In His Shadow

Red

I wasn't stupid, I knew there would be hell on when I did not show up to big break. If I was lucky JJ would think I was in detention but I was not counting on him making that assumption, not after last nights colossal trigger. I threw my school bag down on the benches in the locker room steadfastly ignoring the rattle of my lunchbox and made short work of slipping out of my uniform...Scowling at the traitorous red stains on the hem of my school shirt. I quickly climbed into my kit sticking the stupid inhaler down the waistband of my skort - before scooping up my stick and heading to the store cupboard for a ball and some cones.

When the door to the store cupboard closed behind me I did not think anything of it.
Tommen whilst modern on the inside was a beautiful historic building which meant plenty of creaks and draughts. Once I had pocketed the essentials, I twisted the door handle to exit. When it did not move it dawned on me that it had not blown shut because of a draft...I tried again a couple of times rattling it in the frame before I accepted I was throughly stuck. Some immature eejit had locked me in a cupboard.

If they thought I was going to scream hysterically then they were mistaken. Not only would I not give them the satisfaction it would have been pointless, nobody would have heard me. My phone was in my blazer pocket hanging on a peg in the locker room so the only thing to do was wait. At least, it might get me out of afternoon lessons. Knowing I would be here a while I lowered myself to the dusty floor - we really needed better cleaners the grime was at least an inch thick.

With my back up against the door I amused myself by bouncing a ball off my stick; challenging myself to get more repetition's each time. Jesus Christ, it was cold in here the floor was like ice underneath my bare thighs. I shivered putting my stick down momentarily to pull my hoodie sleeves down over my hands. It smelt damp in here like the moist Irish weather had permeated the bare bricks. When I eventually got out of here I was going to smell like wet dog. For once I regretted refusing to wear hockey socks at least they would have kept my legs warm.

I squirmed uncomfortably, my chest hurt for the first time in days locked up in this dank place with no fresh air circulating. Despite the pressure building in my lungs I was surprised when the wracking cough ripped out of me. I had played the majority of a County match Saturday without coughing; I had made it all the way through training last night without so much of a tickle. But now I could not stop. Every time I managed to draw in a spluttering breath, I was dragging in a lungful of dust. Tears were streaking down my cheeks eyes watering profusely as I struggled to draw in breath between each round of hacking.

Fuck! I couldn't breathe.

Hands shaking I dragged the inhaler out of the waistband of my skort. The problem was that I could not stop coughing long enough to take it...My lungs were convulsing the rattling wheeze loud in the inclosed space. My arms felt like lead as I forced them over my head trying desperately to open up my airways.

Fuck.My.Life! Trust me to die in a fucking cupboard, hardly an interesting way to go.

Glitter twinkled in my field of vision gold and silver dots dancing through the air. I could have sworn I could hear my brother shouting over the guttural sound of my lungs exploding. Jesus, had I spent so much time being nagged by JJ that my life was flashing before my eyes and recalling all the times he had kept me in line!?

I didn't register the door being wrenched open, I didn't even notice that my view changed as I fell backwards shelving being replaced by ceiling tiles. But I did notice that the air I was managing to get in was suddenly a lot cleaner the grime and mildew less noticeable. I closed my eyes in relief as I managed to drag in a whole breath for the first time in what felt like hours but was most likely mere minutes. I didn't have the energy to drag myself into a sitting position; if whoever did this was standing over me laughing at my expense then so be it.