Reflections: A Book

Flash Fiction: Flash Memories

The lights blind me with their intensity. "Um, excuse me, can you turn the lights down? Or at least give me some sunglasses. This can't be good for my eyes." No sound emits from the speaker I know is on the left-hand wall behind me. I glance over at the one way mirror where I know my proctors hide.

"We will begin the treatment now. Please relax," is my only reply.

"You don't need all these stuffed animals, you're too big now." My heart pounds as this vision of my mother snatches my favorite Pooh plush from my clutching fingers.

"Stop it!" I gasp, fighting my way back to consciousness. "I'm over that! I got over that last week, what's the point of this 'treatment'?" Silence.

"Please don't fight the system. Relax."

The scene changes. My mother holds Pooh, but I'm bigger, taller. No mirrors in sight but I instinctively know I'm the me of today, not 13 years old and weeping over stolen innocence. "I'm NOT too big. Just because it isn't what you would choose at my age doesn't make it wrong. Anyway, we both know it's my weight you're really upset about. Even if that's not the case, I'll carry this with me for years and it'll be all your fault when They take me."

"They?" That voice, it jolts me

"No! You have me, I WON'T show you my brother. HANDS. OFF!"

The speaker crackles. "That’s not the way we do things here." I move to get up and show them how little I care, forgetting my arms and legs are bound for 'my protection'. About to shout instead I hear sounds of fighting over the intercom. A body hits the glass. Silence. Gavin bursts into the room. My heart leaps.

"Things are about to change."

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Prompt: Write a story that includes the line: “That’s not the way we do things here.”
"Winner for 4/19 and prompt for 4/20"