Julia Lelieveld and the fifth element

~26~

Slowly I woke up. I immediately thought back to the dream I had had. It was horrible. Last night it happened all over again, only this time without Renzo saving me from Ivo. In the dream, Ivo had finished his job that he hadn't gotten around to last night. The shivers went through my body.

I lay there with my eyes closed for a while. Trying to banish last night's dream from my mind. As I lay there, I suddenly became very aware of the environment around me. Something I'd never felt before.

I heard nature outside, somehow I knew the sun was shining behind the gray clouds. Everything seemed to be alive.

I heard the wind moving my bamboo mobile on the balcony and making a soft sound from it. How nature took its course as always, but only now was I aware of it. I just shook my head. It was probably because I just woke up. I slowly opened my eyes and concentrated.

No, I still heard it.

Shit, the sun behind the gray clouds?

I opened the curtains, sure enough it was light. I quickly looked at the alarm clock, nine o'clock.

God damn I overslept. I completely forgot to set my alarm last night. I hurried out of bed, sending a great pain through my wrist.

My wrist now looked blue instead of red. A large bruise in the shape of Ivo's grip. A shiver ran through me again. I got dressed quickly.

It wasn't until I got to the bathroom to put my makeup on that I noticed how lousy I looked. My eyes were red and swollen.

Thank goodness there was foundation. With enough makeup to cover it up, but still looking a little natural, I quickly grabbed my bag and headed for the garage.

I heard there was a strong wind. I still felt nature alive. It was strange that everything was so remarkably clear. I was aware of everything, something I had never felt before. I cycled out of the garage and felt that the wind was not favorable. If I had a tailwind I could still take the last part of my first lesson. While I thought that, I felt the wind at my back and I cycled to school like a spear. I barely had to pedal. Well, that was lucky.

The schoolyard was quiet when I arrived. I think the sixth graders had the first hour off, because they also arrived. I quickly put my bike away. I did notice that Renzo's motorcycle was there again. I hurried up the landing and ran to the third floor. We had Dutch. We got this from an older woman who was good at her profession. Luckily we didn't have a test. A little out of breath, I knocked softly on the classroom door and opened it. Mrs. Simons looked at me in surprise. The rest of the class looked up from a piece of paper in front of them.

Somehow I sensed in the atmosphere that they were making an unexpected written quiz. Shit.

I walked to Mrs. Simons' desk.

"Sorry Julia, I can't help but give you a fail." She shrugged her shoulders. I looked at her startled.

"I still have ten minutes, can I at least try?"

She looked at me for a moment, then picked up the test and handed it to me.

"Hurry up." And she nodded at the empty desk at the back of the class. As I took the test, my blue wrist became visible. Her eyes skimmed over it for a moment, but she kept her mouth shut. I quickly adjusted my sleeve and walked to the desk. I grabbed a pen and got to work.

Fortunately, I was able to learn easily. I tried to read through the test as quickly as possible and answer the questions I knew for sure. The bell rang and with great effort I managed to answer half of the questions. I got up last and gave her the test. She took the test and gave me a yellow detention card. I looked at it wearily.