Confession

She's sitting on a bench next to the school gate waiting for you, you see her eyes sparkle when you finally enter her line of sight.

"Hey Penny sorry, I'm late." She pouts and hugs you, however with her size she's hugging your waist more than your chest.

"Don't make me wait the day of our date..." You pet her gently and she forgives you.

"Honey where are we going?" This time you're prepared, as you search for something in your bag's front pocket. It takes a while but you finally get two tickets that you show to Penny.

"An amusement park? Just for us! I'm so happy!" She looks really excited and you can't help but let a smile out while thinking about how cute she is.

You take the bus, and while you wait, you receive messages from Ashley, asking how the date is going, you tell her you're still moving and you also tell your mom you might be coming late tonight.

You finally arrive and after waiting in line for 10 minutes you're finally inside. You follow Penny as she jumps from one park attraction to another.

You finally take a break to buy some candy floss, you sit on a bench and enjoy the air around you.

"Thanks for going out with me today John. I know I was selfish but I really wanted us to spend some time together!" She finished her candy, she sits on your lap and she starts eating yours.

"That's okay Penny, I wouldn't have taken you out if I didn't want to." You look at her and you start feeling guilt again.

You wait in silence for a while... No! You're done being a coward, you're gonna own up to your problems, and it starts now.

"Penny, I have something important to tell you." She recognizes your somber tone and sits beside you, looking at you directly in the eyes. You can almost feel the air tense up as you feel a cool breeze caressing your face.

"You can tell me everything. I'll always be on your side." You take a deep breath as you ready yourself.

"I-I killed someone. Two people to be exact." You pause and you see the shock in her eyes, but true to her word, she waits for you to continue.

"First, my best friend got into an accident because of me two years ago and he's now in a vegetative state which he might never wake up from." You take some time to wait for her response.

"It was an accident right? That's the reason you visit the hospital every Sunday? Don't worry, I won't blame you when it isn't your fault." She starts leaning against you but you stop her.

"I don't deserve to be here, he should have taken my place..." She waits as you try to regain your calm. A minute later you continue.

"The second person that died because of me... is you." She looks at you with confusion, and she seems ready to call an ambulance.

"I-I mean the old you, I... I got hit by lightning almost two weeks ago now... and since then, I have this strange power. I didn't know at first and I spread a rumor about you." At this point you don't know if she thinks you're crazy and you're too scared to look at her but you continue, explaining to her that she previously was a boy and that she bullied you endlessly. You try to keep it brief but you explain to her that all of her feeling, her body, even her identity are all manufactured, that she wasn't even the same person last week.

Once you're done, you finally look at her but she's standing up with her back turned, as you can't see her face, you start getting anxious about what she's thinking about. She knows that you're a murderer now, you told her everything. She has the right to hate you but it still hurts way too much. At least there's this contradictory feeling of relief washing over your body. You're done now.

"Come with me." That is all you hear her say as she takes your hand and brings you to the Ferris wheel. You enter together and you start fidgeting. Maybe she's beat you up now that no one can intervene, you look down and try to do as if you weren't even here. After a minute or two, you feel her hands on your cheeks and you look up.

She's standing right in front of you with a kind smile, you must look very confused right now.

"John, I love you. I truly do." The sun rays light her face up in a very flattering way, she continues as you watch her enamored.

"I promise you John that whatever you think is happening, you're wrong. I don't know what my old me looked like but from what I hear he wasn't happier than I am." You try to interrupt but she puts a finger on your lips.

"I promise you that my feelings for you are real. I'm happy to spend everyday by your side and I find it horrifying that you're torturing yourself over my possible consent. I love you, the same way I love Ashley and the same way I love myself." You can see tears silently roll down her beautiful face.

"If you really think everything I feel is fake, that everything I lived through in the reality we do not share is false... I-I don't know how to convince you..." This time you interject:

"But Benjamin doesn't exist anymore! I killed someone I disliked! I replaced him!" She brings her mouth closer to yours.

"Don't let the dead dictate the life of the living." And before you know it she's kissing you, seemingly perfectly in time the setting sunset, as you arrive at the top of the Feris wheel.

You stay like this for a few minutes hugging and kissing lovingly and when you finally stop you're already at the base, the operator waiting for you to leave.

You accompany Penny back to her home while holding her hand.