"I will give all of you your graded tests back now."

  The teacher gives everyone their finished test papers from last week back.

  Some students sigh, others are happy. Secretly praying I turn the page and look at my grade.

  I see I did good again, I know it's been going great lately, but you can never be too sure.

  The bell rings and with that announcing the long awaited end of a long and boring school day. Most people rush out of the classroom, while others take more time to organize their stuff and talk with each other about the weekend.

  As I inspect the returned test for things that I can do better next time, Becca suddenly slams her bag on the table next to me.

  "Hi Ash, I know you're, oh-so-busy with your school work. Buuuuuuuut, I would like it if our dear childhood friend would accompany us to do something fun."

  Peter appears next to her with a hopeful smile on his face.

  I shrug, these two... always like that. I smile back: "Sure I still have some time."

  "Yay!" Becca and Peter give each other a high five, like they just won something.

  I haven't spent as much time with them lately, so this might be the perfect time to spend some time together again.

  I wonder where they want to take me, but knowing them it might be one of those urban legend locations. Becca specifically has been more and more into the occult lately and Peter just follows her around.

  We put our books in our bags and leave the classroom through the loud and crowded hallways. Walk might not be the right word, it's more like taking a step, accidently bump into someone, apologize (or not) and repeat.

  When we are at a spot that's a bit quieter I ask: "So, what's the plan?".

  "Becca found a really fun urban legend. C'mon Bec, tell him."

  "Ever heard of the man that sells truths?"

  "Another urban legend investigation?"

  "Dude, just answer with yes or no."

  I shrug: "No, never heard of it."

  As we leave the building Becca starts telling us the story: "So there is this man, he's a bit strange. He always carries a very old tome and is dressed like some really old magician. Like stoneage type of old." She looks proud of herself.

  "I'm pretty sure they didn't have those back then."

  "Oh, don't be such a killjoy Ash."

  "Okay, okay, sorry. Please continue."

  Becca continues with Peter watching her with full content. "So this man sells truths. Meaning he makes people's wishes come true. Everyone can make one wish, it does have to be a bit realistic. So no wishing for more wishes. But of course, nothing comes for free, so he will take a small part of your lifespan. Most of the time it's a year."

  "Yes and you can find him in or around places with almost no to no other people." Peter quickly explains.

  Becca seems excited: "Jenny told me that she saw him!"

  "Jenny almost always tells nothing short of bullshit, she isn't a reliable source of information.

  Peter's face becomes serious: "This time, it seemed pretty legit."

  "So..." I ask: "Did she make a pact with this prehistorian?"

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  "No, she got scared and left."

  "Still sounds like bull, but sure let's go. I don't really want to go home yet anyway."

  And so we decide to go look for this man in the older part of the city.

  As we get behind the church into the more quiet part, almost all the shops here are closed.

  "Ah, I think that must be him!" Becca starts running towards an old rundown shop with Peter following suit.

  I walk behind them a bit slower, unsure where this age old guy must be.

  I still don't see him, am I just tired?

  As I get closer I still can't spot anyone, I take a good look around, but to no avail.

  "Here he is." Becca whispers excitedly."

  "Hello sir." Peter seems to greet this invisible stranger.

  I don't see him.

  Is this some kind of joke?

  I look again, but the only thing I see is Becca and Peter in a deep conversation with a wall.

  "Hey Ash, what would you wish for?" Becca asks as she turns around.

  "I don't know..." I whisper softly.

  "What about you Peter?"

  They continue their conversation.

  I start feeling dizzy.

  It feels like something is stuck in my throat.

  Then I start coughing uncontrollably.

  I remember the disappointed faces of people I know, they start asking me questions, like:

  Why are your grades so bad?

  You do awful. You will take the whole class down with you with these grades.

  I wished you'd become someone that doesn't do so bad at school. But this is... but you've definitely let me down there.

  Laughing

  My grades are bad, but thank God not so bad as Ash.

  More laughing

  I predict another bad report card for you in the future sir!

  And then there is my own disappointment.

  This deep dark place, one no one can see, hear or feel.

  Empty but also full of resentment towards myself.

  You're a disappointment!

  When am I not?

  You should try better!

  I've tried, but I just can't.

  Study harder!

  I don't sleep.

  Work harder!

  Should I even still care

  Until you finally get close to something even close to almost good.

  I will probably mess it up again.

  You have no talent and can only do terrible at school...

  Someone else should just take my place.

  Useless.

  If someone else would take my place, they would do so much better.

  I see the man in front of me, the man who sells truths.

  He looks old, but not centuries old. Dressed in some medieval clothes with a dusty tome in his right hand

  "So, are you sure?" He asks

  "Yes, I don't have another choice."

  Did I say that back then?

  "This truth you want is going to cost you something, but the look on your face says you already know."

  "Yes, a year of my life span right?"

  "Hmmmm, yes I usually do. But this time I will give you and only you a discount."

  There is something in the man's eyes, is it pity? Does he know something I don't?

  He clears his throat: "I will take one week of your lifespan. Since you're still so young."

  "Sir, why just a week?"

  The old magician shakes his head: "Do you want it or not?"

  "Ah yes I do!"

  "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Tomorrow you won't remember the transaction."

  "Yes, I know, thank you!"

  Did I really do that? I already changed my truth?

  Carefully and a bit shaky I look at my hand.

  Blood.

  So this is why he only wanted to take a week...

  "Becca, Peter, Don't do it!"

  Ash's body slumps forward, blood pouring out of his eyes, nose and mouth.

  Becca and Peter are shocked, but almost immediately called the ambulance.

  When the ambulance arrives about 4 minutes later, it's already far too late. Ash is long gone.

  The old man just watched, he couldn't do anything, but feel bad for the boy. Yet maybe he had given him just a bit more joy before his untimely death. He got his dearest wish after all. Ash had only sold his lifespan when there was nothing else he could do, he had almost given up.

  The old man had wanted to warn him, but as he is right now he is unable too. The old man is in-between of existing and not existing at all, he would be punished if he had told the truth.

  The other two fortunately weren't able to buy their truth yet, they took their time thinking it over. This did make the old man feel better.

  Something was off...

  The man checked his dusty tome.

  Something in the flow of time had changed.

  It's rather unfair.

  Peter and Becca would not be in the incident that would take place next week anymore.

  So unfair, but at the same time, lucky for them.

  Now that the old man had finished a job, he could rest for a while again. Maybe just a week, but to him it did not matter.

  One week later:

  It is quiet and everyone is dressed in black.

  It is not completely quiet, if you were to listen carefully. You could hear some people crying softly.

  There is a funeral.

  Becca and Peter are both attending for their best friend.

  Not knowing what to say to each other, they just stand there, in utter and total silence.

  There was an open coffin a little earlier. Without speaking, Becca and Peter could both agree that their friend did not look like himself anymore. His soul seemed to have been lost, in the fancy clothing and neatly done hair.

  Suddenly someone interrupts the silence with a phone playing the news a bit too loud.

  The news lady shares some horrible news:

  A school bus collided with a train.

  And 18 people have died.

  Becca and Peter look at each other, if Ash's funeral had not been today. Then they would probably have been on that bus.