Chapter 0: Thirty-Seven

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37.

A number that means nothing in particular, for most. In elementary school, it's simply a stepping stone towards the next number, then the next, and it goes on. Or perhaps you say aloud the number during board games and family gatherings, or mumble it quietly while figuring out the answer to the last question on your math test. That's only a few examples of the many few times you get to see it.

What I'm trying to say is, the number 37 is incredibly far from being considered important.

But for 17-year-old Revea Rosenburg, it meant everything to her. In fact, in order to properly describe what kind of person she was, you need to stamp the two digits at least a dozen times over in your mind. It's a pattern imprinted all over her, and it wasn't by choice.

Let me explain.

When she was four, she was the 37th participant at her basketball camp tryouts.

When she was five, she would continue to wear a sticker with the number 37 on it.

When she was six, she had went shopping with her parents for the first time and the grand total of all the things she bought came to $37.

When she was seven, she collected 37 sea shells from what she didn't know would be her last trip outside of the country.

When she was ten, she would meet her best friend for years to come at a basketball tournament. Revea wore the number 3, and at the time, her friend wore the number 7. Her team won with 37 points.


When she was twelve, her mother was 37 before she passed away.

When she was twelve, it would only take 37 seconds for her to sleep.

When she was twelve, she would get a 37% on a test. Her teacher gave her more homework.



When she was fifteen, she would regularly have around 37 unread texts and missed calls.

When she was fifteen, her best friend meant everything to her. She would spend way more than 37 minutes every day with her. And that was deemed a lot.

When she was sixteen, she would beg and pray silently for at least 37 minutes with her best friend. Her best friend claimed she was getting busy.

When she was seventeen, she counted 37 steps from a stranger who was walking away from her.


When she was seventeen, it was March 7th. It was both the day when it all began, and the day she believed it could all end.


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