1 Prologue

My name is Ari Symone. Ever since I was twelve, I've been able to see timers on people's chests, close to their hearts. I have no idea what happens when the timer hits zero, but I've seen it happen before. The person's skin starts to glow a bit for a few seconds, and after that the timer shatters, a million pieces of light flying around.

I've been able to see my own timer as well. When I saw it, I thought nothing of it, as the numbers on it were high. That changed when I first experienced one running out, though.

My mom's timer had three days on it. It was the first timer I'd ever seen. Though I wasn't there when hers ran out, I had to live with the consequences. Even though she never really treated me as a mother should treat her child, it hurt me. Now, whenever those close to me have one that's about to end, I prepare myself for the damage it might do.

Luckily, I met my best friend Ezra not long after that. I was able to share my pain with him. Even though he had a loving family, and didn't have any experiences that would've made him able to relate to me, he acted more understanding than anyone else. He listened, no matter how much I cried. But most of all, he didn't treat me any different out of empathy, like most others did. I'm still thankful for that up to this day.

Ezra's timer is still intact. His numbers are just a few days higher than mine. It makes me more nervous than anything else. I haven't told him, or anyone else, about what I can see. I'm sure he'd think I'm joking, or lying, or insane. I'm not even sure of my sanity myself. Despite that, I hope he'll accompany me on my way to finding out what the timers mean. Why I can see them. What the consequences are. Even if he knows nothing.

But before I get to that, let me tell you about my twelfth birthday.