“Well, in that case, I’ll take a burger and fries. Oh, and one of those big cookies for dessert! To ease my pain, of course.” His eyes light up like a child. His glee is infectious and I smile brightly at him.
“You got it,” I say with a wink and head to the snack bar.
**********
Later that night after my shift at the store, I decide it’s time to pick up the book again. I had been avoiding it like the plague, not feeling strong enough to deal with any more disappointing revelations. Confronting my feelings for Jared has given me a newfound confidence. It’s time. I have to read on about my mother’s sacrifice to save my life.
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As I write these words to you, my precious child, I await your birth, which could be any day now. I know I am not there to prepare you for what is to come once you ascend and I know this platform is not sufficient enough to teach you all you need to know. But I sincerely hope it sheds some Light on the many questions I so desperately wish I was there to answer in person.
Children of the Light, and the Dark, are born with their power. However, it is limited until ascension which happens between puberty and adulthood, about 18 years of age. Yours will be delayed. Part of the deal I made with my kind was that you will be spelled, unable to ascend until your 21st birthday. This is to ensure that you are mature enough to conceal the identity of the Light. Since you will be raised by mortals, it had to be done to guarantee that you did not harm them or anyone else. The Light has agreed to let you live in peace so they will not be able to interfere with your upbringing. They also cannot protect you, at least until you ascend into the Light.
Before ascension, you must choose. The Light or the Dark. Your power will be different from both, however you must pledge your allegiance to one and only one. Please, my love, this is imperative. I do not want you to find the same fate as me. Once you have made a definite decision and are completely certain of it, you will ascend and all the wonders of the world will open up to you. You will see things you didn’t see before. You will feel things you never felt before. Your own kind will appear before you, even though mortals may not see them. You will gain incredible speed and strength. It will all be overwhelming at first but Donna and Chris will help you with the adjustment.
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So I have to choose? The obvious choice would be the Light. But why the hell would I want to belong to an alliance that murdered my mother? They knew I existed yet chose not to help me because I wasn’t one of them? I thought the Light was all about helping and healing. Where were they all these years? And now that it is common knowledge that someone wants to kill me, where are they now?
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I know you may have floundered for most of your life, and have felt unexceptional, to say the least. That is for your protection. You were spelled to appear unsuspecting, making it easier to hide you from those that wish to do you harm. From the Dark. They know you were allowed to live but they cannot find you. Donna will make sure your scent is dulled and there are other defensive tactics in place. My darling, I know it is cruel to subject you to a life of mediocrity when you are so phenomenal. However, you were not created to merely be an exceptional human. You were made to be an extraordinary force of Light.
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Defensive tactics? Ok, that makes sense. Explains why I’ve been allowed to live in peace and lead a mediocre life. I sigh in frustration and shake my head. So my entire existence has been constructed, molded so I could never succeed at anything. Never the prom queen, never the superstar athlete, never the student council president or even the straight-A student. I’ve been Nobody. Can I honestly say that up until this point that I know who I am? And now at 20 years of age, I am supposed to magically grow into the person I was destined to be. Humph.
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The most important thing you must remember is that the magic is in you. Forget everything you may have seen in movies or fairytale books. You will not need potions or spells. YOU are the magic. Your body is but a vessel for the amazing force that is within you. The Light you hold is the brightest, most magnificent that there ever was and with this Light, you will do great things. You alone, have the power to end centuries of wars and suffering between the Dark and the Light. You will bridge the gap, bringing peace and prosperity for all who follow you. And those who choose not to… you have the ability to annihilate with ease. I was weak, my dear. You will not be.
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Well, let me just forget about any plans I had for the rest of my life, because it seems my mother has it all mapped out for me. What if I don’t want to bring peace among the Dark and the Light? It’s not my fight; I don’t know anything about it. Come to think of it, I don’t want any part of this! If I have to ascend, fine. But I can then choose to lead a normal life and blend in with everyone else. The Light and the Dark have been doing it all this time, and so will I. I can do this. I will not be used as a pawn in a war that I have nothing to do with. The Light has failed to intervene and now innocent girls are dying. Why should I fight on their behalf?