Last normal day began just like every other day in the town of Havenridge.
It was already morning in the town of Havenridge and the sun is up, shining bright with a golden reflection towards the town. Normal life have already started, business women getting ready and children going to school.
Maya who is seventeen years old is already outside with her friend Lena and they felt is another Friday just like every other Friday.
The both of them have been good friends since from their primary schools. They studied together, shared secrets, argued over small things, and dreamed about what their lives would look like when they became adults.
That morning, Maya waited outside Lena's house.
"You're late again," Maya said when Lena finally came out.
"I was looking for my school shoes," Lena replied, laughing.
"You say that every time."
"And you still wait for me every time."
They both laughed as they walked to school.
Non of them knows that day would be the last day they will both pass through that road.
When they got to school everything was normal. There class teacher came in Mr. Colins and taught them mathematics. At the end of the class he gave them an assignment to do
During lunch, Lena suddenly became quiet.
"What's wrong?" Maya asked.
"I don't know," Lena said. "I just feel like something is going to happen."
Maya smiled. "You're thinking too much."
Lena looked at her for a moment.
"Promise me something."
"What?"
"If anything ever happens to me, don't forget me."
Maya laughed.
"Why would I forget you?"
"I don't know. Just promise."
Maya held out her little finger.
"I promise."
Lena locked her finger around Maya's.
"Promise."
After school have dismissed for the day, they both went to their favourite spot near the river and sat down. They started discussing about their future.
Lena wanted to become a doctor. Maya wanted to become a writer.
"We'll both become successful," Lena said.
"Definitely."
"And we'll buy houses next to each other."
"That's your plan?"
"Yes."
Maya laughed.
They stayed until the sun began to disappear.
Before they separated, Lena hugged Maya tightly.
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," Maya replied.
Those were the last words Maya heard from her.
That night, Maya slept peacefully.
The next morning Maya woke up feeling very happy and excited, she reached out to her phone to check her messages, if Lena sent something to her.
There was nothing from Lena.
Maya frowned.
She sent her a message.
Good morning. Are you awake?
No reply.
She called.
The phone rang once before the call ended.
Maya tried again.
This time, the number did not exist.
She thought it was a network problem.
After getting dressed, she went downstairs.
Her mother was preparing breakfast.
Maya said to her mom "Mom, do you know Lena's phone isn't working?"
Her mother looked confused.
"Lena who?"
Maya stopped.
"Lena. My best friend."
Her mother stared at her.
"I don't know anyone called Lena."
Maya laughed nervously.
"Mom, stop joking."
"I'm not joking."
Maya quickly went to her room, she picked up her phone from the bed to check her gallery.
She found pictures from school.
She found pictures of the park.
She found pictures of herself.
But Lena was missing from every photograph.
In one of the picture which Maya and learn took together, Maya was standing alone without Lena by her side.
Maya's heart began beating faster.
She ran out of the house and went straight to Lena's house.
When she arrived, an old man was standing at the gate.
"Excuse me," Maya said. "Does Lena live here?"
The man looked puzzled.
"No."
"She does. Her family has lived here for years."
"There has never been a Lena here."
Maya stepped backward.
"This isn't possible."
She ran to school.
When she arrived, she asked several students about Lena.
Nobody knew her.
She asked Mr. Collins.
He looked at the class register.
"There is no student by that name."
Maya felt tears fill her eyes.
"But she sat beside me yesterday."
Mr. Collins gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yesterday?"
"Yes."
He shook his head.
"Yesterday was Thursday. There was no Lena."
Maya ran to the river.
She sat beneath the same tree where they had talked the day before.
She cried until her eyes hurt.
Then she remembered something.
Their promise.
"If anything ever happens to me, don't forget me."
Maya whispered, "I didn't forget you."
She searched through her bag and found a small notebook. On the final page, written in Lena's handwriting, were six words:
You promised you wouldn't forget me.
Maya stared at the words.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
"Maya."
She turned around.
Nobody was there.
The wind moved gently through the trees.
She looked back at the notebook.
A new sentence was slowly appearing beneath the first one.
Tomorrow, they will forget you too.
Maya's hands began to shake.
She finally understood.
Lena had not disappeared.
She had been erased.
And whatever had erased her was coming for Maya next.
The sun began to set over the river.
Maya closed the notebook and stood up.
For the first time, she realized that the last normal day had already passed.
And tomorrow, the whole world might forget that she ever existed.