The Doctor's Secret Spells

In or out

Two years had passed since then. I was now a senior, preparing for the exams that would determine if I went to college or not. My studies were failing drastically. My mom’s voice was always in the back of my head, telling me I didn't need books, only a diamond ring. Every time I tried to study, the ink on the pages seemed to squirm like little black bugs, making my head spin.

On the day of our class presentations, we had to share what we wanted to do after high school. It was a yearly ritual kind of thing; the classes above were basically the exam class did every year. Our teacher would then grade us and add those to our college recommendation letters. When it was my turn to talk, the whole class became silent.

"Ever since I was small, I had always dreamed of becoming a medical doctor," I began. I told them about performing surgeries and how medicine was something I've always wanted to do when I was very young. As I spoke, I felt a strange, cold tingle in my chest, like I was swallowing ice. The overhead projector hummed loudly, flickering once, then twice, following the rhythm of my heartbeat. I found that strange, but I had a performance to give.

When I finished, the room stayed silent for a minute. Then, everyone burst into laughter.

"How can someone so dumb become a medical doctor?" people murmured.

“Hey, hey, quiet down, I don't think we belittle others or laugh at people's dreams,” the teacher said. “In here, we all support each other's dreams, got it?”?. “Yes, ma'am," the whole class murmured.

I rushed to the bathroom, feeling ashamed and crying my eyes out. My hands felt heavy, almost vibrating against the ceramic of the sink. Henry and Georgia later met up with me in the bathroom, where I was crying.

"Don't listen to them, Em," Georgia said, handing me a paper towel. "They’re just losers with no dreams."

"She's right," Henry added, his voice steady and calm as always. "Your heart is in the right place. The grades... we can fix the grades."

They consoled me and promised to help me out with the forthcoming exams, which would determine if we would go into our dream college, or if we would have to retake the exams next year, or rather, if I would have to retake the exam next year. I already knew for a fact that they were prepared for the exam.

The few days that went by really fast, honestly speaking, I worked really hard with the help of my friends, Henry and Georgia. Every time Henry leaned over to correct my biology notes, I felt that same cold tingle. Once, when our hands brushed, a tiny static shock snapped between us—so small I thought I imagined it, but Henry flinched, looking at me with a confused expression. So maybe I wasn't imagining it, or? No idea.

Then the day arrived upon which we would write our exams. I walked into the exam hall with my sweaty hands; it really did feel like I was about to pass out or something. Anyway, I mustered up enough strength and picked up my exam papers, sat down, and began to write.

Five hours had passed since we started. The exam was really tough, and we had just 10 minutes to round up before our exams would come to an end. I was praying, my eyes closed for a second, my fingers gripping the mouse so hard that if they had souls, they would have probably turned white.

All the computers in the hall began to shut down one by one till it was my computer. Upon clicking the submit button for me to submit my answers to the exams, my computer shut down.

The screen didn't just go black; it stayed dark for a second, then a single, tiny violet spark—no bigger than a grain of sand—jumped from the "Submit" key to my fingernail. Then, total darkness.

I turned pale, not knowing if my answers were submitted or not. As I walked out of the hall, the principal announced that our exam scores would be released tomorrow. As I heard this, fear struck me.

Later on, I met up with Georgia and Henry, whose faces were beaming with joy.

"That was easy! I think I got an A," Georgia cheered, swinging her bag. "Henry, you probably got a 100%, as usual."

They both asked me how I had done on my exams. I vaguely said I had done my best.

"You've got this, Emily," Henry said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I have a feeling things are about to change for you."( and boy did it change)

They both assured me of a good mark, saying that they knew that I had done well, knowing full well that what came out on the exams was what we had read and gone through. They had no idea that what bothered me about the exams was whether I had submitted my answers before the computers shut down. I quickly brushed it off, I mean, I have been studying for a year for this very exam, and it is now over. At least that's something to rest on. Whatever comes next, I'd deal with it, but at least not today. That's what I told myself.

I later went home. My mom was already in the kitchen, humming a tune while looking at a brochure for a jewelry store. She didn't even look up when I walked in. I went straight to my bed, lying in it, looking up towards my ceiling. As time went by, I fell asleep, the tiny violet spark still dancing behind my eyelids.