The Last Replacement - 1

...Eliza's P.O.V...

It was one of those ordinary afternoons where the sky was a crisp blue, and the school's chatter felt like background noise to my daydreams. Although the weather outside the window seemed splendid, I felt an overwhelming sense of melancholy. It was as if a veil of despondence had clouded my vision, casting everything in dismal, muted hue, and nothing seemed quite right.

I'm not typically one to be superstitious, but this unsettling feeling brings to mind something my late grandfather always believed: when something bad is about to happen, the world around you finds subtle ways to warn you. Could this be an ominous warning that something bad is on the horizon? Yet, I'm not a superstitious person, so it must be nothing more than an ordinary day. Surely, I'm just imagining things, letting my mind play tricks on me!

The bell rang, signalling the start of recess, mercifully ending my history teacher's monotonous lecture as she left us with a final blow - the announcement of an upcoming research paper. The classroom, already buzzing with quite grumbles, erupted into groans of frustration. But despite the collective annoyance, I couldn't shake off the uneasy knot forming in my stomach.

As the teacher departed, Tia, my best friend, approached my desk, jolting me out of my gloomy reverie. With her striking ivory eyes and golden blonde hair, she looked at me and said, "You seem totally lost, Eli. I suggest we take a stroll to the cafeteria and see if something delicious catches your eye. It might lift your spirits." It felt as though she could see right through me, reading my thoughts with uncanny precision. After all, there's a reason we're best friends!

Eager to escape my unsettling thoughts, I readily accepted her offer. Tia and I made our way to the cafeteria, where I spotted a stack of strawberry juice being sold at the counter. I had been waiting forever for this drink to return, and it was here again - truly the only strawberry juice on Earth that tastes like pure bliss. Perhaps today isn't so bad after all. Finally getting my hands on this coveted treat felt like a small victory, reminding me that sometimes, even on the gloomiest days, a little joy can be found.

Later that day, I was at home, sitting like a couch potato, scrolling through Gram and commenting to myself on people's absurd posts, which showcased their typical Gen Z cringe. As I flicked through stories, I stumbled upon the suggestions page and discovered an account named Grimshaw Guy. Its old-fashioned vibe caught my curiosity, so I opened the profile. The name was Nathaniel, so that made him Nathaniel Grimshaw, right? What struck me as particularly odd was his bio: instead of Born on 7th October, it read, Died on 7th October. It creeped me out a bit. "Who puts Died on for their birthday? Isn't that a bad omen? Or maybe it's just another attempt by Gen Z to stand out! Honestly, how much more can they push their boundaries?" I thought to myself as I skipped his page and rolled my eyes.

"Eliza, it's time for bed! You have school tomorrow, remember?" my mom called from the hallway. "Okay, mom. Good night!" I replied, setting my phone on the table beside the bed and pulling back the covers. Moments later, she entered the room, leaned in to kiss me, and whispered a soft Goodnight with a warm smile before turning off the lights and quietly closing the door behind her.

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...Hey, it's your author here. Kindly comment your thoughts on the episode, and let me know if you've found anything strange or any other errors. I'm open to constructive criticism, so I don't mind if you spot out my errors....

...Thanks for choosing to read the story!...

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