The Bracelet

Waking up was the hardest part today, opening my eyes I took in the rays coming through the window. Yesterday seemed unreal. I can’t believe everything that happened. Had it actually happened? Going over everything again, it had been my 18^th Birthday. I had been so excited, I had thought that day was a start to a great beginning, how wrong I was.  I ran downstairs expecting to my parents to still be asleep like normal, but to my surprise they were at the dining room table eating breakfast. Which happened to be my favorite, Cheese Omelets with homemade biscuits. Sitting down and digging in I barely even noticed when they slid the box over. It was a very old dusty box, I was immediately excited when I did see it. My favorite thing was to go antique hunting, assuming they had just gone to an antique store I asked them which one they went to, but instead of answering they just exchanged a dark look. I decided I should probably let them talk, they clearly had another speech set out for me. They stared each other down having an argument with their eyes, finally my father sighed giving me a defeated look. “Sharlette, this isn’t just any old thing found in one of your shops,” he said dismissively with a wave of his hand. “This has been passed down every other generation, and now it’s your turn. Go ahead and open it.” I hesitated not sure if I want to open it now or not, but curiosity got the best of me. I slowly pulled the lid off and took out the wrapping paper, tearing it open I pulled out a very simple silver bracelet. Although it was simple it was beautiful in my eyes. I thanked my parents and as my mom went to say something my alarm for school went off. “Crap I’m going to be late, I’ll see you guys later.” I ran out the door and jumped into my car grateful for packing it the night before. As I pulled out of the drive way my mom yelled something at me I didn’t quite catch it but I nodded anyways and sped off. Arriving at school with only seconds to spare I slip on the bracelet and run to class. PE was never my favorite especially not today, “Sharlette, do you have a pass?” Coach yells at me. “No Coach I don’t, but it’s my birthday do you think you could let it slide just this once?” His look tells me his answer, I groan and run to the locker room. Changing quickly I walk out and begin my punishment, 250 pushups and 250 sit-ups, and after that suicide sprints. Once I finish he sends us outside to walk the track. Walking by myself I fall back from the class. Our track is out near the woods and at one part the track actually cuts through the trees and back out. On a normal day the woods always call to me but today was especially intense. As I got closer to the woods I actually felt a pull I headed straight into the woods following it. I eventually came to a spot that was a circle of a completely barren area no trees no grass, there weren’t even leaves from the nearby trees. It was creepy to say the least. I walked to the center and sat down. The wind was definitely picking up outside of the circle the top of the trees were whipping around but it was still in the circle. It was silent actually. Thinking about this morning, dad said it was every other generation but I couldn’t remember having ever met my grandma. Now that I was really thinking about it I’ve never seen pictures of her either, it was this last thought that trees began falling. Towards me. I got up trying to run but tripped and another tree toppled over trapping my legs and another one was looming over me. As is plummeted down I thought back to this morning to what mom had said. Now it sounded like she said don’t put the bracelet on. Too late now, I glanced up and everything went dark.

Shaking my head to clear it. I realized someone was coming upstairs. A woman peaked into my room, and walked in once she realized I was in fact awake. She sat down on the edge, “Hi Sharlette my name is Ruth, do you remember me?” I shook my head. She sighed then spoke, “Your parents always had a hard time comprehending this.” I just stared at her trying to figure out how to get out of here. She then said, “Sharlette I’m your grandma.” I froze. “What?” I whispered. She looked at me sadly, “Every other generatio- she began. I cut her off “I know receives the bracelet.” She began again, “ Every other generation dies on their 18^th birthday upon receiving the bracelet. I just stared at her dumbfounded. Not possible I thought, I can’t be dead. I looked up but she was gone. Slowly the room turned white and as I looked down I was turning white too, disappearing with everything else. Soon everything went black and she was gone. Ruth hummed too herself and said softly, “They never accept it, they never get another chance.”