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Grade
7

I wake up in a cold sweat. Where am I? I think. Who am I? I’ve never been here before. I look around. I’m in a room with white walls, and a white floor and ceiling. There is a soft glow  emanating from the walls and ceiling. I look down and I’m lying on a glowing table. There’s a mirror on one wall-I’ve seen enough movies to know I’m being watched. Wait. Where did that thought come from? On closer inspection there is a door to my left the exact color as the wall, with no frame. I get up and start towards the door, but the second my feet hit the floor I know I’m stuck. I would take my shoes off but I’m not wearing any. Not even socks. Ari wears slippers all the time ‘cause his feet are always cold. What? I try to jump, and stomp and I wiggle around. I have to get to the door, I just know it. I even yell a bit trying to get help from someone, anyone. A woman in a white lab coat and jeans runs in.

“Come on!” She yells impatiently, “we have to get going!”

“Who are you?” I ask confused. “I’m stuck.” She groans and tugs my arms until I pop free. I’m so hesitant to move that she picks me up and runs towards the door. I close my eyes and flinch waiting for impact. But that doesn’t happen, I hear a sliding, creaking noise and open my eyes. The door has opened and past it is darkness. She jumps.

 

And she disappears.

 

I wake up panting and it all floods back; my name, Gabriel. My age, 23. My friends, Ari, Lindsey, Addy, Dani, and Jacob. The accident- Wait, the accident? I rip away my sheets and look at my legs, or in my case, absence of legs.

 

You would think that after all these years of being without them I would get used to it, but no. I guess it doesn’t really matter, I’ve been dead for three hundred years.

Yeah that's right; I had a chance to live but I didn’t. I’m a ghost. Ha ha ha. I died just as I turned 23, on the dot. I’m in the future, at least to me.

I was 22. The crash was horrible. My legs died before I did so they didn’t make it to the afterlife with me. By the time the ambulance got to me it was too late, I was slipping through the grasp of life faster every moment. Everyone was mostly unharmed, just a few bumps and scratches. Except for me… I’m only a ghost because I have unfinished business- a whole life gone in moments. I saw my friends lives slowly evacuate their bodies, when they were old. No ghosts for them, they had full lives. I was popular. I had a ton of great friends.

I hover, sort of. I can float well enough to get around.

 

“WHAT THE FRICK!!!!!” I yell, probably waking up everyone in the house. Somebody will most definitely come running and yell at me to shut THE FRICK UP! Was that a dream?  I don't know. I look to my side and grab my phone,  it's 4 in the morning.

“Gabby! Why are you yelling?” Ari asks barging in. “Oh wait- did you have a nightmare again?”  He asks half teasing.

“Not a nightmare really, just a crazy dream.”

“I’m sorry, but, I don’t want to know about it. I’m really busy with homework.”

“But Ari? It’s summer… ”

“Sleep!” He says annoyed. And then nicer he adds, “Goodnight Gabby.” And he leaves.

I lie there thinking for a minute, then, remembering something, grab my phone quickly. I check the date and it hits me, tomorrow is my birthday; in exactly twenty-four hours I will be 23. I realize that I won’t be able to sleep and, with a sigh, get up to start my day.

It is 9:30 and I’m bored out of my mind. I did all the chores that needed doing. All my friends are busy- Ari’s still in his room with the door shut and locked. The rest of my roommates are also doing stuff (heaven only knows what.) My phone has lost all appeal after just half an hour. I’ve even tried sleeping. I, unlike most people hate sleeping. I think it takes up time that could be used doing something else. I hear a grumble, what is it. Then I find the answer- I am so darn hungry. At least I have something to do now. I get up and walk to the fridge. It’s empty. Of course.

“Everybody in the house! I am going to get some foods because we are out of the foods!” I yell, after a moment I add, “Does anybody want something?” Ari peeks his head out of his room and ask for ice cream and cupcakes. “What do you want those for?” I ask, “Are you planning a party?”  

He smiles at me, and does finger guns. “You know it!”

“Bye Ari…” I say rolling my eyes as I walk to the front door.

 

It’s five hours later and I’m bored out of my mind. I’m stuck in a traffic jam with two people making out in the back seat. They were hitchhikers! I wanted to be nice! Just then my phone buzzes. I pick it up and yell at the two snogging in the back to “be quiet while I’m on the phone!”

“Who is this?” I demand annoyed at the ‘no caller I.D.’ “What do you want?”

“Whoa there Bessie!” Someone exclaims, “I thought you’d be back by now.”

“Sorry, Ari. I’m stuck in traffic with kissing hitchhikers”

“Hey lady! That’s rude!” One of said hitchhikers yells.

“Gabby, are they kissing you or each other?” Ari asks in a completely serious tone.

“They’re kissing each other!” I say exasperated. “Where are you? It sounds like you’re at a party.”

“Bye Bye Gabby!” He says with a smile in his voice and hangs up.

“Wait. What?” I mutter. Then, “If either of you kiss anything- Including each other-, ask for anything, or say anything I will take you out of this car by any means necessary. So you can get out now or follow these rules!” They got out. Grumbling the whole time. “It will be faster walking at the rate I’m going.” I mutter once more.

I finally get home and consider texting Ari to make him come help me with the groceries but I get them without help. As I unlock the door I notice something, the whole house is silent and dark. I step inside and close the door behind me. As I look up I hear “SURPRISE!!” about twenty times. Someone turns the lights on and the whole downstairs is covered in decorations- streamers, balloons, I think there’s confetti.

The whole party went by in a blur. And now I’m driving my closest friends home after they demanded that we went out to drink. I think it’s kind of pointless because there was alcohol at the party. I, smartly, knowing this would happen, didn’t drink anything and now I’m the designated driver. (Which doesn’t make any sense cause it’s my party after all… )

“Gabby! Change the music- This song sucks!” Someone leans forward and tries to change the change the music.

“NO!” Yells Ari, who is sitting in the passenger seat trying to fend the song hater off. “I’m in the front so I get control of the radio stations!” This surprises me, Ari usually never drinks. I wonder why he did. A third person yells “I think I’m gonna puke!” So the person next to them offers their hat.

“Guys! Stop!” I reach back for the hat with a plastic bag in my hand. “Here use this!”

“Gabby! WATCH OUT!!!!!!!” Ari screams very loudly. But it’s too late. My car runs head first into another that was barreling down the supposedly empty street.

 

Before I know what happened the car has rolled over on its side. All I can see is blood. I hear screaming before I pass out.

 

I come to in an ambulance. I’m lying on my side. I can't feel my legs. There’s a clock on the wall, an old-fashioned one. With hands and what-not. I watch the seconds tick by, 56, 57, 58, 59, 4:00 a.m. It’s my birthday, and I close my eyes…

I wake up in a cold sweat. Where am I? I think. Who am I? I’ve never been here before. I look around. I’m in a room with white walls, and a white floor and ceiling. There is a soft glow  emanating from the walls and ceiling. I look down and I’m lying on a glowing table. There’s a mirror on one wall-I’ve seen enough movies to know I’m being watched. Wait. Where did that thought come from? On closer inspection there is a door to my left the exact color as the wall, with no frame. I get up and start towards the door, but the second my feet hit the floor I know I’m stuck. I would take my shoes off but I’m not wearing any. Not even socks. Ari wears slippers all the time ‘cause his feet are always cold. What? I try to jump, and stomp and I wiggle around. I have to get to the door, I just know it. I even yell a bit trying to get help from someone, anyone. A woman in a white lab coat and jeans runs in.

“Come on!” She yells impatiently, “we have to get going!”

“Who are you?” I ask confused. “I’m stuck.” She groans and tugs my arms until I pop free. I’m so hesitant to move that she picks me up and runs towards the door. I close my eyes and flinch waiting for impact. But that doesn’t happen, I hear a sliding, creaking noise and open my eyes. The door has opened and past it is darkness. She jumps.

 

And she disappears.