Submerge

C L O S E R

Mason woke up feeling like he had barely slept. The alarm clock on his nightstand blared insistently, and he groaned as he reached out to silence it. His body felt heavy, his head clouded with a thick fog that made it difficult to think clearly.

With great effort, Mason swung his legs over the side of the bed and forced himself to stand. A wave of nausea rolled over him, and he gripped the edge of his desk to steady himself. He took a deep breath, willing the sensation to pass. 

He made his way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to wake up. The face staring back at him in the mirror looked pale and tired, with dark circles under his eyes. He sighed and turned away, heading back to his room to get dressed.

Nathan was in the kitchen, pouring cereal into a bowl when Mason walked in. "Morning, Mase," he said, his voice filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"

Mason shrugged, trying to put on a brave face. "I'll be fine." grabbing a piece of toast and taking a small bite. Even the simple act of eating felt like a chore, and the food tasted bland. He forced himself to finish it, knowing he needed the energy.

As he walked through the school doors, Mason felt a sense of disorientation. The bustling hallways, the cacophony of voices, and the fluorescent lights all seemed overwhelming. He took a deep breath, trying to ground himself.

"Hey," Mason replied, managing a small smile.

Ethan stepped closer, studying Mason's face with concern. "You okay? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," Mason lied. "Just tired. Didn't sleep well last night." Ethan frowned but didn't press further.

The first few classes passed in a blur. Mason found it hard to concentrate, his thoughts slipping away like sand through his fingers. The fatigue and nausea made it difficult to stay focused, and he found himself staring blankly at the board more often than not.

By lunchtime, Mason was exhausted. He made his way to the cafeteria, feeling like he was moving through molasses. Ethan and Mia had saved him a seat at their usual table, and he sank into it gratefully.

"You sure you're okay?" Mia asked, her eyes full of concern.

"Yeah, just... not feeling great," Mason admitted, poking at his food without much appetite.

Ethan shared a worried look with Mia. "Maybe you should go to the nurse's office and rest for a bit."

Mason shook his head. "I'll be fine. I just need to get through the day."

The rest of the day continued in much the same way. Mason trudged from class to class, the fog in his mind growing thicker.

The final bell of the day rang, and Mason let out a sigh of relief. He gathered his books and shoved them into his backpack, eager to leave the classroom and head home. The day had been another struggle against the side effects of his medication, and he was exhausted.

"Mason, could you stay for a moment?" Mr. Anderson's voice cut through the buzz of students packing up and leaving.

Mason froze, his heart sinking. He looked up to see his English teacher watching him with a concerned expression.

"Sure," Mason mumbled, slinging his backpack over one shoulder and walking to the front of the classroom as the last of his classmates filtered out.

Mr. Thompson looked at him with a mixture of concern and sternness. "Mason, I've noticed you've been absent quite a bit lately, and when you are here, you seem... distracted. Your grades have dropped significantly, and I'm worried you're not going to pass this semester."