“Oh, finally!” I cried while glueing the last toothpaste cap onto other dozens of toothpaste caps to form a humongous castle. It was close to being as tall as I am and I am actually pretty tall. I don’t think one point seventy-three metres is short for a girl in high school. I proudly looked at my art project, it was just perfect. I mean not mine, it will be Jasmine’s project of course but just admiring my six hours of work for a few seconds wouldn’t be illegal. Right?

 

Then I remembered my promise to Jasmine that I would send the final product’s photo at seven a.m. It was seven a.m.! I rushed towards my phone, quickly took pictures of the castle from ten different angles and sent them just right on time. I mean almost right on time. I was two minutes late. I got ready for Jasmine’s non-stop scolding and started to send a ton of apology messages mentioning my vileness. After a few minutes of messaging, I managed to escape her. 

 

Now, it was time to prepare my own project. I checked the time. I literally had one minute before leaving! So, I quickly put Jasmine’s castle into a box, grabbed my backpack and left home. I have to walk for thirty minutes to school. Since I have a heavy box to carry for today, I left half an hour earlier. 

 

I arrived at school and quickly texted Jasmine for her to take her castle. After a few minutes, she took the box and said, “Good job Alice, good job.” 

 

I smiled at her trying to hide the necessity. We walked away from each other as if we were two strangers who had nothing to do with each other. I used a longer path to get to the art class and we again met each other inside. I sat on the seat right next to the door.

 

Our teacher quickly said good morning and checked on top of our tables for our projects. I was the only one who had a table with nothing. It was time for our teacher to humiliate me in front of everyone and talk about how irresponsible I was. At least ten minutes was off the lesson time. I am kind of used to it so I already know how I was a source of disgrace. 

 

Then, we started the presentations. Of course, Jasmine got all the applause and praise. All I could do was watch and admire her position. She had everything I wanted in my life. All I was was a shadow of her. Being the one who was never appreciated, never proud of. I don’t usually think about this kind of stuff but maybe I had a reason. I didn’t do all this stuff with any consciousness.

 

           “You chose to be a shadow.” whispered someone in front of me who had all her face covered with a white hoodie.

 

I never saw her in our class. I had no idea how she even got in here. 

 

“I was once a shadow like you, dear.” she continued. Dear? Was she that old to call me “dear”? I guess she was. 

 

“Sorry but how did you come right when I was thinking about being a shadow? Or did you make me think about it? Are you a witch?” I asked while losing control of my mind. What was I thinking while asking whether she was a witch or not? Of course, she wasn’t. Right?

 

            “No, I’m not! I am just a mentor in your journey of embracing the light and escaping the darkness of shadow.” she scared me off. 

 

“How are you doing this?!” I cried, I blinked my eyes just for a second and saw her near the door, leaving the classroom as if nothing happened.

 

            I mean this couldn’t be real. It was just a dream of my crazy mind. I haven’t slept enough that’s why! But my thoughts were interrupted by a note suddenly appearing on my desk. Now this wasn’t a dream. I had evidence that I could hold between my hands. A note with a beautiful handwriting.

 

You are the one who chose to be a shadow. No one forced you to be a shadow. You thought being a shadow would be an easier path for you. It in fact just tortures you without you even realising. It still isn’t too late to change your decision. You can change your mindset, it all depends on you. Here are your steps for guidance. If you need any help while doing these, just want it. I will be there for sure.

Love,  

Your one and only copy

 

              My copy? I am about to go crazy, what is going on? Is this some kind of joke? I calmed myself down and turned the back of the paper while trying to digest all the information given to me.

 

Steps for escaping your shadow:

1. Get away from people whom you’re the shadow of. (End your non-existent friendships.)

2.  

3.  

4.  

5.  

  

            The other steps were not even written. I guess I have to do the first step to be able to see the other ones. I mean it is just a random piece of paper. Isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to trust someone that I have seen for the first time in my entire life? I wasn’t even sure if was she the one who left this note. But most possibly it was her. Who else could it be?

 

            Finally, I decided to do whatever this paper was saying. What could possibly happen? I mean I wouldn’t die. It will be alright. I of course had no awareness of what kind of a swamp I had put myself into.