"What would it be like," asked Shila, "if we were in a parallel universe?"

"Well... I guess there's no real way to answer that. There's an infinite amount of possibilities," quipped back Bri. "But we can wildly speculate, if that's what you need."

Shila bowed her head for a moment, thinking. "In a parallel universe, would we still be friends?"

"I don't see why not," Bri said casually, grabbing a granola bar out of the cabinet.

"In a parallel universe... You would be grabbing a yogurt cup. Except in this universe, yogurt doesn't have to be cold. It's supposed to stay warm." Shila hopped up on the counter next to the stove, sitting delicately on the edge, her legs dangling in front of the drawers full of measuring cups and baking utensils. She looked at Bri sadly, watching her eat.

"In a parallel universe, your mom would have made a twelve layer cake, and I would have been allowed to eat the first seven layers," Bri said wistfully, taking a huge bite out of her granola bar.

"In a parallel universe, you would have all the money in the world, except you'd spend every penny on baked goods and pastries," Shila said with a sigh.

"Well, in a parallel universe, I wouldn't have to eat. Food would regenerate itself in my belly so I wouldn't have to waste so much time eating." Bri took another big bite out of her granola bar.

"In a parallel universe you would eat one bite of food and gain forty pounds!" Shila said with a huff, looking over Bri's slim form as she stuffed her face with another granola bar.

"In a parallel universe, I'd pay more attention to studying than eating," Bri said, putting down her half-eaten second granola bar.

"In a parallel universe, you wouldn't have left," Shila said in a quiet voice.

Bri looked up at Shila with empathy in her eyes. "In a parallel universe, we wouldn't need fathers. Women would be the only gender, and life would be perfect."

Shila gave her a weak smile, and even managed a giggle. "In a parallel universe, there wouldn't be need for violence. People would settle their worst arguments with a coin toss, or rock-paper-scissors."

"In a parallel universe, there wouldn't be sadness. Whenever someone started to feel down, a rainbow unicorn would shoot out of the coulds and cover them in glitter."

"Bri, you're so weird. In a parallel universe, you would make sense!"

"Oh Shila, in a parallel universe you would understand me!"

Both girls erupted into giggles. Then Shila cleared her throat, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"In a parallel universe... We both would have survived."

Some see the shadows,

Others see the light,

Some notice cardinals

In mid flight.

Some don't believe,

While others fear profusely.

Some fall in love,

But I won't let them seduce me.

For yes, I believe!

For I see them, too!

Whatever you may call them,

I know it to be true.

My loved ones in the birds,

My fears lurking in the dark;

My friends in leaves,

Strangers in the park.

Lost souls wandering,

Dreams taking flight;

I pray that I will be safe,

Sleeping in the night.