comission for  _Yeetyeetskeet, who also wrote the story. Thank you
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When Astrid checked out the book “How to Center Your Reality: A Guide to Worldly Manipulation” from the school library, she knew she couldn’t just read it in her stuffy room on this clear spring day. Besides, Astrid had a habit of making a big thing out of any activity, so her choice to set up a picnic blanket and basket in the quad with her book felt right. The first chapters were difficult and confusing, so she skimmed to the incantations and directions, hoping to finally get some juice out of these esoteric texts. Astrid’s roommate Ingrid was on her way, approaching from behind in a casual manner, relaxed by the easy atmosphere of the greenspace.

As soon as Astrid’s eyes had poured over the first paragraph of directions, the powerful words it described swam through her head like a catchy song. The call, “Astrid! Look out!” came sharply from the direction of the sand volleyball court, but it didn’t register to the student, only causing her to raise her head just in time to see an inflated ball barreling towards her head at a rapid speed. The words dancing in her mind locked up in the fight-or-flight of it all, and her entire existence, in that moment, felt like it revolved around the position of this ball.