Whispers With Teeth
1582 Words
Elara’s POV
It’s been three days
Three days since I had been discharged. It was another morning; I woke up, and everything seemed normal
As I stepped into the academy, I walked through the door, and it stayed pretty fine.
The atmosphere was calm, clear, and subtle.
The glass doors slid shut behind me with a soft echo that felt louder than it should have been. For a moment, I just stood there, letting my eyes adjust to the long corridor ahead.
My footsteps sounded sharper than I remembered, each one bouncing off the polished floor. I slowed down without meaning to.
I glanced through the hallway; I could notice the students, different heights and shapes. Students moved in clusters, but something felt off. It was like conversations were happening slightly lower than usual. Like it was a peace gathering. A few heads turned, then quickly turned away again as if I hadn’t been noticed. These turns were accompanied by murmurs.
It felt like the building itself was watching.
I could hear footsteps and hallway sounds. As I proceeded, I felt the silence and could hear distant voices.
The whispering continued, “That’s her…”
“She’s the one who lost the pup…”
My stomach tightened instantly.
For a second, I couldn’t tell if I was moving or if the hallway was moving around me…. I felt cloudy. Everything felt stretched and so messy, like sound was coming from far away.
Someone shifted behind me. Another chair scraped softly. I realized I was holding my breath; I did that in fear.
I kept my eyes forward, but I was suddenly aware of every glance, every pause, every whisper that wasn’t meant to be heard but was still loud enough to cut through me.
Another said among themselves,
“Darius already moved on, didn’t he?”
I instantly became aware within me that I was not normal.
The side talks made me feel isolated… I felt it rise—sharp, uncomfortable. Shame… I think.
I tried to avoid eye contact, and I walked slowly.
I kept walking like nothing had happened.
The social judgment. It didn’t take long to notice.
The word was moving slowly, like a snail.
I summoned courage.
I would rather not be moved by what I heard them whisper.
I heard my mind directing me, “Keep walking.”
“Don’t react.”
“Don’t break here.”
These were the words I spoke to myself!
I felt a reply within me that contrasted—on one side I was fine, and on the other side I wasn’t fine.
Though their comments sting, I kept moving.
It was as if the building wanted to collapse.
My body was trying to adjust.
I was tense—tight chest, stiff steps.
However, I didn’t stop.
This was the height of my discipline.
I fought my emotional pain and showed inner strength.
Finn was by my side through all these struggles. He didn’t just walk beside me; he adjusted his position slightly, just enough to place himself between me and the nearest group of staring students. He remained constantly by my side, acting as both a friend and a protector.
His eyes moved constantly, scanning, reading the room like he was expecting something worse to happen. He was normal, but I wasn’t.
He watched the students as they muttered; he blocked the stares.
It was tense, but he tried to control it.
I noticed it… and for a second, I almost broke.
Plenty of things crossed his mind, but he chose not to say it all. He spoke to me in a soft manner. “Don't listen to them.”
I felt uneasy because I wasn’t used to being protected in silence like that.
I slowly replied under my breath,
I’m trying… But it's not easy.”
He looked at me, and then he said, “They don’t matter.”
I forced a smile.
I was still emotionally unstable, but I knew within me that I was not alone. I felt safe. I finally got to the classroom.
By then I had temporary relief.
Minutes later, the teacher walked in casually.
It was an advanced healer theory class.
The teacher looked at me
Then she asked a question.
I was tense, but I stood up anyway.
I answered,
“Good answer, Elara.” She said, “I smiled; I wasn’t expecting it.”
Then she spoke again:
“That’s exactly correct.”
I felt calm. Safe. Competent again.
The other students whispered,
“She’s still sharp…”
The lecture began again, something about advanced regenerative healing patterns, but I barely noticed the words at first because I was lost in fear. Then slowly, I started to follow this time.
For a while, the noise in my head quieted.
Ink scratched softly on paper around me. Pages turned. Someone coughed far away. It all felt normal—almost safe.
And for that brief moment, I wasn’t what they said I was.
I was just a student again.
I focused throughout the class keenly.
I felt I was still with an identity. This was beyond pain and had something that was still worth pursuing.
Not long into the peace, I felt there was chaos.
Just between classes,Footsteps footsteps stopped somewhere behind me. I felt it before I turned: attention locking onto me like weight.
I was surrounded by Petra, Isolde, and a group of girls. They aimed at mocking me.
They looked at me in disgust.
There was an unusual silence; their eyes were fixed on me, and it seemed like eternity.
I was perplexed.
I saw them.
They weren’t rushing. They were circling slowly, like they already knew what they wanted to say.
Petra stepped forward last.
I was still confused when one of them broke the silence. That was Petra—she began to speak.
“I’m surprised you still show your face here.”
Before I could say anything, she continued:
“Darius moved on fast, didn’t he?”
I had floods of memories from the past days.
I stayed mute anyway.
Another girl said, “Maybe he was tired of you.”
Petra continued.
“He did you a favor.”
For a moment, I didn’t respond.
I could feel my heartbeat, steady but heavy. My nails pressed lightly into my palm.
Something inside me wanted to react—fast, emotional, messy.
But I didn’t let it.
Instead, I let the silence stretch just long enough for them to feel uncomfortable in it.
Then I spoke.
This time, I didn’t let my emotions win; I didn’t get angry.
I stayed calm. Took a light breath and began speaking.
“Be careful what you say.”
I paused;
“One day, you might need a healer.”
“And I might be the one deciding how long you suffer.”
They didn’t expect my response… I was meant to cry and shout in shame.
My response left them speechless, and they realized how much I had changed since the heartbreak.
They dismissed me without a word.
Later that day, I saw Darius and Isolde together in the courtyard.
It was a painful reminder of Darius. They were laughing and looked pleased. “You are impossible.” Isolde said to Darius, and he replied, “You love it.”
The sound of their laughter reached me before I fully processed the sight.
I froze briefly.
Immediately, I remembered the hospital scene and his actual words.
“He had moved on completely,” I said to myself.
He looked the same; he didn’t have to heal. I was still trying to heal.
Amidst all these, I decided to choose myself.
I muttered to myself.
“Not again.”
“I won’t do this again.”
“I choose myself.”
I exhaled at once. Slowly.
I turned away without making any reaction outwardly. A lot ran through my head. I felt numb and still confused.
I felt pain lingering.
I still stayed focused.
Instead of allowing the encounter to destroy my progress, I walked very fast towards the healers wing.
I met with Elder Mira.
I said, “I want practical training.”
I was focused. I was determined. I continued,
“Start me now.”
She turned her head and said,
“That’s too soon.”
I needed it urgently.
I urged,
“I don’t need more time.”
“I need purpose.”
Elder Mira didn’t look surprised, but she studied me more carefully than before, like she was measuring something that had shifted inside me.
She studied me.
I tried to seek validation and approval. She noticed I had changed.
Then she smiled and said, Very, very,very very well.”
She added.
“Report before dawn.”
I nodded and took off.
That evening, I reviewed my studies.
I proceeded to select the courses that will strengthen my healing abilities.
As I prepared for the demanding days ahead, I realized that just by enduring pain,
I was rebuilding my future. “This is mine.”
“This is control.”
I said to myself, I felt I had what it took to stand.
In a bid to determine how to become greater and following my earlier meeting with Elder Mira,
I made preparations.
I set my alarm and was determined within myself to be better.
“Tomorrow starts differently.” I said,
I knew I was not broken anymore. Small hope. Uncertainty. Not a perfect conclusion:
I was rebuilding!
- Writer
