Oasis Path©(English Version)BOOK 1 OASIS SAGA

Part 13.

Oldtown, January 12th.

These days, my health has been dreadful, and now I find myself confined at home. Three days ago, I was in Miss Hudson's class when my well-being began to deteriorate. I was about to start my painting, thoughts of Alex Evans filling my mind, when suddenly, the same music from that night with the bracelet echoed in my ears. I discreetly asked Lisa if she heard the sound too, but she denied hearing anything. I left my seat to search for new colors when a sharp pain seized my left hand. The music intensified, growing faster and louder, and my head felt like it was about to explode.

The last thing I remember is feeling a hand on my shoulder and a concerned voice asking if I was okay. Everything became blurry, and darkness took hold of my consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I was in the school clinic, with Lisa and Christopher by my side. They recounted what had happened, but I still felt dazed and disoriented. The experience was more than just physical discomfort; it was as if something mysterious and supernatural had occurred during those moments of pain and confusion.

It turns out that when I stood up to get the colors, Christopher noticed my odd behavior. He approached with concern and asked what was happening. I replied that I just had a headache, trying to downplay the strange sensation overwhelming me. However, Christopher, always attentive to details, noticed my pallor and the vacant look in my eyes.

He decided to act immediately and, without wasting time, approached Miss Hudson to ask for permission to take me to the clinic. Unexpectedly, before Christopher could react, I collapsed to the floor with a dull thud. My head hit the table in front of me, producing a hollow and resonant sound that seemed to echo in the classroom.

The scene turned into momentary chaos, with the concern and murmurs of my classmates. Christopher, with a mix of surprise and alarm, hurried to lift me from the floor, while Miss Hudson, upon turning her gaze, joined the commotion. The urgency to take me to the clinic became imperative, and thus, amid the confusion, an episode unfolded, leaving everyone in suspense, not fully understanding what had happened.

According to Lisa, I was unconscious for almost four hours, as if in a deep sleep, and they called my mother upon realizing that several medical tests would be necessary. It truly comforted me to see that despite the distance of the past few days, Lisa and Christopher decided to accompany me until my mother arrived. Soon, my mother signed the medical report, we bid farewell to Mr. Smith, who warmly wished me a speedy recovery, and headed to board the train that would take us home.

I didn’t feel well at all; I was dizzy and experiencing nausea. However, my mood worsened due to the events that followed. The uncertainty about my health and the feeling of vulnerability heightened. My thoughts fluctuated between concern about what the medical tests might reveal and the strange experience in the classroom.

As we were heading to find our seats on the train, Hilarie Glaser immediately identified me and wished to greet me.

“Amelie, what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.

“Hello, Hilarie. Good to see you again,” I replied out of courtesy. “I’m sick, so I’m going home to recover.”

“You look very pale,” she commented while gently stroking my hair, then turned to my mother. “Hello, ma’am. You must be Amelie’s mom. I’m Hilarie Glaser. You can call me Hilarie.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss...”

“Oh, please,” Hilarie interrupted my mother, “don’t address me as Miss; I’m only a few years older than Amelie.”

“Very well,” my mother said, “since you and Amelie are on such familiar terms. I’m Kim Johnson. And you are...”

“Alex Evans’s fiancée,” Hilarie replied. “Alex introduced me to Amelie a few days ago. We invited her to join us on the trip since my brothers couldn’t travel at the last minute.”

“You are very beautiful, Hilarie,” my mother said. “Mr. Evans must be delighted to have such a lovely girl as his fiancée.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I think the same about Amelie and you. Both of you are beautiful,” Hilarie expressed with intentions to continue speaking. “I’ve reserved the two seats that would have been for my brothers. Why don’t you both come and sit with me? I can assist with Amelie in case she feels unwell.”

“Hilarie, you don’t have to bother...” I tried to say.

“It’s no bother, Amelie,” she replied. “It will be a pleasure to keep you company. Maybe it will even improve your countenance,” she continued, turning to my mother. “Please, accept. Amelie is a very quiet child, but I know she likes me. Right, Amelie?”

I nodded and displayed the most artificial of smiles. It bothered me a lot to be called a “child” by someone only a few years older than me. Although I’m not as tall as her, I am definitely not a child.

Anyway, it seemed like it would be another torturous journey in the company of Alex Evans’s fiancée. So, I kept quiet and simply followed her alongside my mother. The prospect of spending more time with Hilarie on the train was not something I was looking forward to.

“Alex and I will be marrying very soon, in about a month,” Hilarie informed my mother as they arranged the luggage. “We haven’t sent out the invitations yet, but I had already asked Amelie to attend. Now I would like to extend the invitation to you and your husband. The wedding will be in Lawrence.”

“It would be a pleasure,” my mother said, smiling. “Amelie will recover soon, and I know we’ll be able to attend. You know, Hilarie?” my mother asked while helping me sit down. “Evans is a very serious young man, but I can recognize a good person. He will make you happy. I just hope that Amelie finds someone like that someday.”

“I’m sure she will,” Hilarie affirmed, smiling.