When It All Changed

It was a bright morning, birds chirped, and the sun shone brighter than it did as though it was a sign of unending qualm. It was the very day, Levi's life and the world took a bad turn.

As usual, his alarm rang, preceding it were chimes of morning bells that always made him rise from bed joyfully.

But today, it took a rather horrifying tone.

Levi, the 17-year-old sprung up from his bed, and proceeded to stare at the sky. It was a painting of its blue hues, and the yellow-red beams from the sun.

But, in a few seconds, memories returned. They flooded his head continuously as he kept reiterating, "No!"

He remembered his parents, although he desperately tried to forget each day.

It all started 7 years ago when Levi was just 10. They lived happily in their home, a duplex adorned with flowers and ornaments at its doorsteps and windows.

On a faithful night in the seventh month of the year, July, his parents departed from home. Levi could remember the event, but their voices began fading once he hit 13.

"Levi, we'll be back soon. We're on a mission, and we'll be back," both parents calmly spoke simultaneously.

That was all he could remember till this day.

"There's no need to cry over spilled milk," he said, and would always say when the memories of his parents would echo in his mind.

"Although it's been 7 years since I last saw them, I didn't receive any news of their death. There's still a chance that they're alive."

He walked up to the lobby of the large room. A lonely house with only Levi and rodents as its residents. The lights flickered as he couldn't maintain the house on his own.

He was left to fend for himself with only a monthly allowance from his aunt, Juliet, and her husband, Williams.

"Ah, today's my entrance exams," he said, quickly rushing into the bathroom.

On his way, he took a glance at his wall clock, ascertaining the current time.

It was still 6 in the morning, paving the way for Levi to ready himself and his materials for the exams. It was his only entrance into his first college.

"I have to make it in, or I'll be a lowlife who dropped out of school without even having any college experience," he continued, "I can't be that kind of person!!"

That was his eternal and sole resolve to complete his education, or at least, experience college for a few years. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and uncle of which his grandfather is late.

He thrusted himself into the bathroom, slammed the door, picked up his brush and toothpaste, and began brushing his teeth.

Through the mirror, his long brown hair revealed itself, flowing from his scalp down to his shoulders. His charming countenance was buried under the tattered face he put on.

His face was particularly dirty, filled with dark stains of dirt. He couldn't afford skin care products, while at the same time, purchasing his needs with the allowance he got.

But, luckily, after years of savings, he could afford the lowest-tier skin product in the market.

He quickly grabbed it and slabbed it onto his face. Carelessly, he rubbed his face, uncontrollably spreading on his face.

"I'm not good at skin care. Let me wash it off," he said, staring at himself through the mirror.

He dipped his head into a bucket filled with water, and magically, his face had transformed to become better than ever.

"This product does wonders," he ran off, to take a shower.

Water graciously fell on his body at the right temperature, something unachievable by many. It washed all his inequities off.

Moments later, Levi dashed out of the house, brimming with joy to attend the new academy. Words flowed out of his lips in happiness, and he proclaimed his endless joy.

But, was his joy truly endless?

He sang out songs of happiness, and he dashed and hopped to the venue, a large facility that stretched out to the sky. It was a large building compared to the skyscrapers in the estate.

Trees and colorful flowers placed at its entrance added an extra level of beauty to the building.

Levi walked up to it, already belittled by its immense height, and even breadth. He stared at it from a distance, overwhelmed by its beauty and size, although being tortured by the sun's heat.

"Why is it this hot?" He asked himself, extending the width of his collar, and fanning himself.

"Is it just me, or does everything seem like it's melting?" He said once again, fanning more profusely.

He looked around, and the buildings began disintegrating and melting down in size. Even the large building that overwhelmed him, was now merely half its original size.

It only took a few minutes until the voices of passersby and residents began resonating. Fire streamed out of houses, and most especially, pangs echoed in Levi's head and around his body.

"What's going on?" He asked himself confusingly.

Amidst his thoughts, and attempts to find shelter, the worst occurred - the sky turned dark red as though it was made of blood.

The color of the sky was most frightening, causing Levi to fall to the ground in fear.

Soon, the ground quaked, caving in homes, facilities, and buildings in general. The events occurred rapidly making it impossible for anyone to understand.

"First was the heat, melting, red sky, and now earthquake? What's this supposed to mean?"

He ran away, hyperventilating in surprise at the events that popped out like ants from an anthill. Reality soon made no meaning, and the entire world felt like a game.

He saw himself enclosed in a collapsing building, and bells rang in his head. It sounded like a cacophony, unorganized and unrelaxing.

"I knew something was wrong right from the start!!!" He screamed in fear, as he had been overwhelmed by the series of events.

But in a matter of seconds, he was transported to a white void, that stretched endlessly.