It's been almost a week since the start of the radiant light illuminating the entire world. The once ordinary night sky now perpetually glowed with an ethereal brilliance, casting an unusual but strangely comforting light over everything.
I sat on the couch, glued to the television, watching as scientists, theorists, and religious leaders tried to make sense of the inexplicable phenomenon.
The TV flickered as a scientist, a middle-aged woman with thick glasses and an earnest expression, spoke into the microphone.
"We still don't have a definitive explanation for the radiant light. Our best hypothesis suggests a unique atmospheric event, but the scale and persistence of this illumination are unprecedented."
The screen cut to another scientist, this one younger and more animated. "What's equally puzzling is the sudden rise in cases where people report their bodies heating up and their eyes and veins glowing. We are conducting extensive research to understand these physiological changes."
The broadcast switched to a segment featuring a group of theorists. One, an elderly man with a long white beard, proclaimed, "Humanity has reached a pivotal point. This light signifies our evolution into a higher state of being."
Another theorist, a woman with sharp features and intense eyes, countered, "Or it could be a signal of something more sinister. Perhaps we've tampered too much with nature, and now we're facing the consequences."
Then came the religious groups. A fervent preacher, waving a Bible, shouted, "This is the end of days! The Lord's judgment is upon us! Repent, for the end is near!"
I shook my head, trying to digest the deluge of conflicting theories and beliefs. None of it seemed real. As I gazed outside, the world looked like it was bathed in perpetual daylight, even though the clock read a quarter to eight.
My mom still hadn't come home from work, which was convenient since my body was still recovering from the fight. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was fundamentally changing within me. My recovery rate was astonishingly fast, and that only fueled my curiosity.
Was this rapid healing a side effect of what I had experienced? I had started calling it my "awakening." My body heating up, my veins and eyes glowing—it was all part of something bigger, something extraordinary.
Excitement bubbled up inside me as I contemplated the endless possibilities. What if I developed superpowers? What if I had abilities beyond my wildest dreams?
Driven by this thought, I stood up and went to the mirror. I looked at my reflection, moving my hands towards my eyes and striking a few dramatic poses, feeling like a character straight out of an anime.
"Superpower awaken!" I shouted, feeling a surge of adrenaline.
Nothing happened. I stared at my reflection, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. "Fuck. What am I doing? This is embarrassing," I muttered, shaking my head.
I decided to distract myself by grabbing some food. I went to the kitchen, but to my dismay, the cupboards were bare.
Great. I sighed. It was time to go shopping.
Grabbing the food money, I headed outside and waited for a cab. The radiant light made it feel like midday, even though it was well into the evening. The cab ride was uneventful, and soon I arrived at the market.
I started walking down the aisles, picking up the essentials. As I was filling my cart, a sign caught my eye:
BUY 5 KILOS OF MEAT TO GET 1 KILO MORE!
My eyes widened with excitement. "This is a steal!" I am already imagining the delicious meals I could cook.
I hurried over to the meat section and started piling different kinds of meat into my cart. Just as I reached for the last package, it wouldn't budge. Another hand was gripping it tightly. I looked up, and my heart sank. It was Marco, and his face was fuming.
"Hey bitch, what do you think you're doing?" Marco snarled.
"G-getting this meat," I stammered.
"Let go, bitch, or else—"
Before Marco could finish his threat, a sharp smack echoed through the aisle. Sheila stood behind him, her expression stern.
"Hey brat, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded.
"What!? I got this meat first, and this fucktard wouldn't let go," Marco protested.
"Ugh, I apologize, Alex. Let go of it, Marco," Sheila ordered.
Marco released his grip, and I took the meat, feeling his gaze like daggers on my back. Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. An earthquake.
The shelves rattled, products fell to the floor, and the lights flickered before going out completely. I quickly dropped to the ground, crouching beside my cart to avoid falling objects. The tremors were intense, but the building held together.
People screamed and panicked, but I stayed in my spot, covering my head with my arms. After what felt like an eternity, the shaking stopped. Slowly, I stood up, my legs trembling.
Sheila's voice broke through the chaos. "Alex, are you okay? Come with us. We need to get outside."
I followed her and Marco, weaving through the scattered debris and terrified shoppers. Sheila assured me we'd be okay, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the pandemonium around us.
When we finally made it outside, the scene was chaotic. Fires had broken out, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky. People were running, shouting, and crying, trying to find safety.
The once orderly market was now a scene of utter devastation. Cars were overturned, windows shattered, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of smoke and burning rubber. I could barely hear myself think over the cacophony of alarms and sirens.
My mind raced back to my mom. "Mom," I whispered, a feeling of dread settling in my stomach.
I needed to find her, to make sure she was safe. Sheila's presence was reassuring, but my thoughts were consumed by worry. What if something had happened to her? The radiant light, the earthquake, the chaos—it all felt like the beginning of something much bigger, something I wasn't ready for.
But ready or not, I had to face it. My mom needed me, and I needed answers. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for whatever was to come. This was just the beginning.