CharmedforaSwitch

Theme:Thegrassisntalwaysgreenerontheotherside.

Name:SarinaShah

Theschoolbellrungandscatteredfootstepswentoutthebuildingwithvariousshouts.The
assignmentIwascompletingwasnotyetfinished,soIhurriedsincetheteacherwasgivingmeahurry
upkindoflook.Iquicklyhandeditinandwalkedoutthedoorbymyselfwithnoonetokeepme
company.Thiswastheusualendofschoolroutine.Iscurriedontothebussittingaloneandkeepingquiet
whileeveryonetalkedamongstthemselves.Tenminuteslaterthebuswasatmyhouse,andItrudgedin
withmyheavybagwaitingtogreetmymom.Shewassittingatthetablegoingthroughpapersand
forums,probablyaboutwork.Shewasallaboutworkeverysinglehourofeverysingleday.Inaway,I
wishIcouldbemadather,butIcouldnt.Aftermydadhadleftus,moneywashard.Iloathedtoputall
ofthepressureonher.
Sheaskedwithlittleemotion,Howwasschool,Elle?
IsimplyrepliedwithTheusual.
Sheknewwhattheusualmeant.Theusualwaslonely,tough,andtiring.Therewasnoonein
schoolthatIcouldtalkto.TheyallthoughtthatIwaseitherpointlessornonexistent.TheyallthoughtI
hadnothingspecialornothingunique.Well,thetruthis,maybetheycouldntseeit.Icouldnotseeit
either,butIknewitwastherebecauseIfeltit.Maybeanundiscoveredtalent?Somethingwasdifferent
aboutme,andIknewthatIwouldfindoutoneday.
Ifinishedmyhomework,andIwasfeelingcurious,soIwentoutsideforawalk.The
reddishbrownleaveswerefallingfromthetreesslightlylikealightsnowfall.Theairpickedupthrough
myhairandonmyskincreatingamesmerizingandhypnotizingeffectthroughoutmybody.Thestress
wasrecedingeverytimeIclosedmyeyesandletthewindineverytimeItookabreath.Suddenly,voices
weregettinglouder,anddarknesswasgettingcloser.Themomentwasover,anditwastimetogoback
intothehouseandprepareforthenextday.AsIwastrottingbackhome,alingeringshadowhoveredover
myshoulder.BeforeIcouldlook,theperceptionwasover...thelongdayatschoolwasprobablyjust
catchingupwithme.Allofthiswasnonsensical.
ThenextdayatschoolwasthelastbeforeThanksgivingBreak,andthestudentswouldnotstop
talkingabouttheirfamiliestraditions,rituals,andfoodstoeat.MyThanksgivingplansconsistedof
eatingoutwithmymomandgoingbackhometofinishhomework.Thefamilywasalargeportionofthe
holiday,soIhadanexempt.
Elle,Iheardavoicecall.Elle,Iheardyouonlylivewithyourmom.Sosad.IwishIcould
giveyousomeofmyfamily.ImeanthenumberofcousinsIhaveareridiculous!Thereareeventhese
newborntwinsmyauntjustgavebirthto.Andmyunclesaidhewouldbringoveranextraspecialgiftfor
hisextraspecialniecemeofcourse!Andmygrandparentsaretakingmetothemallforshopping!Ugh!
DontyoujustloveThanksgiving?
Emilyalwayshadtogetherheadintoeveryonesbusinesssothatshecouldrubherbeautiful
lifeintoallofourmediocreonesespeciallymine.Verynice,Emily,Ifacetiouslylied.
IhadthesemomentswhereIjustwantedtoslipawayintosomeoneelseslife.Everyonehada
hobby.Everyonehadapassion.Everyonehadfriends.Everyoneexceptforme.Themorepeoplepointed

outhowordinaryIwas,themoreIwouldbelieveit.Iusedtothinkthatalloftheremarkswereuntruebut
nowthatIlookintoit,maybetheywerent.Ididnothaveafamilytosupportme,Ididnthaveany
reasontohaveattention,andIdidnthaveanyonewhowouldwanttotalktomebecauseIseemedasifI
werenotreal.Itriedandtriedandconstantlytried,butnothingworked.Emilyslifeseemedfabulous,
reallyanyoneslifeatthispointdid.
Iwenthometoanemptyhouseandsatonmycouchwatchingamovie.Inthemovie,thisgirl
wentfrombeingtalentlesstoholdingtheworldinherhands.Iwantedsomethinglikethat.Theway
everyonewasputunderhercontrolwasremarkablebecauseitseemedasiftheywantedtowaitforher
becauseshewasspectacular.Shewasunordinary.Perfectlyunordinary.
Momcamehomeandmadedinner.Weweresittingdownandeating.Usually,itwasquietbut
todayshefeltasifsheneededtospeak.
Howwasyourday?
WellImeanitcantgetanyworsefromwhereIamatrightnow.SoIguess...itwasfine?
Elle,Ihatetoseeyoulikethis.Maybeyouneedtohaveabetterselfesteemorselfconcept.
OrIcantakeyoufortherapy.Therapy!Thatsagood
Shestoppedwhenshesawmyeyeswellup.IhardlyevercrybecausewhenIdo,itshorrific.She
didnotunderstandanything.Anything!Iknowmost15yearoldgirlssaythataboutalloftheirmoms,
butno.Mymotherdidnotunderstandanything.Sheexpectsmetofitinwiththerestofthegradeeven
thoughIbarelyhaveafamilyandatrueidentity.HowamIsupposedtohaveapositivesidewhenallI
canthinkaboutisthenegativitymyfatherleftinthishouse.

Everythinginmyliferightnowwasgoingintoaspaceofnowhere.Myfatherhardlyevencalls
me.Whenwelivedtogether,everytimeIfellitwaseasytogetbackup.Now,thereisaforcefieldaround
mekeepingmedown.Thereweretobenoturnofeventsbecausethethoughtsofyourenotgood
enough!andnooneevenknowswhoyouare!weighedeverythingofminetothefloortooheavyfor
metoliftupandsprout.
Ididntevenknowhowtocorrespondwiththewordsmymotherrecited.Ithoughtabout
tellingherwhatIwasgoingthrough,butthatwastoosimple.IwantedtomakesuresheknewhowI
clearlyfelt.IpushedmyfoodinfrontofmeIgotupoutofmychairslowly,andIopenedthefrontdoor.
Beforemymothercouldstopme,therewasaslaminherface.Ishutthedooronandran.Iranfurther
andfurtherwitheachleap.NothingandnoonecouldstopmebecauseIwasfedupwitheveryone.The
thoughtsofmyfatherleaving,beingtalentless,andhavingnofriendsallcaughtupandwereracing
throughmymind.Anotherlife!Tostartover!ThatsallIlongedforrightnow.
Aclean...IwasjustabouttocrossthebridgeforoutoftownwhenIsawapitchblackumbrella
withthenameEllewrittenonthehookundermyfeetonthedirtroadtrailwithcolorfultreesaroundit..
IthadtakenafewminutesbeforeIwasabletoopenitbecauseofhowstunnedIwasleft.Ineverhadan
umbrellawithmynameonit.Ofcourse,Ihadtoopenit.Whenthepoppingnoisewhen,Ilightlyjumped
inshockbecausenothinghappened.IfeltlikeachildreceivingnogiftsonChristmas.
WhatdidIexpect?Imurmuredtomyself.IalsochuckledalittlebecauseIthoughtIwould
haveasurprisewaitingforme.AfterIhadcrossedthebridge,Iheardsomethingalmost...sparkle.Atthis
point,thedaysarrowwasalreadygoinginsomanydirections.Thearrowwasfocusingonthatumbrella,
andIwasdeterminedtofindoutwhatitmeant.Footstepskeptrapidlythumbingonthedirtpavement.
Isanyonehere?Iquestioned.Hello?

Idecidedtogobacktomyhousesincethisdaywasalreadygettingmorestrangebythesecond
andtobehonestIwasscaredpetrified.AsIwasleavingthewoods,Afaintringingbellfilledmyears
withaticklingsensation:asensationinwhichIwasfallingintoatrance.Thetranceindoctrinatedmy
heartintofollowingthenoiseeventhoughmybrainwastellingmetostopandvacate.Theworlddidnot
makesensetomeanymore.Isatdownandclosedmyeyeswaitingforthewindstodriftmeawaytothe
placeIbelongedbecauseitobviouslywasnothere.
IwokeupthinkingIwasinmybed,butIwaslayingdowninaladysarms.
WaitWhaHow?Who?Why?Istutteredbarelybeingabletobreathe.Whowassheandwhy
wasshehere?Or:whywasIhere?IjumpedupthinkingaboutschoolandmymomeventhoughI
probablyshouldhavebeenaskingmyselfifIwassafewhereIwasat.
Youdonotneedtoworry,theladycalmlysaid.Shewasdressedinanallblackgownthat
ruffledatthebottom.Hershouldershadlacedcuffsonthemthathadstringscomingoutofit.Shelooked
asifshewasinhermiddle20sandhadarelaxedtone.IamAngelGinniferGoodwin.Youcancallme
Angel.Iwillnotharmyoujustfollowme.
Angelwasdifferentthanaregularangel.Obviouslyshewasntdressedinwhite,butshealsodid
nothavethevibesofone.Sheseemedlikeshehadahighconfidencelevelandnotroublebeingtheboss.
Shelovedtomakesurepeopleknewthatshewasincharge.However,shehadsomecharminwhichI
wantedtofolloweverysingleordersherecited.
MyheadwasonAngelslapasshewastellingmeallaboutwhatIwasgettingmyselfinto.
EverythingaroundmewasplainwhitebesidesAngelsdress.Therewerewhitecaveswithcreamlace
drapingoverandcrystalchandeliershangingfromtheceilings.Thefloorwasblankexceptforourbodies.
ItfeltlikeIwastrapped...butIdidntwanttobeletout.
Thiswasadream.Thiswasadream.Pinchingmyselfharderandharderwasnotdoinganything,
sothedreamtheorywasputtorest.Whatdidshewantfromme?Wherewasthisheaded?
Pickuptheumbrella,Angeldemandedwithaharshertonethanbefore.
Islowlystoodupandgrabbeditbythehandleandclickedtheswitchforittoopen.Thebreeze
startedtopickuprapidly,andmyhandsstartedtobecomestiff.Leavesweresurroundingmebymyfeet,
andAngelliftedherhandupintoastopmotion.Theumbrellaflippedoverandwaslayinginmyfour
armswiththehandlefacingup.Leaveswereelevatingupoutoftheprotectivepieceoftheumbrella.The
pressurewasincreasingandincreasinguntilsuddenly,italldeliberatelystopped.
How...howdidyoudothat?Ipondered.
Me?Ididnothing.Ijusthelpedyou.
Helpedmewithwhat?
Ihelpedyoudothat.Elle,Ivebeenwatchingoveryouforawhile.Youregifted,andyou
dontevenknowit.Ivebeenwaitingtotellyouforsolongnow,andIknowthatthisistherighttime.
Youareneededhereinthiscommunity!Magicpowersare
Magicpowers?Wait.Whatisgoingon?Ididnoneofthat!Nothingyousaywillmakeme
believethat.I'mordinary.ThatiswhatIknowforafact.
Well,Icantellyouthatitwascompletelyyou.Yelpedatallmanwhocamefromacave.I
amRogerorbetterknownasAngelsmaid.Youdontgettochooseyourrolesaroundhere.
Rogerhadanelfkindoflookwithahintofclairvoyant.AlmostasifheknewwhatIwasabout
tosayallofthetime.Heworepointygrayshoeswithwhitekneesockscomingupfromthem.Hisshorts
wereapumpkinorangeandyellowsuspenderswereattached.Hisshirtunderthesuspenderswasa

brownishred.Heseemedjolly,butAngelhadsomeslaveaffectonhim,almostasifhewereundera
hypnoticspell.Heseemedasifhehadnotroubleobeyinghereverysinglecommand.
OkaynowRoger,leave.Ihaveimportantstufftosay!Angelimpolitelysaid.
RogerlistenedtoAngelaandtrudgedbackintohiscave.
Now,Angelcontinued,lifttheumbrellaupinthesamepositionandlightlyshakeit.
AngelsatdownonalargegrayboulderasIstartedtodoexactlywhatsheordered.Shehadsome
forceonmeonewhichIcouldntresist.Theumbrellawasempty,andIstartedtojiggleitsoftly.The
samethinghappenedagain.Thebreezestartedtobecomeheavier,andleaveswerespillingoutgoing
againstgravity.Theyvanishedoutinthesky.Eventually,thewindbecametoointensetoevenstandup.I
wasdownonthefloorwhereIputtheumbrellatotheside,andmybrainwantedtotestmypowers,soI
pointedattheexcludedleaveslayingontheground.Allofthevariousbrownandredfallenleaveswent
outintotheskyandtwosecondslatercamedownasrain.Thiswasallme.IfeltlikeIwasatmynew
homenurturedanddelicatelyappreciated.
Angel,Iinnocentlystumbled,mayIaskhowIgotthesethings...
Youareaspecialgirl,Elle.Youjustneededtoleavethatplaceyouwereinbefore.
Thatplaceismyhabitat.
Youwouldcallaplacethatwasbullyingyouwithfearyourhabitat?Well,Ihavenews.Thisis
yourhome.Wewilltreatyoulikeroyaltybecausethatiswhatyouare.Youdonotneedanyoneelse
becausewewillbeexceptionallyallyouwilleverdesire.Soundgood?
IjustnoddedwithablankfacebecauseIwaspartiallyfrightened,butIwasalsointriguedbythe
ideaofbeingworshiped.Maybethiswastheslippingintosomeoneelseslife.
Excellent.Now,findRogerandtellhimthatheneedstotellyouallaboutthisecstasyyoure
abouttolivein.
FindingRogerwasnothardyoucannotmissarainbowdressedguy.
Hey,Roger.Ididnotgettoproperlyintroducemyself,Istatedcomfortably,ImElle,andI
amverynewtothiswholething.YouseemtolikeAngelalot.Sheisnice?
Hi.AngelisAngel.Yourenew,huh?Youplanonstaying?
Imnotsure,butIfeelmorerespectedthanathome.
Definitelystay!Itsgreathere!
Maybe..
Rogerseemedcompletelycontentwherehewasat.Hehadnotroubleatallbeingtoldwhattodo
ortellingpeoplewhattodoforAngel.
Ishouldgetgoing,butIllseeyouaround.Rogeranxiouslysaid.
ThenexttimeIsawRogerhewastalkingtoAngel.
Roger!Angelexclaimed,Roger!Talktoher!Makesureshesays!Icannotaffordtolose
anotherpowerholder!Isensedoubt.Theyallkeepescaping.JustbecauseImakethemmyservants
doesn'tmeanIdontneedthem!
Icant!Thatsuptoher.
Roger,Ithoughtwewereateam?
Weare.Itsjust..
What?
Illtalktoher.

Iranquicklysothattheywouldnotsuspectmeeavesdropping.IsatunderatreewhereIfounda
pumpkin.ImissedcarvingpumpkinsbackathomewheremymomandIalwaysusedtobondoverthe
oddsmilesthatthepumpkinsheld.Ifoundasharptwigandstartedcarvingequilateraltrianglesonthe
pumpkinstophalf.Ididnotwanttobesomeservanttosomeoneelse!IknewthatIcouldbeanythingI
wantedbecauseIknewIwasnotworthless.MaybeIwasincontrolbackathome.
Whatareyoudoing?Hewondered.
Imcarvingapumpkin.Haventyouever?
NoAngeldoesntletme.
Oh.Whatdidyouwanttotellmebefore?Icluelesslyquestioned.
Iwantedtotellyoutostay.Butnow
What?
Ithinkyoushouldgo.
DidRogerjustbetrayhispowerproviderforme?Maybehewasn'tascontrolledasheacted.
Roger,what?
IknowItoldyoutostay,butthesepowersaredangerous!Theycanturnpeopleawayfromwhat
matters.Themoreyouarehere,themoretheygrow.Ifyouwanttocarvepumpkins,leavenow.Yousee
whatshedoestome!Imherslave.ShetoldmeIhadextraordinarypowers,butsheturnedmefrom
sparkletodust!Ileftthepeoplewhoneededmemost.Idontwantthatforyou.
Roger!Whereisshe?Captureher!Angelhollered.
Go!Rogersaid.
Igallopedawayandsatinsideofahiddencave.IknowIprobablyshouldvegonefurther,butI
wasthinking,shouldIgo?Imeansherespectedme,butIcouldntbeforcedaroundlikeRoger.Ifinally
understoodhowwellmylifewasgoingbackathome.IhadthefreedomtodowhatIwantedanda
motherwhojustwantedmetobesatisfied.Realizingthis,IranandranuntilIeventuallyendedupback
inthewoods.Myhousewasjustafewblocksdown.
Iwalkedinwithfatiguewrittenallovermyeyes.
Mom!Iscreamed.
Oh!Mymomgulped,Iwashyperventilating!Youreokay!Neverleaveagain!Youmeanso
muchtome,andImsorry.IlltrytohelpyououtwithwhateverIcan!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr.Elle,Ihaveyourmail.Myassistantwhispered.
Thankyou!
Beingadoctorhaditsperks.Never,wouldIever,thinkthatIdbecomeadoctor.Schoolhad
beenschool,andnowthatImout,IdontrememberwhyIletitgetthebestofme.Schoolwasapartof
mylife,notthewholething.Everythingwastemporary,butIcouldntgetaglimpseofit.Now,Iminan
officehelpingpeopleeachday,andIcouldntbemoresatisfied.Mymomcomestocheckuponmeonce
inawhile,butImindependentfornow.
Iexaminedthemail,andonestoodoutthemost.Itsaid,ElleDysonfromAngel.Angel.Where
didthatnamesoundfamiliar?Iwastryingtothinktenyearsago.Thepowers.IthoughtIhadgottenrid
ofherforgood.ThatwaswhenIwantedtodifferfromthelifeIwasliving.Ileftherwithescape,nota
reason.Wasshebackforme?Themaildroppedwithathudtothefloor,andthewindstartedtoelevate.