Chapter One: Hell of a Birthday

I sat in the kitchen of my parent’s apartment staring at the overly large birthday cake in front of me. It had, “Happy Birthday, Audrey” written in pink frosting on the top. My adoptive parents and my younger brother sat around the table on different sides of the cake. My mother and father were beaming at me proudly and my brother just looked bored.
“Can we get this over with,” he groaned, “I’m going to be late for school.”
“It’s your sister’s birthday, Brad. The least you could do is wait for her to blow out the candles.” My mom, Mary, said to him warningly.
My brother ran his fingers through his shaggy red hair and his brown eyes flashed angrily as he stood up. “She is not my sister!” He yelled, not even looking at me before he rushed out the front door.
“Are you alright, Audrey?” I heard Henry’s voice ask. His voice had changed since we were little, it had grown deeper almost as if he were aging as he would have if he were still alive. I nodded and he sighed.
I still hadn’t taken my eyes off the cake. The wax from the candles was beginning to melt onto the white frosting of the cake. I counted each one to calm myself down. Seventeen. Seventeen candles for seventeen painful years. I looked up at my parents; they were both staring at me, concerned. There was a long silence before I spoke.
“I’m fine.” I muttered, standing up and grabbing my gloves off the table, “We can celebrate after school.”
I gave them a reassuring smile, picked up my school bag, and walked out the door. I walked down the stairs and out of our apartment building into the streets of Manhattan.
It was raining outside and I silently cursed myself for forgetting my jacket inside. I looked up at the sky, letting a few drops fall gently on my face before setting off towards my high school, Henry whispering to me reassuringly the whole way.
By the time that I had gotten to school it had stopped raining and I was soaked from head to toe. The first thing I did when I got inside was rush to the bathroom. I studied myself in the mirror; ragged, wet, brown hair with dark circles under my blue eyes. I sighed and took a brush out of my bag and began to brush through my shoulder length hair.
The bathroom door opened and I immediately knew who it was by the sound of her walk. Long beautiful blond hair, shining blue eyes, the type of girl who knew she was hot and flaunted it. Celeste. She came to stand next to me, admiring herself in the mirror.
“Good morning, Celeste.” I said, putting the brush back into my bag.
“Oh! Is that you, Audrey?” She asked, glancing at me scornfully, “I didn’t recognize you. Did you fall into the sewer?”
I decided to ignore her comment. “Whatever, Celeste. I’ll see you later.” I said, turning to leave.
“Bye, Audrey.” She said behind me. I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was very fully enjoying herself.
As I left, I heard her snickering behind me.
The hallways were nearly empty. Despite my parents try at making my morning a living sitcom hell I had made it to school earlier than usual. I navigated my way to my locker to find a small group of girls surrounding it. One of them turned around and saw me coming; she whispered a warning to the other girls and rushed to me.
“Audrey! What are you doing here so early?” She asked, turning me around and walking me in the opposite direction of my locker.
“Jess, tell them no pink.” I said, forcing her to let me turn back around.
“What?” She tried to act as if she had no idea what was going on.
“I said no pink. I hate pink.” I said, and she still tried to fool me with her bad acting.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re decorating my locker for my birthday, right? Well, don’t add any pink, I hate pink. Just ‘cause I’m I cheerleader that doesn’t mean that I have to like pink.” I snapped.
She sighed and turned around, walking back to my locker to talk to the rest of my squad.
“Still can’t believe you’re a cheerleader.” Henry whispered.
“I told you, I did it for my parents.” I said, walking to my locker.
“What do they care? They don’t care what you do as long as you think that they love you. Besides, you don’t get along with any of those girls.” He said.
“I know.” I said, standing at the edge of the crowd.
One of the other girls turned around, her name was Chelsea. “Audrey, why do you have to spoil all of our fun?” She asked, closing my locker behind her with her heel.
“I just want to get to my locker.”
“But we wanted it to be a surprise!” She said, frowning melodramatically.
“It’s just my birthday, no big deal.” I said, pushing her gently to the side.
“We thought that we could help lift your team spirit, you’re always such a drag.” She said from behind me as I opened my locker.
My locker was horrible. When I opened it, pink confetti fell out all over the floor. They had made a banner with “Happy Birthday Audrey!” written on it, also pink, and taped on the locker door were pictures of “sexy” male models and actors, surrounded by pink hearts with happy seventeenth written all over them. I felt like I was going to hurl.
“This locker is a drag.” I muttered, grabbing my science text book and slamming my locker door shut.
Things only got worse. They began to sing… and sing… and sing. I swear that it was never ending, I was finally able to lose them when I went into my science class. I sat at my usual table at the back of the room, I didn’t have a lab group. I often thought of Henry as my lab partner and sometimes I imagined him in the seat beside me, older and more like the boy that he acted like when he spoke to me. Everyone else was in a group of two or three while I only had Henry, and myself but I always managed to get things done right.
Today was different, though.
Class had started out the same as it usually did; my professor, Mr. Gerald, started with news and just general chatter (I swear that half the time he had no idea what he was talking about). I sat in my seat, bored, until two girls I didn’t recognize walked into class. One was much taller than the other, she was wearing black square glasses and she had short dyed black hair with multi colored streaks ranging from blue to red, and despite her height, she slouched. The other girl seemed different, but similar at the same time. She had longer hair; it was a purple, almost violet, color with crimson streaks. She held herself confidently; I could tell that she was the type of person who didn’t care what people thought of her. Mr. Gerald turned and talked to them shortly and then motioned towards me. They walked over and sat down, the shorter more confident one (who I had silently nicknamed Shorty) sat next to me and the tall one in the seat in front of me.
“Hello.” Said Shorty cheerfully, “I’m Evangeline, Eva for short.” She motioned to the taller girl, “That’s Aurora. We’re new.”
I half grinned. “I noticed. My name’s Audrey, It’s nice to meet you two.”
“She seems nice.” Henry said silently to me as I greeted them. I could tell that he meant that in two ways by the sound of his voice.
Aurora, the taller girl, glanced up as if she had heard him. Evangeline’s expression hadn’t changed.
“Where did you move here from?” I asked, trying to ignore the fact that Aurora was staring at me.
“Texas.” Evangeline answered, glancing at Aurora.
“Really? I was born there.” I said, itching the back of my neck nervously. Aurora still hadn’t taken her eyes off me and I was starting to feel awkward.
“How long did you live there?” Aurora asked, surprising me.
“Not long. My parents died when I was very young. I was adopted and brought here.” I replied.
“Don’t you think that’s too much information?” Henry asked and I noted that Aurora shifted slightly in her seat.
“Aurora’s adopted. We’re cousins, but legally we’re sisters.” Said Evangeline, glancing at Aurora again. She’d obviously noticed Aurora’s strange behavior, meaning that she must not act like that often.
“How long ago did you two move here?” I asked, trying to ignore Henry’s voice.
“About a week, we needed time to get settled before coming to school.” Said Aurora.
Our attention was diverted by Mr. Gerald passing out worksheets to the class. Obviously, he had continued on talking and we hadn’t noticed. I looked down at the worksheet; it was review, easy enough. I took out a pen and wrote my name at the top of the paper.
“Audrey Thompson.” Aurora read aloud, “Kind of a simple name, don’t you think?”
I shrugged. “At least it’s not Johnson. My original surname was Raz… Now that’s different.”
“Audrey Raz?” Asked Evangeline, lifting an eyebrow.
“Yep.”
“Still makes me wonder.” Muttered Henry.
I glanced at Evangeline’s paper, she had written “Evangeline Carlisle” on the top of her paper. Aurora hadn’t written anything yet, she still hadn’t stopped staring at me. The rest of class continued on like that, Evangeline and I making small talk while Aurora sat silently, staring at me. Finally, after the warning five minute bell, Evangeline said something to her.
“Something wrong, Rory?” She asked Aurora and she had to look away from me to answer.
“Huh? Sorry, I wasn’t listening.” She said, shaking her head a little.
“I just wanted to know if you were alright, you haven’t said much and you’re staring.” She waved in front of Aurora’s face to make sure she was still paying attention.
“Oh. I hadn’t noticed.” She looked back at me and said, “Sorry for staring, Audrey.”
At first I didn’t know what to say, I wanted to ask her why she was staring, but I didn’t want to be too upfront about it, so I gave the lamest answer that I could think of.
“It’s alright.”
The bell rang and I rushed out of class without saying goodbye. I dashed down the hallway and leaned against the wall. What was her problem? Why wouldn’t she stop staring? She didn’t seem to have anything against me, the stare wasn’t hateful in any way, it was... curious. She also seemed to hear Henry talking to me and no one, I mean no one, had ever been able to do that before.
“Calm down.” Said Henry, but he sounded just as worried as I was.
“Next time I talk to them you stay quiet.” I snapped, finally pulling myself back together. “You never know what they might do if they find out about you.”
I walked slowly to my next class, careful to avoid anyone I knew. Today had been interesting in the least, and I hadn’t even made it to lunch yet. Ugh, lunch. Out of the entire day, that was what I was dreading most right now. No doubt that the Cheerleading squad had planned some sort of Happy Birthday Cheer for me like they did for the rest of the girls... and I really didn’t need any of that.
I walked into my second period, Math. I went to my seat, also in the back of the room, and sat down. I took out my notebook and set it on my desk. When I looked up, Aurora was sitting beside me. I froze for a short moment and then slowly took out my pen.
“Hello, Audrey.” She said, almost nervously. It was almost as if she wasn’t sure what my response would be.
I smiled and said, “Looks like we have math together.”
She relaxed a little. “Yeah.”
“Hey, is Evangeline always like that?” I asked, trying to make for normal conversation.
“Like what?” She asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Talkative.” I replied.
She laughed and shook her head. “When she gets nervous she tends to talk a lot, but it can come in handy sometimes.”
“Like when?” I asked, resting my head on my hand as the teacher started class.
“She can make a good distraction.” She said, grinning almost wickedly.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Rebel, are we?”
“Maybe. There’s a fine line between being a rebel and a good girl.” She said, glancing up at the teacher.
Mrs. Herren, the teacher, asked me a question and the conversation ended until the end of class. When the bell rang, I picked up my stuff and waited for Aurora by the door.
“So, what do you have next?” I asked as she approached me.
She glanced at a sheet of paper in her hand. “Art, I think. Evangeline and I are in the same class.”
It was almost as if the awkward staring in first period had never happened, but I didn’t mind. I smiled and replied, “I have art too. Wow, aren’t you lucky?”
She grinned. “You’re the lucky one. I would kill to be in a class with me.”
I laughed. “We’ll see who the lucky one is.”
It turned out that I was the lucky one. Aurora turned out to be pretty good company and now that she had warmed up to me she’d stopped staring, and she only seemed more relaxed with Evangeline around. They were interesting together; they shared old memories, told me about their old school in Texas, and laughed at old jokes. It seemed that they didn’t have very many friends in Texas, Evangeline told me that they preferred smaller groups because then you had closer friends and it was easier to carry on a conversation without being interrupted. They talked about many things, but mostly about photography. I found out that they both carried cameras everywhere, taking snap shots wherever they went. Evangeline said that it was nice to have new surroundings to take pictures of; she was having a hard time finding new subjects in Texas. They asked me to go on a photography run with them that weekend and I declined.
I knew that I couldn’t get too close to anyone, that’s why I wore the gloves and refused to hang out with people. After I had killed Henry I had killed other things by touching them; plants, insects, even a dog that had gotten hit by a car. I only seemed to be able to take life, I was unable to give life as Henry had so many times. I was afraid to get too close to anyone, that’s why I didn’t have many friends. I knew many people, I had spoken to almost everyone in the school at least a few times, but I didn’t go out and do things with them; it was against my rules.
When I said that I couldn’t go Aurora looked at me suspiciously, almost the same way that she had that morning. I could tell that there was something different about her; it was almost as if she could see right through me, or hear what I was thinking. Evangeline on the other hand hadn’t shown any strange behavior like her cousin had, but there was still something about her that made me feel like she was different.
Different, like me.
Aurora shook her head, “We’ll convince you to come sooner or later.”
I sighed, and not really thinking I replied, “I hope not.”
Aurora looked hurt and Evangeline was angry, “Why? Do you have a problem with us or something?” She asked, almost standing up, but Aurora held her down.
I bit my lip and replied, “It’s not you two.”
“Isn’t it?” Started Evangeline, “You don’t want to be with us because we’re the creepy new girls. I hate people like you, you know.”
“Don’t listen to her; I know that you didn’t mean it like that.” Said Henry silently, again Aurora seemed to hear him.
“I don’t think that she meant it like that, Eva.” She said, staring at me like she had that morning.
Evangeline looked at Aurora and their eyes met, I felt like they were having a silent conversation about something that they knew that I didn’t. I shifted uncomfortable in my seat and Evangeline looked back at me.
“You’re hiding something.” She said suddenly.
“I’m hiding something?” I said, raising my eyebrows, “I’m not hiding anything.”
“Prove it.” Said Evangeline.
“How?” I asked, trying not to make eye contact with Aurora.
“Come to the photography run with us on Saturday.” Said Aurora.
“How will that prove anything?”
Evangeline and Aurora looked at each other again and they said, “We’ll see.”
With that, class ended and I found myself rushing out of one of my classes for the second time that day. Who knew that something as simple as two new students could change things around so much? I had a feeling that something big was about to happen.
“Do you think that maybe they’re onto us?” Asked Henry.
“Only Aurora seems to notice whenever you talk… and Evangeline hasn’t noticed anything… yet.” I said quietly.
I walked into my Language Arts class alone and sat down. It seemed as if I wouldn’t have to deal with either Aurora or Evangeline in this class at least, but lunch was nearing and I was beginning to feel nervous. Throughout class I found that I was unable to relax, with all of the things that had happened today, lunch growing nearer, and actually having plans on a Saturday for the first time since Henry’s death I thought that I might go crazy… or normal, whichever is the opposite in a situation like mine.
My next class I had gym… The one class where I was forced to take off my gloves due to the uniforms that we had to wear. I was currently working on getting some sort of doctor’s note, but until then I was in fear of taking someone’s life. I was always very careful to keep away from anyone, but I didn’t expect for someone to come so close to me.
I was outside in the field running laps when I heard my name being yelled from behind me, and the next thing I knew someone had grabbed my hand. I immediately stopped running and pulled my hand away, turning around to see who it was, keeping my hands behind my back. There stood Aurora and she was examining her hand.
“What did you do to it?!” She asked, rubbing it.
I answered breathlessly, “You’re the one who grabbed me.”
She flicked her hand, “I don’t feel anything… it’s numb.”
I shook my head, “No. It’s dead.” I ran angrily back into the building and into the locker room.
This wasn’t good… I had almost killed her, and with all those people around! I shook my head. No, it wasn’t my fault. She grabbed me, there was nothing that I could have done to stop it. I changed back into my clothes and went back outside to make an excuse to my gym teacher. After dealing with her, I sat in the locker room until class ended.
“I’m sure that everything will be fine.” Assured Henry.
“Stop being so nice.” I growled as I walked out of the locker room.
Evangeline was waiting outside. She greeted me happily and asked if I wanted to wait for Aurora with her. I declined, and walked slowly into the cafeteria to my doom. At first nothing happened, but everything changes with time… and it didn’t take much time for that nothing to turn into something.
Evangeline and Aurora came to sit by me at the lunch table. To my surprise, Aurora said nothing about her hand, but it seemed as if she was unable to move it and that made me feel guilty. Before I knew it, the cheerleading squad had moved around tables to make room in the middle of the lunch room. Chelsea announced over the megaphone that it was a very “special” day.
“Listen up!” She boomed into the megaphone, “Today is a very special day! Everyone give it up for Audrey Thompson!”
Jess and Celeste came up from behind me, grabbing my arms and dragging me to the center of the cafeteria. Chelsea put her arm around me as if we were friends and I wriggled out of her arm, not hiding my distaste for her. They began to do some odd birthday cheer that they had never done before, but it was still as loud and as cheerful as ever. I walked gloomily back to my table and sat next to Evangeline.
“You’re a cheerleader?” She asked, obviously not liking that fact.
Aurora shook her head, “Today is your birthday? Why didn’t you say something?”
I sighed and hit my head on the table. “Yes, I am a cheerleader. Today is my birthday and I didn’t say anything because it doesn’t mean that today should be any different than any other day and I don’t want people celebrating me.”
Aurora grinned. “Maybe we can throw you a party on Saturday… or have you already planned one?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never had a birthday party.”
Evangeline stood up. “Never had a birthday party! Are you kidding me?! Why not?”
Aurora pulled her back down into her seat and they both looked at me.
I shrugged, “My parents always try to throw one for me, but I always refuse to go. Even when I was little.”
Aurora shook her head, “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m nothing to be celebrated.” I said, stabbing my fork into the meatloaf on my tray.
Aurora and Evangeline exchanged looks again and Aurora glanced down at her hand. I felt another twinge of guilt and got up.
“I’ll see you two later.” With that, I left.

I was early to my next class so I sat and studied my history book, trying to keep my mind off of today’s events. Something strange was defiantly going to happen on Saturday and I wasn’t sure that I was ready. I flipped a few pages of my textbook, not taking in anything that I was reading.
“It wouldn’t hurt to make a few friends.” Mumbled Henry as I scanned the page I was on.
“Can you promise me that?” I asked, flipping the page.
He was silent.
“That’s what I thought.” I said, angrily slamming the book shut.
History was boring, as usual. It definitely wasn’t one of my better subjects and I had to study often, trying my best to keep my eyes open and my mind focused. I didn’t have anything against history, but most of it was just wars. I hated the thought of people killing each other… how much hatred a person must have to do something like that. I found some of the class interesting, mostly when we talked about customs of other countries or how a country was founded; things that didn’t involve murder or blood.
After class ended, I made my way to the gym for cheerleading practice. Instead of having another class, I had to show up to cheerleading everyday. Luckily enough, today was no different than any other day and it seemed to go by fast. After practice was over I rushed home to avoid Evangeline and Aurora, but I had forgotten this morning.
When I got home, my parents were both sitting at the table with my brother. They were all eerily quiet and I knew that there was going to be some sort of family discussion. I hated family discussions. They usually forced me to tell them about what I told my shrink or how school was going. They pressured me into saying things that I never really meant just to make them feel better. It made me feel like a dog that they were trying to teach new tricks to.
“Audrey, honey, will you sit down please?” Mary asked, motioning to a seat next to my brother.
I shrugged and sat down, my brother scooted away from me, and he wouldn’t make eye contact when I smiled at him. Mary and her husband, David, exchanged looks and then looked at me. I shifted in my chair, looking at my cake where we had left it this morning. They had taken the candles out and a piece of it was missing, I noticed a stain on Brad’s shirt.
“This morning has led us to this discussion.” Mary, began. She was holding David’s hand.
David nodded and said, “We think that you two should be spending more time together.”
Brad grunted and I sighed.
“We think that the more he knew about his sister the more he would accept you into our family.” Mary added.
“I already told you! That bitch is not my sister!” He yelled angrily.
I winced, but didn’t say anything. It shouldn’t hurt… because he’s right. We’re not family. We never were and never will be.
Mary looked angry. “Don’t you dare ever say anything like that about your sister again!”
I shook my head. “No. He’s right. I’m not his sister.” I stood up.
David slammed his hand on the table. “Don’t you dare leave, Audrey. We need to talk through this!”
I felt anger rise to my face, but I still kept my voice steady. “No, we don’t. Look, everything is fine. Let him think what he wants, it doesn’t matter.”
I left and went to my room, closing and locking the door. I collapsed onto my bed and turned onto my side, looking over at the hamster cage. Henry (The Hamster) and Mr. Smufflez were sleeping quietly. Mr. Smufflez was still alive, which was odd. He was very old for a hamster, but had the agility of a much younger hamster. Henry (Hamster) was also old and it was getting to him… Mr. Smufflez must have been given a much longer life thanks to Henry reviving him. I sighed. If only I could do that. My mind shifted to Aurora’s hand and I thought about trying to put the life back into her hand… I’d have to try on Saturday, but I’d have to practice first.
I glanced at an open suitcase on the floor and new what I had to do. I slipped out of bed and began putting some of my random belongings into it; clothes, money, pictures, my journal, and a white candle that I had received at Henry’s funeral. I grabbed my backpack and took out a sheet of paper and a pen, writing a note to my parents. I sat in my room on the floor for about an hour, looking around. I had so many good memories in this room, memories from before Henry’s death, before Henry’s murder.
I sighed and set the note on my bed, taking my blanked and my pillow. I opened my window and climbed out onto the fire escape. I looked around to make sure that no one was watching and I silently walked down, carrying my things with me. Once I got to the street I waved down a cab and asked him to take me to a hotel on the other side of town.
I was leaving.
The drive to the hotel was odd. I felt as if I was doing something good for once, that I had made the right choice. When I got there I paid the cab driver and walked into the hotel. It was a nice hotel, despite the cheap price. I walked to the front desk and asked for a room. I could tell that the man at the desk was suspicious of me, but I didn’t care. When he gave me a room key I thanked him and went to the elevator. Room 322, I thought to myself as I pushed the button to the third floor.
By the time that I got to my room it was about six thirty and I felt my stomach rumble, but I was too tired to leave. I called room service and ordered myself a cake and asked for a birthday candle. About twenty minutes later it arrived and I took some matches out of my suitcase, lighting the candle and putting it on the cake. I watched it burn as I thought what to wish for.
“Life.” I said quietly and I blew out the candle.

Preface

Evolution. That one word by itself could strike controversy among many. It could cause wars between people of religion who believe in a God who created all things, or people of science who believe that everything began as a small spec of light that created the universe. Evolution, the theory that all things change and adapt over time to survive. Some say that evolution is fact, others say that it is just a theory, others refuse to even think about it. Due to beliefs and ideas, many hate those that research the theory of evolution, but only out of fear because inside they know the truth, they just don’t want to accept it. I’m not saying that we as humans were once chimps billions of years ago, or that there wasn’t a God who created all things, I’m saying that evolution is at work this very moment, changing the human species into something more. We are adapting. We are surviving.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what you believe, everyone will soon be in the same position between life and death.

***

My life.

I could never really say exactly how my story began, or even how it ended. There are many pieces of my own life that I have trouble putting together. It’s all very much like a puzzle with some of the pieces missing, except it seems never ending. However, this isn’t only my story; this is a story of a people, a different species of human all together. A story of ordinary people who discovered that they were more advanced than the average human being, they were different, better.
My life began just like anyone else’s. I was born somewhere in Texas and adopted by some close friend’s of my parents. My parents died in a fire about five years after I was born. I was raised just like any other female child in New York, I attended school, spent Christmas at home with my adopted family, ate dinner at the dinner table every night at 5:22, no later and no sooner. I thought that everything about my life was normal, but I discovered something about myself.
I could kill, easily.
I had never really meant to hurt anyone. I had no intention of killing my classmate. His name was Henry… he was my best friend. Henry was special, perhaps even more special than I am now. He could give things life with his touch, as well as take life away. I can still remember now, ten years later, the first time that he had shown me his talent. We were in his small apartment. His hamster, Mr. Smufflez, had died and we were giving it a mini hamster funeral, were both only seven at the time. His parents were out of town so he had called me over (I lived in the apartment above his) to help him throw away the hamster. We had gone through the ceremony and were ready to let him go when Henry asked for a moment with his hamster.
Henry knelt over the shoe box that we had put the hamster in and gently took it out, holding it in both hands; he closed his eyes and cried quietly over the hamster, a single tear falling onto Mr. Smufflez head. Mr. Smufflez woke up. He had revived.
That was the first time that Henry had given life.
One other time, almost half a year later, we were sitting in my apartment. My mom had set up mouse traps all around and Henry and I found one as it fought for its life. Henry reached out and stroked its head gently and it rested. It died. When I panicked, calling him a murderer, he replied calmly, telling me that for all things gained, something else must be lost and that he didn’t want the mouse to suffer. Life, he called it.
That was the first time that Henry had taken life.
Soon after, I decided that I wanted to do something special too. I wanted to be like Henry, but I didn’t know that I already was. I began practicing on things, plants, bugs, even pigeons outside my window, but I never succeeded. That is, until I killed him.
It was a week before Henry’s birthday and we were in his room trying to decide what to do for a party. I was excited; Henry had just told me that he had gotten me something for his birthday. He was secretive about it, only giving me small hints that weren’t helping me, tempting me to tell him what his present was in exchange for the information. I knew at that moment that what we had was deeper than friendship, even for that age, I knew that I loved him. He was a brother to me. I reached out and playfully nudged his arm.
He died.
I tried to revive him, like I had seen him do with so many plants and animals since Mr. Smufflez, but it didn’t work. Henry’s body was nothing but a lifeless bunch of bones now, and it was my fault. The next week, on his birthday, he was buried.
Henry had left behind many things, most of which were given to me. The most important things that he left me with were Mr. Smufflez and the present that he was to give to me the day of his funeral, a male hamster, who I named Henry. Most of the things that were given to me, my adopted parents sold, mostly clothes or boyish things, but I still kept a little of what was left behind.
A year later, I began hearing Henry’s voice in my head almost has if he was right behind me, whispering in my ear. I told my family about it and I was immediately put into counseling, but it only got worse. Over time, I learned the truth, that I actually wasn’t crazy. Somehow, when I had taken Henry’s life I had attached him to me, attached him to my conscious mind, and he knew it. He understood everything that was happening around me; he would silently give me advice and ideas, but seem to leave whenever he wanted to. He told me constantly that he didn’t blame me for his death, but I still knew inside that the blame rested on my shoulders.