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I stared at my bowl of Corn Flakes until they turned soggy and mushy. I could never eat much on a day like today. My nerves kept panging at my stomach and my leg was bouncing up and down at the kitchen table. Mum could tell my leg was twitching, because she spoke up with another of her usual quips.
“Geez, I think a t-rex escaped from Jurassic Park, I can see the tea in my cup rippling non-stop,” she said, raising her eyebrows at me.
I immediately forced my leg to stop twitching as she said those words.
“Sorry,” I said. “Just nerves.”
A loving smile crept across her face.
“I know, darling. Just trying to lighten the mood,” she said.
I huffed sarcastically. She wasn’t the one who had to go through this today.
I stood up from the table and dumped my bowl of cereal mush into the rubbish bin.
I couldn’t stop the feelings of guilt that were spiralling through my brain as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing my teeth. I was letting so many people down today. Mum told me to stop being so anxious about it, but I couldn’t help it. I checked the time on my phone. Almost go time.
“Sweetie, are you almost ready? We have to be there soon!” mum yelled from downstairs.
I spit into the sink and rinsed my toothbrush.
“Coming!” I replied.
I walked downstairs and grabbed my jacket off of the coat tree. Mum was waiting patiently by the door. After putting my jacket on, I then grabbed my sneakers and sat down on the bottom stair to put them on. Mum could obviously tell that I was taking my sweet time to tie them up; she let out a quiet sigh of frustration.
“Hurry up, or we are going to be late!” she said firmly.
“Ugh, please just kill me already!” I thought to myself.
She opened up the front door for me as I stood up, shoes tied. I went out the door first and she followed. As soon as I got into the car, I put on my seatbelt and then stuck my earphones into my ears, music at high volume.
“Oh what, you’re just going to listen to your music the whole time and not keep me company while I’m driving?” she said as she got into the drivers seat. I could barely hear her words. I just nodded slowly as I stared through my car door window into the cloudy sky. It looked like it was going to rain. That’s gonna suck for everyone.
The drive seemed like it was over in five minutes, even though it took almost a whole hour to get there. My favourite music gave me no comfort. I was just selecting a really good song on my playlist, when the car halted to a stop in the parking lot.
“We’re here dear,” mum said. “Earphones out, c’mon.”
I begrudgingly removed my earphones and shoved them into my pocket before undoing my seatbelt. I rested my head against the car window. I didn’t want to do this today. I didn’t want to go through with it at all.
“Hey, chin up darling!” mum said. “It will all be over soon!”
“Easy for YOU to say,” I thought.
We both got out of the car simultaneously and went inside the gloomy looking cement building we were parked in front of.
Once inside, I immediately found a place to sit and I buried my head in my arms. I stayed like that while mum talked to some people at the counter. Their voices were muffled, probably because I was making it so, with my head completely submerged in my muscular arms. God, people look up to me on a daily basis. I wonder what those people would think if they saw me right now, acting like a complete coward?
I decided to check my phone. No messages from ANY of my friends since yesterday. I felt all alone. Then, suddenly, I heard my name being called.
I looked at the room around me as I sat in the giant chair that was rigged with contraptions. The walls were a dull color, and brought no warmth into the room. I shuddered a bit and felt more pangs of guilt and anxiety surge through my body. I needed to distract myself from those feelings. So I pulled my phone out again and started scrolling through text messages from my friends. One message I scrolled past caught my attention, and I realized I hadn’t responded to it. The message read:
I just like him sooooo much!
I smiled slightly as I read the message. Perhaps this was the perfect time to respond to the message and give some worldly advice before doom struck me in ten minutes time.
I opened up the conversation bubble on my phone and started typing.
You know what? You should ask him out today. Just don’t even think about it, just go for it!
I felt satisfied with my message, and stared at it for a good minute before I lowered my hand and held my phone at my side. No sooner did I do that did my phone start pinging. I held it up and looked at the screen. They responded:
God, do you really think so?
I laughed. The anxiety and nerves seemed to be kept at bay as I typed another response to my friend.
Yeah. You only live once! I would maybe wait until after it’s over today, but yes. Definitely do it! Oh, and my name isn’t “God” LOL!
I sometimes say funny things. I like to think so.
My phone pinged again.
Ok. I will! I will let you know how it goes!
I was just about to reply again, when a voice sounded from behind me.
“Ok, time to get this going. I will have to take your phone away from you now.”
The figure approached me at my side and held out its hand. I slowly brought my hand over and placed the phone gently in the figures palm. I felt like I was letting go of my only lifeline.
“Right, everything is all set,” the figure said. “How are you feeling?”
I gulped loudly.
“Um, nervous… I guess? Kind of… scared,” I squeaked out.
The person chuckled softly.
“Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing, I promise.”
I smiled weakly.
“Well, AFTER the needle, of course,” the person continued.
I shuddered at those words. The person brought an instrument table over to my right side and I heard them clanking about with whatever was on it for a moment. I let out a huge exhale.
“Ok, close your eyes, and take a deep breath,” they said. I did so. “You are gonna feel a slight pinch…”
I don’t remember anything after that.
***
As my eyes slowly opened I felt relief, as I thought I would never wake up again. My eyes felt so heavy and my brain was all fuzzy. I slowly raised my head and all I felt was pain. So much pain. I winced as I sat up and tried to get a good look at my surroundings. I saw colourful posters on the walls. A huge pile of clothes was rumpled in one corner. I looked down and saw the grossly familiar burgundy coloured sheets beneath my body. I was in my room. Safe, in my room, at home!
I instinctively reached over to my bedside table, and lo and behold; my phone was there! I unlocked the screen and checked the time. It was well past nine o’clock in the evening, I must have slept for hours. I opened up my message app and saw that there was another new message there waiting for me. My head was still spinning, so I struggled really hard to read it. After a couple of tries, I made out the words:
Sooooo I asked him. And he said… YES! OMG I AM SO EXCITED! Thanks for the push!
I beamed down at my phone as I read the message. I started to laugh but then felt instant pain shoot through my entire head. I would have to deal with that sooner or later. I steadied my phone with both hands and typed out my reply.
YEAH! I am so happy for you, Imogen! That’s so great! How did the match go?
My phone pinged about five minutes later. I was almost drifting back to sleep as I waited for a response.
Thanks so much! Well, the boys lost HORRIBLY, Ms. Singh even had to cancel the match early due to the rain. But I still feel like a winner, haha!
How are you, Kieran? How was your wisdom tooth surgery???
I lowered my phone and touched my finger to my cheek, gently. More pain shot through my head. Goddamn wisdom teeth, why are they even a thing? Mum said it would have to happen eventually.
It was unavoidable.