Followed
by Isabella Tellez
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Isabela Tellez is a current student at Young Women's Leadership Academy. She writes to bring her dreams to life and this is her first published story. She plans to attend university and major in education to become an English teacher and help others learn to love to write.
My clock flashed midnight, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I thought I saw a figure, but as soon as they adjusted, it was gone. I got up to use the restroom, and I swear I saw something in the mirror, but when I looked again, there was nothing there. As I headed back to bed, I thought I saw it again, but I figured I was just tired, so I went to bed.
My clock flashed, showing 2:00 a.m. My lights adjusted to the darkness, and I saw the figure again, but this time it lingered. I stared at it, and it stared back at me. I decided not to get out of bed this time. I just pulled the sheets over my head and squeezed my eyes shut.
My clock beeped and flashed: 8:00 a.m. As I opened my eyes, I saw the figure was still there. I thought it would be safer to stay in bed, but since I had school, I couldn't stay in bed. I got out of bed, and to my surprise, nothing happened; it just kept looking at me. I got a closer look at it; it looked just like me, but something was off; its skin looked paler and its eyes were sadder. I turned and started to walk to the restroom to get ready for school. It didn't attack me; it just followed. It followed me as I completed my whole morning routine when I brushed my teeth and put on my uniform. When I headed downstairs, I said good morning to my mom, and she didn't acknowledge the monster behind me; I don't think she could see it. I said bye to her and started my walk to school, and it followed me the whole way. When I get to school, I don't think my friends can see it either. As I approached my friends, it started muttering about how my friends don't actually like me and that they just pitied me. Its voice would get louder the more people that were around. I tried to get it to shut up, but it wouldn't stop. It just kept muttering; it would only get quieter when I was alone.
This has been my life every day for three years, and I don't think it's going to disappear anytime soon.