"Wake up, Grace!" Mom yelled from outside my bedroom door. "You're going to be late for school."
I didn't move. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. My body was heavy, I was running a very high temperature, and my head was pounding with every haphazard sound that occurred.
I thrust myself forward with all my might only to barely make it up.
"I don't feel well," I huffed out slowly, barely above a whisper. I closed my eyes before wiping the sweat from my forehead and rubbing it on my thin Superman sheets.
I heard Mom enter my room and the sudden coolness of her smooth hand on my forehead. It felt so good…
"Oh, honey. You're sick," she said soothingly. "You can't go to school today."
I know if I argue, I'll only make it worse for both of us so I replied with a simple, "OK." I lie back down and close my eyes, though only pretending to be happy to miss school.
"I've got to get to work," Mom said to me. "I'll call later. Just rest, sweetie."
I waited and listened very carefully for her to leave. The clanking of her heels echoed relentlessly in my mind. As the last lock on the door snapped in to activation, I threw myself off my bed., literally.
I let out a small moan of pain and frustration. I laid there for a small bit before using all my strength to stand. Even though my legs wobbled beneath me, I forced myself into the small, messy kitchen.
I carefully rummaged through the cabinets in search of Advil. It took longer than I would have wished to find them but I quickly gulped down three when I finally did.
I stood rooted to my spot for a second longer before returning to my small room. I had to grasp the walls for my lack of balance.
I immediately began to dig through my clothes when I reached my room. I ended up being dressed in my plain blue jeans and a random My Chemical Romance shirt. By the time I reached the bathroom, the Advil was only beginning to take effect.
I stumbled in towards the sink and turned on the faucet. I watched for a brief moment as the water spiraled down into the pipe before splashing my entire face.
The cool water was more than refreshing to my abnormally hot skin. The effect disappeared all to quickly for my taste. I repeated the process several times before deciding if I didn't leave soon, I'd be late to school. I sprinkled water on my face one last time before looking at my reflection in the mirror.
I looked completely horrid. My shoulder length, dark brown hair was a tangled mess, my dark honey brown eyes had bags beneath them, and despite my natural colorful skin, I was deathly pale.
I let out a sigh of disgust before going back into my room. I grabbed what ever was lying around that looked school-like and put it into my backpack.
I clumsily put on my converse, grabbed my ipod, cell, and some money, and threw them into my bag before heading out the front door.
I locked all the locks before beginning my four story descent down.
"Perfect attendance. Perfect attendance," I chanted to myself. It was a long way down.
I pushed myself through the crowd of people blocking my path to the subway. I'm usually not so pushy but my train leaves at exactly 7:25 and it's 7:23.
By the time I reached the platform, the doors were beginning to close. I raced with all my might, but the doors locked shut inches before my hand had even touched it.
Could this really be happening? Did I just race seven blocks from my apartment with a fever just to get to my train to take me to school, so I could maintain my perfect attendance record?
Not quite understanding what was happening, or maybe I just didn't care, I began banging at the door.
I didn't recognize half the curse words that were spilling from my mouth, but that didn't stop me from trying to rip the doors open. Even as the train began pulling out of the station, I raced after it.
People were staring and pointing at my like I was crazy but I continued to chased after that train anyways. I ran and ran even after the train wasn't in sight and I was so deep in the tunnel I couldn't see shit. I only stopped when I could no longer feel air entering my lungs.
I began to huff and puff like the first time I tried weed. Besides feeling light headed and dizzy, I fell to my knees, unable to recognize which way was up. Damn Advil!!
I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on breathing, but then I smelt it. Or better yet, them.
