A week later.
Something brushed against my foot, but I remained numb.
Then I felt a soft touch on my leg.
His hand had rested on my shoulder which made me come back to reality when his soft voice called me.
- Emma, my darling wake up! It's your first day of high school today. So get up or you'll be late! my mother told me as she opened the curtains.
Arghhh, I hated when she did that!
- Mmm...
... Mom let me sleep a few more seconds please!
What time is it ? I asked him.
- No Emma go get up right away or I'll do the thing you hate the most in the world ! Warning. One. Two...
She knew exactly what I hated when I didn't want to get up.
Throw cold water right in my face.
- No ! Ok ok it's ok I'm going to get up.
Indeed, I took note of the time by glancing at the phone.
I barely had time to shower and be ready in ten minutes.
Yesterday I completely forgot to put the alarm clock so luckily she had woken me up!
Yet I had not gone to bed so late ... well so at midnight.
But that was because I couldn't sleep and I cogitated a lot.
If I had arrived in high school late for my first day it would be frowned upon.
So I decided to get up. Anyway, did I have a choice ? Not at all !
It was seven-thirty and school started at eight o'clock sharp.
I had opted for a plaid shirt with jeans and white sneakers plus a belt.
I went down to have my breakfast prepared by my mother which I put in my bag.
Two days ago, my mother gave me a bicycle.
At the beginning I was a little against this idea, because it had been a very long time since I had done it and I thought I would not be able to do it again.
To be honest, it was my dad who taught me. He always stood behind me if I ever failed to balance.
Except today he wasn't there.
Luckily high school was a quarter of an hour from my house, so no worries about being late in fact.
There were already quite a few students, which surprised me because I really thought they would arrive on time or after the opening.
I put my bike away and walked into the school, so I pushed open the door and knew it was closed. No but was I dreaming or what? It was back to school today and I hadn't seen teachers only students, their eyes riveted on their phones.
There was another half laughing between them, surely they had just met and were telling each other about their vacation.
Suddenly, I heard someone stammering from a distance.
- Hey slowly ma'am I-am-too in a hurry, why be so impatient to go to class? he cried.
What ... wait a minute was that the one talking to me? I didn't like attracting attention so I preferred not to answer.
He repeated his question.
This was where he was starting to piss me off for good, what did he want with me?
- Hello earth, madam I-am-too in a hurry or rather too impatient.
Ah I see, she lost her tongue?
Oh no it's a shame it says so ...
... In addition to having incapable students in this high school, we have handicapped people! he mocked.
It was really the last straw there!
Did he just call me disabled? I really couldn't see what was funny.
When he was going to imagine where my fist will go, he was not going to talk to me in that way anymore, I guarantee it!
"Incapable students", I couldn't wait to see how he was doing in class.
I was waiting for Victoria but I did not see her.
I told myself that maybe she was going to be late.
Once back in class Victoria was still not there. It was still strange. Where had she gone?
The last time we had seen each other she had promised me that she would be there to show me around.
Except there, well, she wasn't there.
For the first day of class it was weird.
I picked up my phone, went to contacts and looked for his number.
Hi Victoria, are you okay?
Aren't you coming today?
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She answered me a few seconds later.
- Hi, no I'm not coming.
My grandmother fell down the stairs this morning, so we're staying with her to see how she's doing. Sorry again to leave you alone, but you'll see all the students here are super nice.
With the exception of a few then ...
- Oh no ! I hope nothing serious, I wish him a good recovery.
The poor. I was hoping it was going to go well and that she would be back in shape by tomorrow.
***