The next morning, Clara woke up feeling uneasy. The broken lamp on her nightstand was a sharp reminder of what had happened the night before. She cleaned up the shards quickly, hoping no one would notice.
Downstairs, the smell of eggs and toast filled the air. Clara walked into the kitchen, where Evelyn stood by the stove. She didn't even glance at Clara as she entered.
"Good morning," Clara said softly.
"Morning," Evelyn replied flatly, flipping an egg. Alan, already seated at the table, gave Clara a warm smile.
"Good morning, kiddo. Did you sleep well?" Alan asked.
Clara nodded, though she wasn't sure it was true.
"Eat quickly. You're going to be late," Evelyn said, sliding a plate of toast and eggs onto the table without looking at Clara.
Clara sat down and ate in silence. Evelyn and Alan didn't talk much, and the tension in the room made her stomach twist. She kept her head down, avoiding Evelyn's sharp glances.
At School
When Clara got to school, she felt the familiar weight of being an outsider. Her classmates were huddled in groups, chatting and laughing, but no one looked her way.
She walked to her locker, trying not to care. She had always been alone, and she had learned to live with it. Still, the ache in her chest never really went away.
"Clara!"
She turned to see Emily running toward her, her curly hair bouncing as she hurried over.
"Hi," Clara said, a small smile forming. Emily was the only person who really talked to her.
"Are you okay?" Emily asked, leaning against the locker next to Clara's. "You've been quiet since the excursion."
Clara hesitated. She wanted to tell Emily everything, but she remembered her promise. "You must not tell anyone."
"I'm fine," Clara said, forcing a smile. "Just tired."
Emily frowned. "Are you sure? You seem... different."
Clara nodded quickly. "I'm okay, really."
Emily didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. "Alright. But if you need to talk, I'm here."
Clara's smile wavered. "Thanks."
Strange Happenings
That afternoon, during science class, something strange happened.
The teacher, Mr. Adams, was demonstrating a small experiment. He held a beaker over a flame, explaining how the heat would cause the liquid to evaporate.
Clara watched quietly from the back of the room. Her hands tingled again, the same way they had the night before. She clenched them under the desk, trying to ignore it.
Suddenly, the flame under the beaker flared up, burning brighter and higher than it should have. The class gasped, and Mr. Adams jumped back, startled.
"Whoa! What just happened?" he said, quickly turning off the flame.
Clara froze. She hadn't done anything, but deep down, she felt like the strange flare-up was somehow her fault.
Her classmates murmured, their eyes wide with curiosity. Emily turned to look at Clara, her brow furrowed.
Clara stared at her desk, her heart pounding.
---
When Clara got home that evening, she went straight to her room. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered.
There was a soft knock at the door.
"Clara?" Alan's voice was calm, but she could hear the concern in it.
"Come in," she said, quickly hiding her hands in her lap.
Alan stepped inside and sat on the chair near her desk. "You've been quiet lately. Is everything okay?"
Clara looked down at her lap, unsure what to say. "I'm fine," she mumbled.
Alan leaned forward, his voice gentle. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm here for you."
Clara felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him the truth, but she couldn't. She shook her head. "I'm fine," she repeated.
Alan sighed but didn't push her. "Alright. But if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."
He stood and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Clara sat in silence, the weight of her secret pressing down on her. She didn't know how much longer she could keep it hidden, but one thing was certain; her life would never be the same again.