Chapter Three
Celeste told Carine and Morgan the incredulous story of how she woke up but could not move her physical body. She shared her most intimate thoughts of how she thought she died and how it impacted her at that moment. Just as she was about to share the best part, Carine chimes in sarcastically, “oh, sounds like a dream to me.”
“You don’t get it, Carine – annoyed at the sudden interruption. I am just getting to the good part.” Celeste continued to describe how she overheard laughter in the living room and watched the show’s finale. She could tell that Carine wanted to interrupt again, so she barreled on ahead, denying her the opportunity.
She told the two that she saw the end of the show and knew who the winners were. After which, she went back to her room and was able to wake up again. Then she paused for effect.
“So… you’re saying that you thought you died, traveled in time, saw the winners of the show, and somehow came back?” Carine snickered.
“Laugh all you want, Carine. But, I think that is what happened,” she said dejectedly. Silently, she began to doubt. Was it all a dream? Perhaps, Carine is right. It all sounds like nonsense anyway.
Just then, Morgan interrupts ‘well, the finale is about to begin. So I guess we’ll see.” He was so quiet up until that moment, the sisters almost forgot that he was even in the room. Celeste wondered what he thought of her at that moment. But quickly brushed off the thought to turn her attention to the television and the opening number of the finale.
All seemed going according to earlier predictions. The male soloist, Morgan’s favorite, gave his seemingly winning performance. Carine’s favorite female soloist also gave an equally stellar performance. While Celeste’s favorite group gave a surprisingly stellar performance. At the end of the group performance, both Carine and Morgan looked at Celeste in shocked surprise.
“Wait! Is this what you saw?” Carine and Morgan blurted in unison. “Yes! Exactly what I saw,” she said, also in shock and amazement at what was unfolding on the television. Then she braved, “do you want me to tell you again, who came first, second, and third?”
“Quick, before he makes the announcement! – Morgan shouted with his eyes wide open as if he had seen a ghost. Celeste then gave the winning order again as she had seen it earlier: the male soloist placed third, the female soloist second, and the group winning the title. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot…we argued about it,” she joked.
“I bet we did – her sister shaking her head in usual annoyance – what rubbish indeed!”. Celeste remembered thinking that it was such a great moment, but she kept that thought to herself.
“Oh, they’re about to announce the winners. I hope my guy still wins,” Morgan winced. The self-doubt was evident on his face as he turned his attention to the announcer. Carine kept true to her character, rolling her eyes at Celeste before averting her attention. While Celeste turned excitedly and a little terrified that what she saw was, in fact, about to come true.
The announcer made his way to center stage with the envelope. The three held their breaths as he announced the winners.
“In third place, major upset folks, the male soloist.” The collective boo from the audience was deafening. A stark contrast to the equally stunning silence in the living room. After several minutes, he was finally able to call the two remaining contestants to centerstage.
And the winner is… the audience, and the three watching in the living room gasped in unison.
“The Group Collective!” As soon as the winner is announced, Celeste screams, “It really happened!”
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