Chapter 30: Quiet Panic
1001 Words
Late afternoon had already settled when I locked the classroom door behind me. The building was quiet now, with no children laughing or running around.
Everything was clean, neat, and still. I stood there for a moment with my bag on my shoulder, feeling more tired than I wanted to admit.
I started walking out of the building and into the street. The air felt cooler than before, brushing against my face. People were heading home, talking, laughing, carrying bags. Life kept moving like always.
I raised my hand and called a cab. One stopped near the curb, and I climbed in. I gave the driver my address "Garrison Bay" and leaned back in the seat.
As we drove off, I looked out the window at the passing streets. My body felt strange for a second. A sudden wave of sickness rose in my stomach, making me sit up a little.
I swallowed hard and looked ahead. No. Not now. I took a slow breath and pressed my hand lightly against my stomach. After a few seconds, the feeling passed.
Maybe I had not eaten enough. Maybe I was just tired. Maybe the whole day had finally caught up to me.
The driver looked at me in the mirror. “You alright, miss?”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Just tired.”
He nodded and kept driving. I leaned back again and closed my eyes for a moment. I did not want to think too much about anything.
When we reached the apartment building, I paid the driver and got out. I stood still for a second before walking inside.
The smell of food met me the moment I opened the door. Clara was in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove while looking at her phone.
She looked up when she heard me. “You’re back.”
“Mm,” I said, slipping off my shoes.
She looked at me properly then frowned. “Why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like life attacked you.”
I almost smiled. “Long day.”
Clara turned the stove down and walked closer. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I walked to the sink to get water, but the smell from the food suddenly hit me stronger than before. My stomach turned again, and I froze.
Clara noticed right away. “Jade?”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, holding the counter.
She folded her arms. “You keep saying that.”
I drank some water and waited for the feeling to pass. It did after a moment. I straightened up and looked at her.
“See? Fine.”
She did not look convinced.
“Did you eat today?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She raised an eyebrow.
I sighed. “Not properly.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I walked to the couch and sat down. My body felt heavy now. Like the day had followed me home.
Clara came out of the kitchen and stood in front of me. “Jade.”
“What?”
“When last did you get your period?”
I blinked at her. “What kind of question is that?”
“A normal one,” she said. “Answer it.”
I looked away. “I don’t know.”
Her face changed slightly. “You don’t know?”
“I’ve had a lot going on.”
She sat beside me. “You’ve been tired lately. Now you feel sick.”
“It’s stress.”
“Maybe.”
I looked at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
She shrugged. “Because maybe you should take a pregnancy test.”
I stared at her for a second, then laughed.
“You’re crazy.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
But my voice came out too fast. Too sharp.
Clara noticed, of course.
“I’m not saying you are,” she said calmly. “I’m saying maybe check.”
I rubbed my forehead and leaned back. “I cannot deal with that right now.”
She softened a little. “Then don’t deal with it now. Just think about it.”
The room went quiet after that.
I hated that she had put the thought in my head. Before that, I only felt tired and sick. Now my mind was running through dates and things I had not paid attention to.
I hated that even more.
Clara got up and went back to the kitchen. A minute later, she came back with a plate and placed it on the table.
“Eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I didn’t ask.”
I looked at her, then at the plate.
“You’re bossy.”
“And you’re dramatic. Eat.”
I took a few bites just to keep her quiet. She sat nearby, pretending to scroll on her phone while clearly watching me.
After a while, I stood up. “I’m going to shower.”
“Good,” she said. “Maybe hot water will fix your attitude too.”
I rolled my eyes and walked to my room.
The shower helped a little. Warm water always made things feel less loud. But the moment I was alone again, Clara’s words came back.
Pregnancy test.
I shook my head and changed into soft clothes.
When I came back out, Clara was on the couch with her laptop open.
She looked up. “Better?”
“A little.”
“Good.”
I stood there for a moment, then asked casually, “Do pharmacies still open this late?”
Clara slowly closed her laptop.
“Yes.”
I sighed.
She stood up and grabbed her bag. “Come on.”
“I didn’t say I was going.”
“You didn’t have to.”
I stared at her.
Then I muttered, “I actually dislike you.”
She smiled. “No, you don’t. Put your shoes on, Jade.”
- Writer
