We all stared at each other in silence dumbfounded for a moment, I spoke up "Reality is inconsistent, it doesn't appear to be as it seems, maybe we are meant for something more in this world, could it be God?"
James smiles nervously "well let's leave this intellectual conversation for some other day, we don't know how you guys survived but you did and I think that's enough reason to go for a drink"
Vanz replied "whatever that was we are still breathing, maybe it was God maybe it was just luck maybe none of this is real who knows, but I agree with james we should drink and forget, it's all in the past now"
And so we did. That night, the haze of alcohol dulled the edges of our terror. Laughter cracked through the exhaustion, clumsy and brittle, like it might shatter any moment. But it didn't last. The next day, and the next, we kept chasing that escape, substance after substance, numbing ourselves, feeding a growing addiction that bit deeper with every swallow, every hit. Relief came in short bursts, leaving behind a gnawing emptiness, a thirst for more, a dependence we couldn't stop.
Even as we leaned on each other, drank, and laughed through the fog, the questions remained, unyielding, pressing, impossible. The crash victims, the weird man, the container… the scream of the granny, the impossibility of surviving the crash without a scratch, all of it gnawed at the edges of our minds, threading our waking hours with dread. No amount of alcohol, no high, no escape could erase it. Reality had splintered, and we were left grasping at fragments.
Weeks passed, we were now back at school like regular kids.
I watched Thea from across the room. Her hair shimmered in the sunlight through the window, her laugh echoing lightly. My chest tightened. Why did I ever think she'd like me? She never liked me, she only loves the attention. Why always me, why do I always have to bear the brunt of everything, God? You made me a killer! If I'd been like those popular kids, none of this would have happened… none of it.
My mind flicked back to the boy downstairs during the robbery. Why did he just… walk away? Did he not see us? Now that I think about it I did pray for that to happen, and I felt a sensation the same sensation that I feel after convincing James to comply, was it that container… everything became more weird after that thing …. Did it give me power?
I tried to focus on something mundane. But my mind spiraled. I wanted to test something, so I turned to a classmate nearby. "Dude, go buy me the most expensive thing in the canteen."
My classmate blinked, irritation creeping in. "What? Why would I?"
I waved it off, trying to act casual. "Ah, never mind."
My classmate scowled and walked away.
My thoughts raced. Why doesn't it work when I consciously try it? Maybe I need more focus. More… intent. I stared, voice low and commanding: "Listen… to me… dude… you need to do what I say. Go… buy… me… the… most… expensive… thing… in… the… canteen… with… your… money."
My classmate's face twisted with anger. "Are you crazy? You want me to punch you?"
I forced a laugh, masking his tension. "Ahaha… just kidding, chill." Ahhh, this is so embarrassing. Now he probably thinks I'm full-blown crazy. I hope he just forgets about it.
(After break, in classroom)
Me: "Sorry about the prank before, sleep-deprived, so… you know."
Classmate: "What prank?"
Me: "You know… I told you to buy the most expensive snacks from the canteen."
Classmate: "Eh? I don't remember."
What the hell? He just forgot… it was just thirty minutes ago. This can't be a coincidence, maybe I really do have powers. Could it be real? But how? Memory manipulation? Influence? Some kind of… telepathy? No, memory alteration seems most likely.
Later, I found myself near Thea. Heart hammering, mind ablaze with intent. Remember how I've always been there for you, we were super close. Remember how much you… like me.
"Hey, Thea," I said, looking her dead in the eyes. "How are you doing?"
Her face brightened immediately. "Ohhh, Ducce! I've been waiting to talk to you all this time! I missed you so much!" She pulled me into a tight hug.
I froze, disbelief washing over me. Oh my God… it actually works… I'm hugging Thea, the most beautiful girl in the school. She smells… amazing. My face flushed, words faltering.
"I… I've been good… I missed… you too," I managed to say.
A surge of euphoria coursed through me, a feeling so intense it made my head spin. That night, i couldn't sleep. Every thought, every dream, revolved around her: the warmth of her hug, the softness of her voice, the way the world seemed to pause whenever she looked at me.
The next morning, I entered school brimming with anticipation. I caught sight of Thea and beamed, "Hey, Thea!"
She paused, her expression uncertain, then gave a polite, cautious smile. "Hey…"
I froze, confusion gnawing at me. Wait… what? I thought it worked. Why is she acting like this? Did it only partially work? Or did it only last for a day … ohh yeah she must be just nervous…I will get her later… my mind raced trying to reconcile the impossible: a power I didn't fully understand, yet now undeniable.
My thoughts swirled. If I can control memories… influence thoughts…even if just for a moment, what else is possible? Could I… could I make her love me? But how does it work exactly? Do I have to focus harder? Speak the words? Think the thoughts?
I shook my head, trying to calm myself, yet excitement and terror mixed in equal measure. I have a power now… a really useful one. But with this… everything changes. Nothing will ever be the same.
"Yo, Thea, can we hang out later?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Thea blinked, confused. "Ehh? Where did that come from? You know I have a boyfriend, right?"
I froze, panic gnawing at me. Shit… what happened now? Is she angry? Embarrassed? Does the memory alteration really last only for a while? But the guy I pranked earlier still doesn't remember a thing… Maybe present-moment memories are easier to manipulate than older ones… Either way I will make her Love me… I just need to get to know my powers better.