“How would you live if you realized you’ve got just two months left to live?”
…
~ Elizabeth ~
The day started with me having a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I simply shoved it off as probably pre-period cramps. After all… my period was coming up in a few days, so well… the symptoms were expected.
I got to school a little later than usual, thanks to how long it took me to drag myself from the bed to the bathroom. I was exhausted—unexpectedly. Probably because of the news I received yesterday, which I had kind of been expecting… but well… didn’t expect to receive so soon.
The temptation to sleep in was there, but I refused to succumb to it. Not only because I wasn’t the type to skip school, but also because exams were fast approaching. As a result, our teachers had been putting a lot of effort into doing some final revisions with us. So well… I had no excuse to perform poorly, especially with the amount of dedication they were putting in.
The hallways were mostly deserted, as most students were already in class, so I simply walked briskly to my first class of the day—Biology.
I got in and wasn’t surprised to see everyone already in their lab coats, surgical masks, and gloves. We were going to be dissecting little mice, and as a result, we had to take all the necessary precautions.
I walked to the back seat with my ball pen and jotter. By now, I was already in my lab coat with a slightly uncomfortable mask strapped to my ears. Since it was Biology… and we might be asked to look deeper into specimens… I had my reading glasses on too.
Soon, our Biology teacher walked in and began to divide us into groups of five. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any weirder, I was placed in a group consisting of Patrick, Evelyn, Rose, and Sarah. Why does this feel almost intentional?
Either way, we were able to do the dissection without interacting much—there wasn’t really any need to. Everyone was good at their job.
That was until the scalpel accidentally cut Patrick, and he let out an “Ouch.” I watched the blood flow freely from his finger, and I suddenly became frozen in place, unable to move, while Sarah quickly sprang into action. She dipped a clean cotton wool into iodine and pressed it on the cut, making him hiss through his teeth, “Sisss…”
The practical continued as normal after that, but I was still left shaken by the incident. We had just finished the dissection and were about to turn in our results when he suddenly looked at me—and our eyes met.
I froze, startled by the intensity in his gaze.
…
Leisure time arrived quicker than usual today, and I found myself walking toward the cafeteria instead of the library.
After being caught by Patrick the other day, I kind of started feeling convicted about having my lunch there. Yes, he hadn’t reported me. But what if it were someone else? Would they have been that forgiving?
Or more importantly… what if he was actually just waiting for the right time to report me? When I had no way of escaping punishment, no matter how hard I tried? What if that’s really the case?
After scanning through the cafeteria, I found an empty seat at the farthest corner and had my lunch—a Chicken Sandwich and yoghurt, which Mom had surprisingly made before I woke up.
She didn’t say what the occasion was, and I didn’t bother asking. I simply assumed she just wanted to surprise me. That’s what mothers do, right?
I had just taken the last sip of my yoghurt when the fire alarm suddenly rang out in the building, and I looked up, alarmed—along with everyone else.
“Fire!” someone screamed. And as if on cue… I started to smell something burning.
“There’s a fire!” another voice shouted. I grabbed my things and joined the others who were now crowding around the exit. I stood there among them, unsure of what to do.
Is this what they call shock paralysis? That moment when people are unable to act immediately after sensing danger?
“Students! Exit the building now!” the principal’s voice rang out through the speakers, jolting us into action.
We all rushed out of the cafeteria—somewhat orderly, somewhat frantic. It seemed like we all finally grasped the seriousness of the situation once the principal confirmed it.
For some reason, I didn’t understand… I ran toward my locker, grabbed my journal and the teddy bear Eliezer had once gifted me—which I took everywhere—and shoved them into my backpack before hurrying after the others.
We were outside in no time. Looking up, I saw smoke billowing from the building. I wondered if the fire department had been called.
Students, teachers, and other staff members spilled out of the building—some with their belongings, others with nothing at all. After all, life is more important, isn’t it?
As I stood there, watching the chaos unfold… I suddenly remembered—Patrick.
Yes, Patrick. Where is he?
“Have you seen Patrick?” I asked the younger girl beside me. She shook her head.
I looked around, scanning familiar and unfamiliar faces… searching…
“Where’s Patrick?” I finally spotted Sarah and grabbed her—much to both of our surprise. “Have you seen Patrick?” I asked again, more urgently this time.
She shook her head, and that’s when I knew something was wrong. So wrong.
I asked ten more people. No one had seen him. That’s when I concluded he was still inside.
But where?
I turned and ran toward the entrance of the building, but someone pulled me back immediately.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going, Beth?” It was Evie, her voice sharp and serious.
“Inside…” To find Patrick, I added in my head, not daring to say it out loud. But staring into her eyes, I realized it was pointless. She knew.
“No! Don’t go! He’ll be fine,” she said, gripping my arm tightly, trying to reason with me.
But if she thought that would stop me, she was wrong. So wrong.
“I need to!”
“For Patrick?” she asked, holding on even tighter, her voice now pleading. “He doesn’t care about you, Beth. So why do you care so much? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
Yes. Yes, I was. Crazy. Super crazy.
Her words, though logical, didn’t break my resolve.
The only thing I knew in that moment was—I had to get in there, no matter what.
“I’m sorry. Hold this for me.” I shoved my bag into her hands, pulled away from her grip—and ran.
Into the now blazing building.
I didn’t care.
I was off to save my Patrick.
And I would do just that.
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A/N: What do you guys think of the chapter?