I walked down the street, alone. I watched one family as they got in there car. The late teenage girl with her preteen sister. There parents. Happy as could be. A single tear rolled down my cheek. They are just like my family was. Before that night. After a few moments the same family came out the door and headed down the block. Both versions of the families headed in the same direction, and probably going into the same place.958Please respect copyright.PENANAw4ektIDVAc
958Please respect copyright.PENANAEekoo5eWDx
I try again to remember a time when I wasn't in two parallel universes. With no luck. Was I born twice once from each mother? I wonder. I guess I will never know. Both of my families were lost that night. Both died on the ice covered high way. One was hit by a semi that lost control. The other, the car I was in hit the median. I was in the back on the passenger side. I escaped with only a few broken bones. That was 5 years ago. Today would have been my sisters 17th birthday. I wonder what would have happened if I had gone with my family and the semi... I shuddered, wiped a second tear and walked on.958Please respect copyright.PENANAV2WkUc0DFs
958Please respect copyright.PENANAOo0otK2n8E
Up ahead is the new mall. I look up at it. What's that coming from the roof? Oh gosh its on fire! It's only on one universe.... I don't care. I tap the person next to me who I know will be able to see the smoke too. “look, it's on fire!”958Please respect copyright.PENANAab5lolghEt
958Please respect copyright.PENANANCxExkAFRY
The man looks up. The panic in his eyes is clear. He pulls out his phone and calls 911. Then I remember. Lily! One of the four people who don't think I'm crazy. Logan was at foot ball practice. Lily was going to come to look for some new jeans today. And this Lily is now in the flames. The other Lily and Logan are busy and wouldn't be effected by the flames anyway as they are not in that universe.958Please respect copyright.PENANAZjxumwjelW
958Please respect copyright.PENANAT9WE0eSL7z
With out a second to think I ran strait into the building. Can I die in a situation just in one universe? Flashes through my mind. Brushing it aside I call. “The building's on fire! Everyone OUT!” I rush to Lily's favorite shop. Lilia! I see her just as the alarms start. Grabbing her hand we run into the busy hall. “Crap” I curse958Please respect copyright.PENANABwBzrFuFrd
958Please respect copyright.PENANAV6IsSHOC3l
“What? Come on!!” Lily yells.958Please respect copyright.PENANAeF7FM6eHKg
958Please respect copyright.PENANAGdxN4BVF4g
As we run I explain. “The building is fine in the other universe! And I just yelled fire!” as we exit the building. I see Logan. “Go!” I say to Lily. “I'm fine, GO” news crews and fire trucks from both universes line the streets. Some spraying water on the mall. The other standing by waiting to know where the flames were as the alarms never went off.958Please respect copyright.PENANAnXsIzBZ284
958Please respect copyright.PENANApteqMJKCA7
“There she is!” A man yelled.958Please respect copyright.PENANAdoRiAtwUQG
958Please respect copyright.PENANAAZG9iu0oNN
“Miss! Where did you see the fire?” one of the firemen called. At the same time a news crew stuck a camera in my face. “How brave you were to run into the burning building to save lives.”958Please respect copyright.PENANAfKzotedwlr
958Please respect copyright.PENANAEZHXyvrKfl
I first turned to the news crew. “That's just who I am.” The reporter didn't seem satisfied, but I turned to the firemen. Taking a deep breath I attempt to explain. “In another universe sir.” With the fireman's confusion I try again. “I am part of two universes. I didn't intend to notify this one. I do apologize.”958Please respect copyright.PENANA8kJoPBVkLf
958Please respect copyright.PENANAbTSGTy5zzO
“She's not right in the head” the firemen shook his head. “Alright guys” he said turning back to his crew. “The alarms did not go off. Lets make one more trip trough the building.”958Please respect copyright.PENANAMSEr2MyEqy
958Please respect copyright.PENANAGF0LtdgbZS
turning I found another camera in my face. The same girl behind each. The one on my left asks “What made you decide to enter the flames?”958Please respect copyright.PENANAGuByh0SQGN
958Please respect copyright.PENANAmbEJ5J6RS5
“I just had the need to do what was needed.”958Please respect copyright.PENANAT9GdVGy3Zh
958Please respect copyright.PENANA0iMZnzTIT9
Are you talking to the other universe?” the girl to my right asks. “Yes” I explain. The other mall was on fire. I ran in to save people” “Are you taking to the other universe?” the girl to my left asks.958Please respect copyright.PENANAtmaO8uBczP
958Please respect copyright.PENANAT22qtt9uGs
Turning to the left I say “yes. The building wasn't on fire there. There is a lot of chaos.” “what is it saying?” the reporters say in unison.958Please respect copyright.PENANAE08sVxSLDX
958Please respect copyright.PENANAW5QpEcAeVV
I am getting scared and frustrated. From behind me two foot balls come out of no where. Each hitting the back of a camera guy. As the reporters bend down to help the men up I run for the safety. I find all four of my friends waiting for me in our secret spot. A series of underground rooms and tunnels that we dug as kids. It's a pretty large space. I have been off the grid staying here since my families died.
Two battery powered lanterns lit the space. One for each universe.958Please respect copyright.PENANAmMYgJm49tz
958Please respect copyright.PENANAMZMOUnYOWe
“what happened?” both Logans asked in unison. I smiled weakly at both of them. “The mall in sunset was on fire. I was so worried about sunset Lily that I didn't think. I yelled that there was a fire. Both universes heard. That ended with what I think you inferred. News crews from both sunset and sunrise questioning me.” I use our code names for the universes. I don't know if they have names.958Please respect copyright.PENANADytvUiOKo1
958Please respect copyright.PENANAWJssZZKkSJ
“Inferred? You always were such a book worm” sunrise Lily laughs. “speaking of which, are you done with those?” she pointed to a large stack of books in the corner.
“Do you realize... I could go to jail for this in sunset. And yes. I read all 10, 300 page books.” I explain. “Really? The library only checks things out for a month.” sunrise Lily exlames.958Please respect copyright.PENANAS68eMYRdGv
958Please respect copyright.PENANALdgPJe3t1u
“It's not like I have anything else to do.” I laugh.
ns3.21.241.17da2