school.” Nicole smiles as if she knows something I don’t. Just as if on cue, I watch myself come into the room, except I look so different. My hair has been straightened and has purple highlights throughout. I was already dressed in swede ankle boots, a high-low flowery skirt, and a tan halter top. I had always wanted to dress like this every day, but I never had the time or money to go shopping. My normally very muscular body didn’t look like it had one inch of muscle on it.
“What do I do with my spare time, if I don’t dance?”
“Oh, you dance. Your on the dance team.” My face must have given something away at the words of “dance team” because she starts laughing. “You must remember that this version of yourself does not dance as in-depth as you do. She wanted to be popular, and that is one of the quickest and easiest way to do it.”
“That is really shallow of her. I mean, me.”
“Maybe you should just watch instead of judging her.” I shrugged.
“I live for the night. I live for the lies” Live for the Night by Krewella starts ringing from my iPhone.
“Hey Babe!” Other me says. “Yeah, I’m already just give me a minute or two. K?—See you soon!”
After my other self puts down her iPhone, she just stares at herself prefect self in the mirror.
“Let’s do this!” she tells herself.
YOU ARE READING
Switch Your Life
Short StoryHave you ever felt trapped in your own life? Restricted to the point that you literally would rather die then keep on living? That's the same with Rachel. Between being sexual abused by her own father, and having no idea what she was going to do wit...
