Timeless

Chapter One

     From the moment I stepped foot in my kindergarten classroom seven years ago, I knew I was just a bit different from the rest of the world. Not to be rude or anything, but the other kids were pretty much slackers. I mean, how many times does it take to understand that's the letter m comes before n in the alphabet? Unlike the others, my brain has a natural talent for absorbing any information it sees or hears. I like to think of it is a giant sponge; taking in anything and everything. When a teacher explains something, I automatically get it. Then I store that piece of data in a minute section of my brain, always ready to be taken out again in the future.

I also have an undying passion for reading. And it became clear that being interested in books was not a cool thing when I reached the upper grades. But what is there to dislike about a good novel? It helps me question the universe around me, and discover answers that would otherwise be lost to me. In my opinion, that is something truly special, and those children don't know what they're missing out on.

Another concept that really catches my attention is science. Why is the world the way it is? Throughout the many branches of this subject, it is possible to find the answers. Life has countless secrets in it just waiting to be found by a girl like me. Ever since I was three, I knew I wanted to have an occupation that has something to do with the wonders of science. I vividly recall a day in the fourth grade when our teacher, Mrs. Marino, asked us to write an oral report on what we wanted to do for a living when we got older. The majority of the other girls had an odd desire to be fashion designers, dancers, models, and the like. But the thing I will never forget is when I proudly stated what I wanted to do, and everybody stared at me like I was mentally insane. I caught Emma Perkins, the petty girl who sat in the back, snicker and whisper, "freak." The first emotion that struck me was dejection; why did I have to be so different, like an alien from another planet?

However, what separates me most from the rest of the world has nothing to do with education. It's pretty peculiar and difficult to explain, but I will give it my best efforts. At random times, these glimpses of memories, as I like to call them, will just hit me. And I'll have absolutely no idea what they mean or why they occurred. It just... happens. For example, the other day, I was walking to my health class, and out of nowhere, this image of me in a doctor's office flashed before my eyes. I looked older, most likely in my early twenties. To my left, a woman was fanning herself with hundred dollar bills. To my right, a girl who appeared to be in her teens was picking up chewed pieces of bubble gum with her bare hands. Talk about unsanitary! For some strange reason, both girls seemed familiar, as if I had met them once before. Obviously, this is not possible, though. Then, as quickly as the scene had entered my head, it completely vanished. My mind was spinning and I couldn't think straight for the rest of the day.

I haven't told anyone about these yet. Who would I spill them to? If I tried to explain them to my parents, they would just send me to a psychiatrist or someone else who wouldn't understand. I don't need more people thinking I'm crazy. Maybe I would have told my sister. If she was still here. She died a few minutes after she was born. Apparently, she developed a rare heart disease while still in my mother's womb. We would have been twins. Her name was Deanna. Nobody really mentions Deanna much anymore. But I think about her all the time. I wonder if she would have understood me. We could have faced the world together. However, we can't, which leaves me in eternal solitude.

I do have another sibling though, a fifteen-year-old brother named Vincent. Vincent is essentially the exact opposite of me: he has gorgeous brown hair that naturally sweeps over his head, while I have ordinary, black locks. Vincent is popular and has too many friends to keep track of, whereas it would be a miracle if a girl so much as said a word to me. He's the MVP of his high school varsity football team, but he also really loves swimming. His dream is to become an Olympic gold medalist swimmer, like the next Michael Phelps or something. Swimming is a fun activity for me as well. It gets my mind off of the world around me. When my arms hit the ice cold water of the pool, I feel as if I can do anything. However, that sensation only emerges during the three months of summer. Good things never last anyway. My brother would never understand my memories. He would just chuckle, walk away, and wonder why he would be given me for a sister.

My name is Daisy, by the way. I believe names are very important in life, since they are what we regularly classify character with. I like my name. It represents hope and optimism because daisies have such a bright, glistening, white hue. I associate myself with the daisies. Lying in a vacant field, my color calling to others, just waiting to be picked by the right people. These flowers always make me smile.

I don't have a best friend to talk with about my memories. I'm typically introverted, but I don't think that's the reason why nobody speaks to me. Again, I'm the "freak" girl. No one wants to be friends with a freak. It would destroy their social statuses. Mine is way past destroyed. It's demolished.

So, it's pretty clear that it's me against the world right now. However, I do have a shard of hope that this can change one day. Well, maybe it's meant to be this way. To be honest, I have no interest in becoming friends with any of the girls from my school. They're the same way as they were in elementary school: only attentive to their appearances and being accepted. It utterly disgusts me. The good thing is, I'm a fighter. Nothing can break me down. I am going to enjoy my life while it lasts and live it to the fullest. That's my personal motto, and I'm determined to live by it.

No matter what.