A Twist in Time

A little hand grabs at a tall wooden shelf. It slaps down on the sturdy wood as the child stands on their tippy toes in order to reach the correct shelf. “Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time” mocks them from it’s place among the collection of VHS tapes.

I grab the plastic box and watch as the child’s hand swings down to their side. The short figure looks up at me, and my dark brown eyes meet…my dark brown eyes. Recognition flashes in both of our eyes as we realize that

I am them

and they are me.

I hand the VHS case down to them, and they pick at the yellow sticker on the case. It may be half-gone, but the sticker is hanging on by a thread. I pick at my nail beds as I watch them tuck their long brown hair behind their ear with one of their hands.

I take the case from their other hand and pop it open. The black square of the VHS tape stares back at me as I shove it into the player.

The sound of the movie playing follows me as I slump down onto the old couch facing the TV.

I wrinkle my noise as the smell of smoke hits me. I can’t say I miss the smell from Grandpa’s old couch. Mom never did get the smoke smell out. I think to myself.

The child that I was stares me down before walking over on the balls of their feet to sit besides me. Their feet swing where their legs hang off the couch as they look

from my bright purple hair

to my nostril piercing

to the forearm crutches I use beside me.

I smile awkwardly as I turn my head towards them. Cinderella and her prince move on the screen from the corner of my eye, but my gaze is on the curious eyes of the child next to me.

“No spoilers, kid.” I tell them as I ruffle their hair. Their eyebrows furrow and a magnificent frown twists their face. We both turn back to the movie playing out before us, and I can’t help the gentle smile on my face. They’ll make it to where I am, and just maybe, I can make it back to where they are, too.

This story is based on VHS #4life.