A Rift Between Us

Chapter 54 - Running Out Of Time

A pool of sweat gathered at the bottom of the desk, completely still, refusing to spill over the edge like a stubborn secret. Alfie's face glistened with moisture, devoid of even a whisper of air to cool his skin. The pen in his hand shook rapidly, mimicking the needle of a seismograph. His gaze darted to the timer; only twenty-four minutes remained. Unconsciously, his knuckles drummed against the desk as he surveyed the hall. Others had either finished their work or were close to completing their final pages.

Breathing became a laborious task, each breath demanding more effort than usual. A foul stench, like a pheromone, enveloped him, triggering a familiar unease and anxiety—the kind that preceded disaster. A shiver coursed through his spine, his nose recoiling. He could sense the concern among the others; it was palpable. Yet, their faces bore an expression of focus and resolve, a trait he found himself in dire need of.

He glanced back at his paper, realising he was only halfway through. Had it somehow grown thicker? Was it always this daunting? Less than half an hour was left. He needed to write some answers down quickly. But his pen seemed to have a mind of its own, hovering aimlessly over the exam paper, achieving nothing. For a moment, he thought he'd gone deaf. The exam hall was uncannily silent; even the invigilator's footsteps had faded.

I told you you'd fail.

The pen clinked onto his desk, rolling towards his torso. He clasped his hands on his head, squeezing his scalp, while his eyes darted wildly from left to right.

You'll always be a nerd.

"Shut up..." he murmured, his fingers digging deeper into his scalp. "Get outta my head."

You can't even finish the paper.

Alfie's face lifted abruptly. His palms lay flat on either side of his desk. The rise and fall of his chest slowed. Strands of his hair flailed, flinging beads of sweat onto the paper. They peppered the surface like a barrage of artillery fire, some splattering across his written passages. Slowly, they absorbed deeper, blurring his answers.

A short lady with greying hair sauntered through the aisle, her arms clasped behind her as she scanned the hall, her gaze sweeping like a broom. Her face wasn't familiar; she must have been part of the temporary staff. He waved his hand to catch her attention. One of her eyebrows arched significantly higher than the other.

"Hey, can I have a tissue, please?" he asked, moving his hair away from his eyes.

The woman pressed her finger to her lips, signalling that his voice was too loud. She stepped away and soon returned with a small box of tissues.

"Thanks."

Half of the tissue clung to his head before he could properly wipe off the sweat.

How have I suddenly forgotten the themes? This isn't right.

A dent etched itself into his bottom lip as he bit down. His eyes locked onto the top right corner of the room.

Come on what were they...I literally revised this.

The timer captured his attention once more. Only eighteen minutes remained. His teeth clenched together, the muscles in his jaw tensing with the pressure. It felt as if Ms Camdyn had just finished her speech moments ago. How was time passing so swiftly?

There isn't enough time! Maybe Keiko is right...I can't pass these final exams.

His pen rolled off the edge of his desk, clattering on the floor. His back relaxed in defeat as he painfully examined the precious seconds ticking away.