By Liam McManaman, April 2017.<\/p>\n
Finn was enjoying another night at the beach with his friends trying to squeeze out the last bit of summer fun before he had to go back to high school. Being his senior year, this was his last summer before he would have to go to college and become a real adult. Finn was just like any other teenage boy in his town. Rebelling against his parents, working at the local golf course and not paying any attention to anything that wasn\u2019t a girl or sports related. His friends were exactly the same way. All of them grew up together, played on the same teams, and went to the same schools. Now here they were sitting on the hoods of their cars at the beach staring up at the stars, talking about anything and everything.<\/p>\n
Sitting on the hood of his friend\u2019s car Finn was in paradise. He was free to live in the moment and push away all his worries. But only for a fleeting moment. Suddenly, the sky was full of meteors. Not just one or two \u2013 it seemed like every star was shooting across the dark canvas above them. It was the most magnificent thing he had ever seen. As if the sky was the dark African savannah and the stars were stampeding across it. He was mesmerized by the sight of it. But, he noticed that no one was as taken aback by it as him. Finn thought nothing of it as he was fixated on the stars. Then a blinding white light shone down on him; it was like turning on the bathroom light in the middle of the night. It expanded until it was all encompassing. All Finn could see was white. He couldn\u2019t make a noise, couldn\u2019t make a move. The light had him in its grasp. Then it was gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid anyone just see that?\u201d Finn asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee what dude?\u201d his friends look at him with a puzzled look on their faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll those shooting stars and the white light, did you guys not see it?\u201d Finn was starting to feel as confused as his friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must have fallen asleep and had a dream man, cause everything has looked pretty normal.\u201d They all laughed it off and went back to talking about what everyone got up to during the summer.<\/p>\n
I must have fallen asleep. There\u2019s no way that could have happened without them seeing it, <\/em>Finn thought. Eventually he slipped back into banter and story telling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Finn woke up it seemed like what happened was more of a dream than anything else. Everything felt normal. He got up and sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes to rid himself of the early morning blurriness. Grabbing a t-shirt from the many that were scattered across his bedroom floor, he grudgingly making his way to the kitchen to make himself a bowl of cereal and some toast. His parents were away for the week on vacation with his younger brother. Finn decided not to go so he could spend as much time as possible with his friends before everyone inevitably split up after graduation. What he saw in the kitchen would turn his last year upside down.<\/p>\n Sitting there eating a bowl of cereal was a person that looked just like him. He had never screamed so loud in his life. The person sitting at the table returned the favour.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you? And what are you doing in my house?\u201d Finn said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, your house? This is my house. What are YOU doing here?\u201d the other boy replied, getting up and backing towards the sink.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Finn, I\u2019ve lived here my whole life.\u201d Finn also backed up towards the opposite side of the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, MY name is Finn. You couldn\u2019t have lived here your whole life, because I have!\u201d<\/p>\n The fear between them was slowly being replaced with curiosity. They both began to inch closer to each other with cautious steps. Recognizing the familiarity in both of their faces, they both touched the same scar on their cheek simultaneously.<\/p>\n \u201cHoly shit! You\u2019re me!\u201d Finn yelled in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re me!!\u201d the duplicate exclaimed, before silence fell over them.<\/p>\n Finn stepped back and pondered how this could have happened.\u2028Did the meteor shower and the white light actually happen? Maybe it had something to do with this. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re really me then tell me something that only I would know.\u201d Finn said, looking at his duplicate with suspicious eyes.<\/p>\n The duplicate paused for a moment. Trying to think of something that no one else could know, not even \u2018their\u2019 family.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep a box of love notes that I\u2019ve written for Betty Hutchinson since grade six in my closet, behind my hockey gear in a secret storage cupboard that only I have the key to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know that?\u201d Finn said, while his face turned bright pink.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I wrote them,\u201d said the duplicate, going equally pink.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess we are the same\u201d Finn muttered.<\/p>\n They both took a moment processing what just transpired. Suddenly Finn had a glimmer of an idea. It was a moment of realization that was only missing a lightbulb appearing above his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could be great.\u201d Finn said, pacing around the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could technically be in two places at once.\u201d He kept repeating, as he wandered around deep in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, how about one of us will go hang out with \u2018our\u2019 friends while the other does the chores around the house and goes to m\u2014 sorry, our job. Then we can alternate.\u201d Finn suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but what about when Mom and Dad come home? What will we do then?\u201d The duplicate replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll deal with that when the time comes. This way we can pick up more hours at work and still hang out with everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The duplicate looked at Finn for a moment and nodded his head in agreement.<\/p>\n That was the start of their week-long adventure. While one of them was at work the other would be out with friends or out on dates and they would switch the next day. Both would have memories of doing what the other did that day. No one suspected anything at all and they were both enjoying this last week of summer, until they realized it was Saturday and Mom and Dad would be home the next day. Finn and the duplicate were sitting in the kitchen trying to find a solution.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay so obviously both of us can\u2019t be here when Mom and Dad get back.\u201d Finn said, in a tone more tern than usual.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but then what are we going to do? This is my life,\u201d the duplicate replied.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my life too, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n The tension growing exponentially between them. The duplicate got up and leaned on the kitchen counter. Finn put down his glass of orange juice and went to go make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He always got hungry when he was stressed out.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t just leave. I remember growing up here. I remember all those nights I spent at the beach over the years and every single day that I had to sit in those boring classrooms,\u201d the duplicate said, trying to hide the anger in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cBut neither can I. I couldn\u2019t leave my family and friends behind. It\u2019s my senior year. This is supposed to be the most important year of my life,\u201d Finn said, growing increasingly more frustrated.<\/p>\n Out of the corner of his eye he saw the duplicate trying to hide one of the kitchen knives behind his wrist. Finn tightened his grip on the knife he was using to cut his sandwich in half. Trying to not give off any sign of suspicion. He looked over his shoulder again and noticed tears streaming down the duplicate\u2019s cheeks. But his heavy breathing wasn’t out of sadness.<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay man? We\u2019ll figure something out. Maybe Mom and Dad will understand.\u201d Finn said nervously.<\/p>\n \u201cWe both know that they won\u2019t,\u201d the duplicate said, taking a step towards Finn.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I guess one of us has to go,\u201d Finn said, all the happiness and joy leaving his voice, replaced by the seriousness of what was about to happen.<\/p>\n Then the duplicate lunged, knife in hand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"