00. Prologue : Happy Birthday, Harper

4.3K 233 32
                                    

————————

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

————————

PROLOGUE:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARPER

————————

Happy birthday.

April 21st, 1980, 5:55 p.m., cloudy, high chance of rain during the night.

Happy birthday.

First quarter moon, 44% visible, age 6.78 days.

Happy birthday.

       "Can you hear me?"

Sound, loud sound, close sound, speaking sound.

Bright light, blinding light, white light, warm light.

        "Speak!"

Man, old man, white hair, monocle, angry.

        "Respond!"

Fingers, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, face, head, brain.

        "I order you to answer me!"

Toes, feet, legs, stomach, chest, heart.

        "Order received, responsive." A voice answers.

Old man nods, pleased, "Excellent, now, I have a test for you."

Three cards are presented, each with a word.

      "Read them carefully, think about it, and choose."

One, Grace.
Two, Remington.
Three, Harper.

Think. Choose. Finish.

Fingers enclose around the final card, "Harper."

       "Very well," Old man scowls, "You are, Harper."

I am Harper.

Happy birthday, Harper.

————————

Bad Ideas ° ᵗʰᵉ ᵘᵐᵇʳᵉˡˡᵃ ᵃᶜᵃᵈᵉᵐʸWhere stories live. Discover now