Buttons.

The first thing I noticed was my room. I knew things were different as soon as I woke up. The blankets were softer on my face and they weren’t scratchy or woolen like the ones in my old room. I sat up slowly, not sure if I were dreaming. Golden birds that made tinkering noises as they moved flew and perched on the side of the bed.

“Good morning, Lucy! We missed you, Lucy!” They chirped, all gleaming with gold. I couldn’t help but smile brightly. They were like pieces of a dream I had had as a child. More toys climbed out of a toy box, little cars, dancing dolls, stuffed animals that could fly or were on wheels. They all piled onto my bed, greeting me with good-mornings and kisses and hugs. I giggled like a little girl, this was so surreal.

I must be dreaming. I thought as the toys flew about my room, spelling my name and chirping and tweeting and giggling like I was. I got out of bed slowly and moved towards my closet, opening the doors slowly as well. I was afraid that if I moved too fast I would wake up and everything would be as it was before.

The clothes were spectacular. Everything I had ever dreamed of owning was sitting right here in front of me. The colors were so vibrant and rich I knew it just had to be a dream. I reached out gingerly, touching the clothes hesitantly. They were soft underneath my hands, softer and silkier than anything I had ever worn back home. I pulled out a dress that seemed to glitter with stars and I couldn’t help but beam. It was beautiful.

“Put it on Lucy! We want to see you in it, Lucy!” The birds chirped again and I giggled, feeling like a princess out of a Disney movie.

“Alright,” I told them before taking off my pajamas and slipping the dress on. It fell over my shoulders and down to my knees, a simple but beautiful dress that I could only dream up.
The golden, mechanical birds chirped with delight, flitting over to me and quickly braiding my hair, surprisingly gentle for metal birds.

“Breakfast, Lucy!” My mother’s voice called from down the hall, and I grinned widely. My mother was here as well! This was perfect. I didn’t want to wake up. I left the bedroom and the birds, running down the hall to greet her and see if she was as excited about this new, perfect world as I was.

I’m so glad she’s here. I don’t know what I would do without her. I thought happily, making my way down the stairs. My mother was my best friend; I told her everything and she always listened. If she wasn’t here, this world wouldn’t be perfect.

I skipped down the stairs into the kitchen to see her back towards me, humming as she cooked something that smelled delicious.

“What’s for breakfast?” I asked, sitting down at the familiar wooden table that I had grown up with. My fingers began tracing the well-known patterns that the wood created, my eyes following them.

“Your favorite, bacon and eggs.” My mother said, placing the plate in front of me. I smiled brightly, turning my head to look up at her. I jumped, startled by her face.

Her warm smile was still the same, the same freckles on her nose, the same dark hair framing it. But her eyes were gone. In their places were…black buttons.

“Wh-who are you?” I demanded, keeping eye contact, half out of courage, half out of fear.

“Lucy, I am your other mother. We’re so glad to have you home again.” She said, and with her words I could hear a distinctive click that rang throughout the house. It was the sound of a door locking.

“This isn’t my home!”

“Oh, but it will be. Just relax and it will all be over soon.” She said, her right hand reaching out and gently cradling my face, her left hand coming towards me with a sharp, glinting needle.

“So sharp you won’t feel a thing…”