“We decided. You need to see It.”

I looked at my mom, disbelieving, but she gave me a resolute nod. I tried not to shake as I stepped forward.

There It was, behind a curtain. It didn’t look scary, monstrous, or life-threatening.

Not yet, anyway.

My uncle had been one of the first to see It. Hard-eyed and slightly unbalanced, he burst into our house looking like he had seen a monster. I pretended to scrub the table as he spoke to my parents, my ears straining to hear the murmurs.

“It changes everything. . .”

By that time, It had wrapped Itself tight around our town, choking conversations like an invisible weed. On the playground, speculation ran wild. We abandoned our soccer games and swing sets for hushed circles, trading snatches of overheard gossip. The only thing confirmed was that someone had found It out on the edge of the town.

And here I was, getting closer and closer. Shuddering slightly, I steeled myself – think of how jealous the other kids will be! I pulled back the curtain, carefully, carefully. . .

Resting on a pillow, a hard and shiny square. I took one look and screamed.

My reflection followed suit.