Death's Pond

February of 2021

This is the second time it's snowed in my life so far. The news said it won't just snow, the pipes will freeze, roads will ice over, and businesses are sure to be closed until further notice. Yesterday and today the roads weren't much of a threat to drive so people could afford to go to work, hopefully without running into some black ice. My manger gave me a call and asked if I wanted to work I decided why not, I could always use the money. My mom was a bit worried about dropping me off today, until I mentioned that Andy would be closing with me. We agreed that she would pick me up after my shift ends. If by any chance mom isn't there 10 minutes after Andy and I call or text, go to Andy's house. She's the only person mom trusts enough with my safety.

Mom has always been overprotective of me. It doesn't help that we don't have family in the area where we live, along with the fact that I downed in our backyard pond on move- in-day at age five. Luckily mom knew CPR and resuscitated me, once I could breath normally she took me to the hospital immediately. After the doctor made sure I wasn't in any kind of danger of dry drowning, she insisted that I stay overnight for observation. The doctor looked like she saw a ghost when mom told her which pond I had drowned in.

Later that night I heard some of the nurses gossiping about me. What I mainly heard was, "that poor girl, so young" and "her poor mother will be devastated". I was too young to understand what those nurses meant that. Sleep eventually took over me, by the time I woke up mom was there signing the discharge papers. All the nurses who knew along with the doctor looked at me with worry filling their eyes. I never really found out why they looked at me like that, like I was cursed.

That was until I went to school that Fall and had to tell the class where I was currently living. I saw the same look in all the teachers eyes that day too, all of the children looked at me like I was some kind of freak. By the end of the day I was already given a nickname, "Pond Girl" and everyone treated me like I was sick.

On the second day I asked my teacher why everyone called me that. He said there's an old story about the pond that parents tell their children to keep them away. When I asked what's the pond called, he had the same look from yesterday flashed in his eyes before he responded, "Death's Pond". I had more questions and he responded as best as he could, there's supposedly a curse on it, if anyone were to go to the pond and not die from drowning they would die soon after. I went home and told mom everything about school and the supposed curse of the pond that day. She said not to mind it and everyone will see it's just a silly fairy tale.

The bullying didn't even take a week to get started. After I told mom what was being said about me and the way I was treated by the other kids at school. She called my teacher and demanded that something be down about it. That just made things worse for my school life, the kids decided to be sneaky. I occasionally got hit by some of them and the rest treated me the same as the first day.

When I told mom things only got worse, she decided to look into and later enrolled me into martial arts for self defense. I asked why couldn't just stay home where it's safe. Mom said she couldn't look after me due to her job, even though she was working from home. I tried to protest some more she said I had to stand up for myself and that it would eventually stop.

The bullying never did stop, not even now. It's been over 10 years since mom and I moved here. People still call me "Pond Girl" and their parents or older people in general call me curse or witch. It doesn't matter to me anymore, I've gotten used to it. It helps that I at least have one friend who knows about the story and is still my friend to this day.

Andy and her family moved here before middle school started. When the home room teacher announced we had a new student she decided to do an introduction game for everyone. Which was more for the home room teacher than us students. Due to the fact she was new while all of us student had at least been in two classes with each other before now. Andy and I were the last ones, sadly she was first. When everyone in the case found out she's Hispanic I could see the target being drawn her back.

During lunch Andy had the hardest time finding a table to sit at. I noticed right away and called to her to follow me, she didn't hesitate coming to an empty table with me. While we ate our lunches I warned of the trouble she may get for being here. I also mentioned that the reason why no one comes near me is because of "Death's Pond". Andy had her own questions which I answered gladly, it was nice talking to someone else in person besides my mom.

One of the questions Andy asked me was the locations of the rooms for the rest of the day. I saw that her and I had the same classes, we walked together in between classes for the rest of the day. By the end of the time school was done Andy wanted to know my home phone number. When I asked why, she said "You're the only person who's been nice to me, I'd like to be your friend". That was the beginning of our friendship that has lasted until today.

When we both graduated high school together and went to work at a local coffee shop during our summer as 18 year old's. We have plans of moving to the city, go to college, become roommates, and having part time jobs to help with the payments of being independent.

Present time

By the time 8pm comes around the store is already closed, Andy and I started cleaning and preparing for tomorrow like any other closing shift. I texted mom to pick me up in an hour, by the time Andy and I were done with everything I checked my phone still no answer. I tried calling her as well and it went straight to voicemail. After letting Andy know what's going on she says we could wait in her car until I get a hold of my mom. While waiting in her car I tried calling again, after 5 minutes pass and Andy's car is already heated up. We decide to chill at her place for the time being, I send my mom another text and a voicemail for good measure.

While waiting for my mom at Andy's place, her family insisted for me to have dinner with them. Her parents have seen me as a part of the family since the first time I met them. I always felt like Andy's house was my true home, it was always felt warm from the love of her parents to her twin brothers. Whenever I stayed at Andy's house I felt my heart lighten from the daily struggles. It was the only place where I could actually smile and feel it reach my eyes.

Still waiting for my mom at Andy's house, I was constantly checking my phone for any kind of sign that my mom had gotten either my texts or voicemails. I even sent her an email for good measure, in case she was on the call with someone. After Andy and I were done with the dishes that I heard loud knocking at the door. Mom was finally here to pick me up, 2 hours late. She was of course frantic when Andy's dad opened the door, then relieved to see I was still alive. Mom apologized to Andy's family for banging on the door like a crazy person. After that her and I said goodbye to Andy's family, got into the warm car that mom left running.

The drive back home would normally take about 30 minutes on a good day, now it seems like it'll take about 45 minutes at this point if I'm lucky. The silence only made it worse between mom and I. The wind was howling hard around us, it was my mom who decided to speak first, "Look I know I overreacted at Andy's house just now. I was really worried about you when I saw that the store was closed and my phone wasn't working properly. When I couldn't get a hold of you my mind went to the worst case scenario". Mom takes a deep breath before finishing her train of thought, "I'm very glad that you're ok and I'm grateful that Andy's parents kept you safe and warm."

I try not to roll my eyes at hearing that explanation yet again, "It's ok, I figured you were busy with work or something." Shrugging my shoulders I say to mom with a slight bitterness in my tone. "Lydia, you know it's not easy for me to work from home with this storm", mom says trying to match my bitter tone. I hate it when she tries to use her job against me. "I know mom, it's been hard for you ever since we moved here", I don't even try to hide the annoyance in my voice now.

"I didn't tell you to get a job when you turned 18 Lydia, I wanted you to possibly make more friends and enjoy your time while you can", mom says trying to defend herself. "You know I don't like people mom, the reason why Andy and I first started talking was due to the fact she was bullied like me. If she had been a local kid and not moved here like us I don't think even her and I would've been friends. Remember what the kids used to call me when they found out where we live? I still get called that to this day, I'm incredibly lucky that Andy is still my friend."

I try not to let the memories of when I was a kid flood my mind, I start to fiddle with my finger tips to prevent myself from biting them. Mom sees me doing that from the corner of her eye, "I didn't mean to upset you, Lydia. I actually really wanted you to stay home today, the storm hit this town out of nowhere. The news said it's only going to get worse", mom says with worry in her voice. She knowns better than anyone else that I've been suffering with anxiety for years now.

"Even if I stayed at home with you. What would you have done? You're always working in your office, I've learned to cook for both of us, plus I wanted to hang out with Andy today. Even if it meant we had to work a closing shift together. I was actually glad to have had dinner at her family's house", my tone changed from bitter to angry. I started to take some deep breathes to calm my nerves before saying another words.

"I'm actually taking some time off due to the storm. I thought it would be good for us to spend some time together", mom says with a slight hitch in her voice. "Ok, so what do you have planned? Our options are very limited at the time", I say with a level voice. "I was thinking maybe we could make some hot chocolate and watch a movie or 2. I know you're an adult now, I know I haven't always been there for you due to work. Can you at least give me some time before you go out there and make your mark on the world", mom says with hope both in her eyes. I heard her voice slightly breaking at the end. My eyes widen as I realize she's really trying to connect with me now after all this time. I noticed her outstretched hand silently reaching and asking for mine in return. Taking her hand in mine, mom gives me a slight squeeze and I return it.

"Mom I'm in no position to leave any time soon, I'll at least need another 2 years and I'm still thinking about college", I say trying to lighten the mood with a slight smile. Mom takes her watery eyes away from the road to look at me and say, "I love you so very much Lydia." A few tears escape her eyes as she smiles at me. "I know mom, I love you too", I say trying not to choke up or cry either.

I break eye contact first to look at the road, that's when I saw we were about to hit someone. "Mom look out!!", I say while pointing my other hand at the road. She lets go of my hand, hits the brakes hard, and tries to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting the person in front of us. The car is spinning uncontrollably, the tires are screeching, and the wind roaring in my ears. I can barely see anything outside the window now, my body braces itself for impact. My mind is racing with worst case scenarios. Then I see we're about to hit something dark and thick, in a mere matter of seconds.

It feels like I'm slowly falling asleep, darkness clouds my vision and other senses, while silence screams in me ears. If I'm being honest it kind of feels nice, no more depression, anxiety, just peaceful nothingness.

There's no strength left in my body to move even if I wanted to, my mind is void of all thoughts. The coldness is seeping into my bones and I let it happen, I'm exhausted of fighting it. I don't see any reason for me to keep on living anymore. My future doesn't matter anymore, along with the plans I made with Andy. I've finally come to accept that nothing really matters.

Maybe I really am cursed, ever since I drowned in that pond there's been nothing but pain in my life. I remember the feeling of the water that day so clearly. I always thought it was strange how even on a hot summer day the water was still freezing cold.

Wait a minute, how did I get out of the pond anyways? I had never really thought of it before. Memories of me trying to call for mom to come save me whenever my head was above the water come flooding back. Then as I was slowly sinking to the bottom, my lungs filled with water, the sun dissipating from my view. Even I knew then that I was going to die and there was nothing that could be done about it. That's when someone took my hand in the sinking darkness of the pond, someone with a small hand like my own.

Now that I think about it, it was as if I was being lifted to the surface by some unknown force. Whatever it was, it had blue eyes. The deepest of blue, like in the middle of the ocean. Those eyes, they were filled with so much pain and sorrow, I could feel it in my bones.

I think I remember calling whatever it was Pond Boy at first, then D later on. I remember now, they're the reason why they call it Death's Pond. That's how they got their name. Due to the fact that anybody or animal who went to the pond and touched it would died; either by drowning or some kind of complication from it. The longest anyone had survived who went to the pond and was 24 hours, aside from myself. Which is more than I've been alive since.

Memories of being discharged from the hospital started flooding my mind as well. Mom and I spent our first night on her bed, we cuddled until sleep took us over. That night was the first night I dreamed of the pond. It felt like it was calling out to me, yearning for my company. When I finally made it, D was waiting for me at it's edge.

Based on D's appearance, I couldn't tell what gender they were at the time. They said they didn't exactly have a gender and yet they can take on the appearance of both at the same time. D mainly took on a male's look and said that their pronouns were they/them. They had a lot of questions about myself, my mom, family, and the world beyond the pond. That was the first night we talked. We kept on talking for hours, eventually D told me to go back to bed and meet them here again tomorrow night before the sun rose. Before leaving the pond I made a long forgotten promise to D.

From that day onward I would visit D at the pound at night and draw them during the day. Eventually mom took notice of my drawing along with the fact that the doors were always unlocked in the morning. Of course she got worried and asked me a few questions. Specifically about what I'm doing, where I'm going at night, and who I was drawing. After I answered her questions, she decided to tie a bell around my ankle to keep track of my sleepwalking.

Mom also got a security system to alert her if I went outside again. She started looking into counselling for me and booked me a couple of sessions. I was later prescribed some medicine to help with the sleepwalking. The medicine worked really we, I started seeing less and less of D. It didn't take long until I didn't see him at all anymore. I remember one year I was doing some spring cleaning and ended up boxing everything that was tied to D away.

I haven't thought of D for years, why am I thinking of them now? Maybe I'm dying. What if your life flashing before your eyes when you die is actually true? I'm not sure what is going on and I don't really care to find out. All I know is that the coldness from the pond is consuming me whole. I'm barely able to breath. Whatever is going on now I don't really think I can survive it. I'm content with that, I'm just so exhausted of everything.

My body feels like its being held, not knowing who it is would've scared me before. I don't really care who's carrying me or what they plan to do. I just don't care anymore. What more can be done to me that hasn't already been done by now?

The sensation of me being carried is slowly disappearing, I can feel my body being lowered down. A feeling of nostalgia creeps inside of me. I've felt this way before. My consciousness is calling out to my old imaginary friend who is also said to be the entity of Death's Pond, "D? D...is that you?" I ask, my voice barely loud enough for a whisper. An ice cold hand takes mine, "I'm here Lydia, you aren't alone". Even though I had forgotten their voice with both my mind and ears, my heart didn't.

"Where am I D?", I ask. "You're in my pond Lydia", D says in their soft welcoming voice like before. "Why did you stop coming", they ask with sorrow lacing their voice. "I waited for you, for so many years. Why didn't you ever come back", this time their voice was filled with bitterness. D was upset that I didn't honor our promise that we made on the first night we met.

D's words cut down to my heart and soul. I feel their pain of loneliness, of being forgotten, of being betrayed. The feeling of being an outsiders in your own town. "I'm so sorry D, you were my first friend, and I forgot all about you", I say with tears leaving my closed eye lids.

"I'm not mad at you Lydia", D says while cupping my cheek with one hand. "I really missed you, I just need to know why you left me all alone", D's voice breaks while saying this. My heart feels like its been waiting to break for the longest time and now it's shattered.

"I thought you weren't real, my counsellor told me you were my imaginary friend. People in this town accused me of being a witch and said I was cursed", I said barely conscious enough to speak. "I just wanted to be happy and I was told that you were the reason why everyone treated me badly", my tears continued to fall.

"That doesn't matter, because you are real and I did the same to you that was done to me. Which isn't right and for that...I am so very sorry D", I say sincerely.

"Lydia...I had no idea that was happening to you", D said with the same soft voice. "When I saw you drowning that day calling out for your mommy. I felt your pain and panic as if it was my own. All I've ever known before you is this pond", it sounded like D had to pause to collect himself. "I was alone for so long until we met. I just wanted someone to talk to, a friend...you", there was a hitch in D's voice at the end. It felt like a rain drop hit my cheek.

I could feel a slight warmth touching my forehead, I could feel D trying to share his thoughts and feeling with me again. As kids, whenever we didn't know the words to express our feeling we would touch foreheads and share what we couldn't say. I was usually the one sharing with D, this time it was D who was sharing with me. I saw their whole life in my mind, I felt their loneliness, pain, and anger. That was until the day they met me. Seeing myself through D's eye was their happiest time in a long life of solitude. I felt only love in the memories with me in them. By the time they moved away, I could D's tears colliding with my own.

Before D could move another inch, I take one last deep breath and used what little strength I had left in my body to hold them tight. "I love you D, I always have, always will; I'll never leave me you again", I say with every fiber of my being.

My eyes open just enough to see his, they're still the same blue I remember. I smile up at D with an outstretched hand trying to cup his cheek. Even though my body should be freezing, I've never felt warmth like this before. My eyes close almost as fast as they opened. All the strength that was left in my body is gone, I can't even breath anymore. If this is actually death, then it's peaceful.

"Lydia, Lydia...Please come back to me?", I hear D calling to me again. Everything is shrouded in darkness, yet I don't feel alone anymore. For the first time in my life, I feel free. There's a sensation of a hand holding my own, "Lydia, please open your eyes. I'm right here and I'm not ever letting you go again", the hand that's being held receives a strong squeeze.

My eyes open to look back into D's, I can see them more clearly now than ever before. That's when I look around to see that we're currently on the pond, it's been frozen solid. D was the one that picked me up and brought me here, I look back at my lifeless body. There's blood all around my head that out stretches to the tips of my fingers. It looks like my blood is taking on the shape of red wings.

I looked back at D and asked, "What do we do now?" They smiled and said, "Whatever we want Lydia. I'd be happy just to spend the rest of however long I have here with you." A smile reaches my lips while I squeeze their hand in return, "I'd love that too D."