As night descended upon the hospital where Mike was admitted, his mind began to wander, transporting him back to a memory from two years ago.
***
It was during the final stretch of his junior year, and the scene unfolded in Mrs. Alby's psychology class.
The time was 11 a.m., and the students were engaged in a discussion about their dreams and ambitions. Christina, Mike, and Stefan were all part of the same class, and their mutual hostility was palpable.
Mrs. Alby, the psychology teacher, called upon the students one by one to share their aspirations. As it reached Stefan's turn…
"Now, Stefan Haysbert, please come forward and share your dream with us," she invited.
Stefan confidently made his way to the front of the class, beaming with a wide smile.
"My dream is to live a peaceful life, free from turmoil, with a stable job like my father's," he began. "I'd like to have two children - a boy and a girl, but I won't mind if more come along."
The class erupted into laughter at his lighthearted remark. Stefan flashed a smile at Mike before returning to his seat beside him.
"That's a wonderful dream, Stefan. I hope it becomes a reality," Mrs. Alby said. She then turned her attention to Mike. "Mike Smith, you're next. Please step forward."
Mike rose from his seat and nodded at Stefan as he made his way to the front of the class. With a determined look, he shared his dream:
"I wish to possess the power to protect those around me. I never want to experience the pain of losing someone dear to me—"
"Then go join the Avengers!" Christina's sarcastic remark cut through the classroom, prompting another wave of laughter from the students.
Mike's face flushed with embarrassment as he returned to his seat, casting a glaring look at Christina.
"She's crazy, how could she say something like that in a serious moment like this?" Stefan whispered.
But Mike remained silent, his stern gaze fixed on Christina, who defiantly raised her middle finger in response.
"You have a remarkable dream, Mike. I sincerely hope you attain the power you desire," Mrs. Alby said, attempting to steer the discussion back on track.
Her eyes then shifted to Christina, who was the cause of the commotion. "Christina, please come forward and share your dream with us."
"No need, ma'am, I don't have one." Christina replied dismissively.
However, Mrs. Alby's firm tone left no room for refusal. "Come out, Christina. It's impossible to have no dreams. I'm ordering you to share yours."
The classroom fell silent, eager to hear the school's queen bee reveal her aspirations. Christina reluctantly made her way to the front.
"I wish to become rich and happy," she said, her words accompanied by an air of nonchalance.
"You're not sincere, Christina," Mrs. Alby said. "There must be something you deeply want. I can sense you have something you're hiding deep inside you."
Her words must've struck a chord in Christina, because her expression gradually gave way to sadness. Her full minute silence hung in the air before she finally spoke.
"My dream is to..." she began, her voice trailing off as she held unto the locket pendant on her neck. "I only wish to see my mom again, even if it's just one more time."
"Go home then, mummy's girl. Go meet mummy before you cry!" Mike's thoughtless interruption sparked another round of laughter.
Anger crossed Christina's face. She glowered disdainfully at Mike. "How dare you!"
The classroom fell silent once more, the tension filling the air.
"That's enough, class. This is a Psychology class, not a Defense class. Save the confrontations for your next class," Mrs. Alby said.
Christina stormed out of the classroom.
Just then, the classroom front door swung open, and a student, Laura, made a laborious entrance.
Her left leg was encased in a plaster cast, and she relied heavily on a crutch for support. Her clothes were drenched, clinging to her body, and her short hair was disheveled, completely hiding her face.
As she made her way to her seat, her crutch scraped against the floor, echoing through the silent classroom.
Each step was a struggle, her movements slow and deliberate, and one could've sworn she was wincing with every movement.
Mrs. Alby's expression turned concerned as she took in Laura's bedraggled appearance.
"Laura, what happened to you?" she asked.
Laura didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the floor, probably avoiding eye contact. She slowly lowered herself into her seat, her crutch clattering against the desk.
The classroom erupted into a chorus of whispers and murmurs, with students speculating about Laura's situation.
"Was she the new student?"
"Yes. She transferred here a few days ago, and look at her now!"
"With a broken leg? How did that happen?"
"Nobody knows, she never talks to anyone. She's always alone."
"She's an introvert, isn't it obvious?"
"Is everything alright, Laura?" Mrs. Alby's voice cut through the din. "You can tell me."
The students fell silent, awaiting Laura's response. However, Laura's eyes remained fixed on the ground. If she's aware of the attention she was receiving, she didn't seem to care.
"Just ignore me and continue with what you're doing," she whispered finally, her words trembling.
The students began to murmur again, with some calling her a "weirdo." But Mike's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression sympathetic.
"I think she's being bullied," he whispered to Stefan.
"How can you tell?" Stefan asked.
"Look at her. Do you think she deliberately poured water over herself or jumped into a swimming pool?" Mike said. "And… her hair, it's a mess. Would her parents let her leave home like that?"
"I think you're right, but why didn't she speak up? Why can't she find the courage to express herself?" Stefan pondered.
"Do you think simply reporting her bullies would make them stop? It's not that easy," Mike muttered.
Just then, Mrs. Alby's authoritative voice cut through the students' murmurs, instantly silencing them.
"That's enough, class. Quiet down!" She took a step toward Laura's direction, her eyes fixed on her. "See me later after class, Laura."
Laura slowly raised up her head and then back to the floor without replying.
The class eventually came to a close, and Stefan turned to Mike and asked, "What are your plans after school?"
"I'm heading home, of course," Mike replied. However, when he turned to look for Laura, she was nowhere to be found. He quickly scanned the room, but she had vanished.
"That's not what I mean, I mean do you go to arcades to play games or…" Stefan's voice trailed off as he saw Mike hastily leaving the class. Can't believe he left me talking to myself! Where is he going in such a hurry?
Meanwhile, Laura sat on a senior bench under the trees at the school garden, her crutch resting beside her. Her face was bowed, and her head was covered by her cardigan hood, lost in thought.
"Are you okay?" An unfamiliar voice broke the silence. Laura turned to her side and saw a classmate sitting beside her.
She instinctively reached for her crutch, preparing to leave, but the boy's gentle voice stopped her.
"I'm not here to mock or look down on you. I simply want to talk to you as a friend... I mean, classmate."
Laura peered at the student through the hair covering her eyes, debating whether to trust him.
"I'm Mike, I saw you in class today. Are you okay?" The student who now appeared to be Mike, introduced himself.
"Why do you care?" Laura said, her voice barely audible. "You don't even know my name or who I am, so what's your concern about me?"
Her expression was difficult to decipher, a mix of emotions hidden behind her eyes. But Mike's concern was genuine.
"Because I'm worried about you, Laura Garbett," he said. "I'm worried something terrible might happen to you."
"Why are you worried about me? I don't need your pity!" Laura snapped, her voice now growing louder and her reaction was defensive.
She positioned her crutch under her armpit, preparing to leave, her movements as before, slow and deliberate.
"I don't pity you, I'm just worried about you," Mike clarified, making sure his voice is soft and as genuine as possible. "I'm really concerned about your well-being."
He stepped closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be fine, okay?" He continued. "You are stronger than you think, and you can overcome anything. Just once, Laura. Use the pain you're feeling this moment to fight back for once."
Laura stopped in her tracks, her eyes welling up with tears, her emotions raw and exposed. Mike gently brushed the hair covering her face to the side.
He took a proper look at her eyes and gasped.
"You're so pretty, really...pretty," he said, almost in a whisper, then walked away.
Just as he left, Laura collapsed on the ground and burst into tears. She has never once thought about fighting back. Only enduring.
She cried for a long time, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Meanwhile, Stefan was a short distance away, observing the scene, he didn't hear their conversation but he knew something was going on.
He wondered what Mike had said to Laura to cause her to cry like a baby.
***
"Mike! Mike!! Are you okay?" An indistinct voice came, growing louder and more distinct, penetrating Mike's daze.
Mike was pulled out of his thoughts back to reality. He stared at the nurse for a while before the reflection of the light forced him to recoil in pain.
"Turn off the light! It's blindening!" He grumbled as he grabbed his eyes and turned away from the light's reflection.
"I'll be sure to do so before leaving, how are you feeling now?" The nurse asked.
"I'll feel at least less worse if you turn off the damn light!" Mike snapped.
The nurse sighed and walked out of the room after turning off the light. A few minutes after she left, Mike opened his eyes and to his surprise, he could see.
"Dammit! This night vision!"