To the Girl I Used to Be:
Dear child,
It's been a while. I know how much you've been struggling. Remember that one elementary school activity where you were asked to write a bunch of questions for your older self? Well, I may not be able to answer all of them because you still have a lot of life to live, and honestly nothing too big has actually happened.
Your first question was: "Do we end up in a better situation than what is already at home?" The answer, to put it simply, is yes. I don't want to share too much, but your teenage years were definitely the toughest on you. Getting adopted at the age of fourteen was only a small part of it.
Your second question was: "What is our most current dream job?" The answer to this one? Our most current dream job is to be famous within music, which goes hand-in-hand with your third question. "Did we ever meet our goal? Sadly, not yet. We ended up getting discouraged more than once by our own family. Our parents said that we couldn't sing, and you already felt like you were a bad dancer. We have gotten compliments from other people though.
Currently, we have seven subscribers on YouTube. We're too busy working as a cook for Disney World in Florida to add any good experience to the channel, but we still write song lyrics and we have quite a few unfinished writing projects. No, we haven't become famous, we don't get recognized like we hoped, our signature is too long to sign autographs anyways. To be honest, I'm answering these questions because we need a more solid plan. We were always told how to find our end goal, but we were never shown where or how to start.
Now we're stuck with a job that was only a small hobby, the only reason we like the line of work is because of the people we've met along the journey of getting older. Becoming an adult hit us like a thousand trucks colliding. It has been coming way too fast. I mean, we'll be twenty-two before we even get to publish a true song. An actual song with background music, and not just your wavering voice.
So, in reality there is not a lot too share. I will say that the decisions we've made about people we've hung out with was not our best judgement. Back when we were still the quiet girl in the front row of the class we were better at knowing the behind-the-scenes of a person's smile, tears, and laugh. Now we can only identify if someone is broken or not, and if they're hiding their true feelings.
Anyways, I should probably bring this letter to a close. Stay tough, Little One. We've come so far, and I promise we'll be going a lot farther.
With best regards,
Your older self
P.S. You should probably take up journaling again, it might help. Though, writing in a journal about your life has become a lot harder than you used to do. You should also start a photo album, but I know you might not have time for that. Plus, you aren't photogenic.
The Thin Line Between “Friend” and “Love”
Ever wonder why there's more chemistry between friends than between lovers? Or why you started to realize that your best friend is actually your type versus the person you started to date a week ago? You'd never tell them though because you're afraid it would jeopardize that friendship, but secretly your best friend might feel the same way. Only until one or the other confesses will they both be in pain while watching their best friend fall for someone they don't have as much chemistry with. Yet, they're both stuck in the "friend" zone.
Chapter 1: The Disappearance Act
Mara blinked her eyes, then squeezed them shut. How long had she been out for? Slowly, she opened her eyes again. Trying to sit up to look around, she realised that her body was completely paralyzed. What kind of chemical was in that drink?
"Oh, you're awake," Mara heard a voice next to her, "guess I didn't give you enough of that drink. Did I?"
Mara, being unable to speak, was unable to tell Jackie that she should just go to hell. Mara just lay where she was listening to Jackie rant on.
"You know, after today everyone will forget everything they ever knew about me. Why? Well because that chemical wasn't just in your drink. Everybody who drank it will wake up with a minor concussion and forget everything about me. When they do, I won't be anywhere trackable," the warm breathe from her mouth sent unfelt shivers down Mara's back, "have fun getting over the last few years of your life."
Even though Mara couldn't see Jackie, she could tell that she was smirking. Mara felt like punching the girl who she once called a friend.
As she lay her head back on the hospital bed, she waited to hear Jackie's footsteps fade down the hall. While hearing the footsteps, Mara could also here Jackie laughing.
"She's enjoying every single second I'm suffering," Mara thought to herself. She lay there feeling exhausted. The clock, which she could barely see, read 4:25. The second hand kept ticking. Mara couldn't help but think about Mike, she started to fantasize about him coming to check on her.
With Mike in her mind, Mara soon fell asleep.
Prologue: The Day She Met Herself
It had been a long time since Mara had heard the stories about the cryptids. Mara had heard about nymphs, sirens, and most importantly, doppelgangers. It was a cold December night, the night of the winter formal at the high school, Mara was looking in the mirror as she put her makeup on. Suddenly in the mirror appeared a second face, so similar to hers that she quickly turned around; nobody was there.
Mara turned back to the mirror to see that there was only one reflection there. Creepy, Mara thought as she went to tell her parents goodbye.
"Have a nice time," her mother said.
"Be careful, don't take anything offered to you," her father ordered, "who knows what might have been placed in the punch."
Weird, that sounds like Dad's adding to the warning from my doppelganger. If it was my doppelganger. Mara just nodded, "of course, Dad, I'll watch myself."
When Mara arrived at the high school she couldn't help but keep scanning the crowd of her peers. Immediately her eyes locked on a girl who looked quite similar to her, but as the girl turned around Mara could tell that it was one of her friends. Her friend, Jackie, looked almost exactly like her, and almost the whole school year they had been mixed up by friends and teachers.
Tonight's definitely different, Jackie looks a lot like my second reflection I saw earlier. Maybe I should try my best to avoid her tonight, just in case my theory is correct.
"Hey, Jackie," Mara heard a male voice from behind her.
Mara slowly turned around, it was Michael Fischer, the boy that she had had a crush on since eighth grade. Why? Why has he always seemed to think Jackie is more attractive than me?
"Actually I'm Mara, sorry." As Mara turned away to go request her favorite song to the DJ, Michael grabbed her arm.
"I know, I just wanted to see your reaction," he smiled. Mara knew that the rumors about his canine teeth weren't true, but tonight they looked a little exceedingly sharp. Though she knew that if the rumors were true, he would have bitten someone by now.
"And?" Out of curiosity, Mara also smiled.
"You're still mad when people mix you and Jackie up," Michael said, chuckling, "I actually came over here to ask you something."
No way! Is he about to ask me to dance! I can't believe it!
"Do you wanna go outside and dance, I don't like dancing with girls in front of other people?"
Oh, well it's close, but I might have to stay inside.
"Sorry, Mike, could we just dance inside? I feel like it's too cold to go outside."
"Well, if it makes you more comfortable, I guess it won't kill me," he smiled again.
As they glided across the floor, Mara almost forgot all about Jackie and her theory. Until the song ended.
"I'm thirsty, wanna get a drink?"
"Maybe later, I think the punch might be a bit dry," Mara said, trying to make a good excuse.
"Oh, yeah. I'll probably wait until I get home as well."
Is he only agreeing with me because he likes me, or is there something I'm missing?
As Michael walked away, a hand holding a cup appeared in front of her. Mara looked up to see Jackie smiling. Jackie, with her brunette hair in a princess bun, sporting a short black dress, and red and black Louboutins. A small tiara sitting perfectly in the middle of her hair.
"Hey, girl. I was wondering if you were here." Jackie's smile seemed a little inhuman like as she pushed the drink into Mara's hands.
"Don't worry, I already took a sip for you. Drink it, you look dehydrated."
This has to be a threat, is there a way I can fool her into thinking I drank it? Maybe I can tell her that I have to go to the bathroom? Dad never told me how he survived his encounter with his doppelganger, if only he were here, he'd know what to do.
Before Mara could say anything, Jackie was already forcing the drink into her mouth. Mara, trying hard not to swallow, allowed the punch to enter her mouth. I hope Michael comes back, she couldn't help thinking.
Before she knew it everything went blurry.
The Day She Met Herself
It had been a long time since Mara had heard the stories about the cryptids. Mara had heard about nymphs, sirens, and most importantly, doppelgangers. It was a cold December night, the night of the winter formal at the high school, Mara was looking in the mirror as she put her makeup on. Suddenly in the mirror appeared a second face, so similar to hers that she quickly turned around; nobody was there.
Mara turned back to the mirror to see that there was only one reflection there. Creepy, Mara thought as she went to tell her parents goodbye.
"Have a nice time," her mother said.
"Be careful, don't take anything offered to you," her father ordered, "who knows what might have been placed in the punch."
Weird, that sounds like Dad's adding to the warning from my doppelganger. If it was my doppelganger. Mara just nodded, "of course, Dad, I'll watch myself."
When Mara arrived at the high school she couldn't help but keep scanning the crowd of her peers. Immediately her eyes locked on a girl who looked quite similar to her, but as the girl turned around Mara could tell that it was one of her friends. Her friend, Jackie, looked almost exactly like her, and almost the whole school year they had been mixed up by friends and teachers.
Tonight's definitely different, Jackie looks a lot like my second reflection I saw earlier. Maybe I should try my best to avoid her tonight, just in case my theory is correct.
"Hey, Jackie," Mara heard a male voice from behind her.
Mara slowly turned around, it was Michael Fischer, the boy that she had had a crush on since eighth grade. Why? Why has he always seemed to think Jackie is more attractive than me?
"Actually I'm Mara, sorry." As Mara turned away to go request her favorite song to the DJ, Michael grabbed her arm.
"I know, I just wanted to see your reaction," he smiled. Mara knew that the rumors about his canine teeth weren't true, but tonight they looked a little exceedingly sharp. Though she knew that if the rumors were true, he would have bitten someone by now.
"And?" Out of curiosity, Mara also smiled.
"You're still mad when people mix you and Jackie up," Michael said, chuckling, "I actually came over here to ask you something."
No way! Is he about to ask me to dance! I can't believe it!
"Do you wanna go outside and dance, I don't like dancing with girls in front of other people?"
Oh, well it's close, but I might have to stay inside.
"Sorry, Mike, could we just dance inside? I feel like it's too cold to go outside."
"Well, if it makes you more comfortable, I guess it won't kill me," he smiled again.
As they glided across the floor, Mara almost forgot all about Jackie and her theory. Until the song ended.
"I'm thirsty, wanna get a drink?"
"Maybe later, I think the punch might be a bit dry," Mara said, trying to make a good excuse.
"Oh, yeah. I'll probably wait until I get home as well."
Is he only agreeing with me because he likes me, or is there something I'm missing?
As Michael walked away, a hand holding a cup appeared in front of her. Mara looked up to see Jackie smiling. Jackie, with her brunette hair in a princess bun, sporting a short black dress, and red and black Louboutins. A small tiara sitting perfectly in the middle of her hair.
"Hey, girl. I was wondering if you were here." Jackie's smile seemed a little inhuman like as she pushed the drink into Mara's hands.
"Don't worry, I already took a sip for you. Drink it, you look dehydrated."
This has to be a threat, is there a way I can fool her into thinking I drank it? Maybe I can tell her that I have to go to the bathroom? Dad never told me how he survived his encounter with his doppelganger, if only he were here, he'd know what to do.
Before Mara could say anything, Jackie was already forcing the drink into her mouth. Mara, trying hard not to swallow, allowed the punch to enter her mouth. I hope Michael comes back, she couldn't help thinking.
Before she knew it everything went blurry.
Mad Libs Words
Adjective: Pretty
Emotion: Sadness
Noun: Kiss
Magical Person: Gandalf the Grey
Adjective: Soft
Verb: Ran
Teacher: Ms. Smith
Animal: Puppy
Something you do in math: Solve cubic roots
Make believe place: LaLa land
Magical creature: Siren
Noun: Cake
Adjective: Slimy
Adjective: Fluffy
Verb: Tripped
Teacher: Mr. Johnson
Verb: Slammed
Noun: Roof
Adjective: Moist
Verb: Tinkle
Type of Soda: Mt. Dew
Teacher: Mrs. Dolittle
Noun: Moon
Adjective: Bright
Job: Porta Potty Pumper
Job: Rockstar
Planet: Planet X
Type of Building: Skyscraper
Verb: Held
Verb: Slid
Dear My Somebody,
I know we haven't met, yet. But I just wanted you to remember that I will be waiting for you every day, peeking around every corner whenever I hear a laugh like yours. I know, sounds crazy, but I know you'll understand, because you know me, even though we haven't met, yet. Remember don't try to impress me, because I'll already be impressed. Please, don't come looking for me just yet, we'll meet when the time is right, but when we do, I'll have a disk for you. Don't spill your coffee on the CD player, like you did in my dream, please! Sorry, getting off path here, this won't be like the letter I sent you next week, when I rambled on about the people who didn't want to hear about the ... Never mind, that was next week's problem. I know you're there for me, because I'm waiting right here for you. This is becoming pointless, I can't think straight, will be last month's all over again. I think I'm in love with you, I know it's quite late to say, but I hope you'll say it back early.
Love,
Your Nobody