I had seen what would happen, but I hadn't seen it at
all.
I looked toward the future, and I saw gray after the darkness, but not a stream of light anywhere.
Sitting up, I saw them all, the basement had protected them, yes, but would they be protected against what would come? Could they possibly imagine what would come?
Some will die, I told myself. But who? Would I die? Was I strong enough to survive such horror, when I couldn't even stand looking at it?
Seeing without eyes, yes, that was the phrase. I was no psychic, I was chosen, and I knew that now. By who, though?
They called me Ukani, why? I do not know, my real name was Helen. It meant brightness, but all I felt was darkness, hopelessness, emptiness.
I knew that Helen didn't matter anymore, and if I was to survive, I'd have to be Ukani. The strong girl, the girl who's life hadn't been a sham, the girl's life that had been happy, even insane at times. Not Helen, I hated Helen, for her life, her anger, her hurt. Ukani was better, Ukani had a perfect life, she didn't know the meaning of the word 'lie.' She didn't know pain, she didn't know hardship, she didn't know suffering. Yes, Helen was gone, and Ukani was in her place. I didn't need Helen anymore, she was dead.
I made the image of myself, battling an older helpless me. Ukani verses Helen, I told myself. This was the only way. I made them fight, but Helen was no match to the sly coolness of Ukani.
Good riddance, I told myself. Then I opened my eyes and faced my future.
I looked toward the future, and I saw gray after the darkness, but not a stream of light anywhere.
Sitting up, I saw them all, the basement had protected them, yes, but would they be protected against what would come? Could they possibly imagine what would come?
Some will die, I told myself. But who? Would I die? Was I strong enough to survive such horror, when I couldn't even stand looking at it?
Seeing without eyes, yes, that was the phrase. I was no psychic, I was chosen, and I knew that now. By who, though?
They called me Ukani, why? I do not know, my real name was Helen. It meant brightness, but all I felt was darkness, hopelessness, emptiness.
I knew that Helen didn't matter anymore, and if I was to survive, I'd have to be Ukani. The strong girl, the girl who's life hadn't been a sham, the girl's life that had been happy, even insane at times. Not Helen, I hated Helen, for her life, her anger, her hurt. Ukani was better, Ukani had a perfect life, she didn't know the meaning of the word 'lie.' She didn't know pain, she didn't know hardship, she didn't know suffering. Yes, Helen was gone, and Ukani was in her place. I didn't need Helen anymore, she was dead.
I made the image of myself, battling an older helpless me. Ukani verses Helen, I told myself. This was the only way. I made them fight, but Helen was no match to the sly coolness of Ukani.
Good riddance, I told myself. Then I opened my eyes and faced my future.
