The Graduate

The Graduate - A Short Story

September 27th, I woke up. My eyes slowly opened as I am being blinded by the fluorescent lights which covered the tiled ceiling. I looked around as my eyes absorbed the surroundings. The pale pastel plaster covering the walls is encompassing me with a neat row of flowers circling the room; trying to calm me down. The cold, white tiles filled the room. There are two big windows, but I am left with a depressing view of only neighbouring roofs. The stiff, gray chair is next to me staring at the bed. Panic. That's all I could think about, nobody is in the room with me; I had no idea where I am. But, I soon came to the realisation that I had been here for the past three weeks; and had just been asleep. There is the slow beeping sound of the machines around me with hundreds of wires going in every direction possible; forming a rats nest. The slow, beeping sound is like a bomb that is about to detonate at any second. There is a 36" television on the other end of the room which is barely visible from where I am. The TV presenters continued with their meaningless, boring conversations. The machines around me would scream "BEEP!" every 3 seconds and, it's driving me insane. There are books and magazines scattered at the bottom of my bed which must have been read at least 3 times each. I am lying in a futuristic bed, there are remotes on either side making it move in every direction possible. I am cramped, and being dominated by this bed; barely being able to move. The mattress is lumpy and uncomfortable, I couldn't sit still.

I can't believe I'm still here. One more pill; I'd be gone. I can't take school anymore, my teachers constantly nagging at me telling me I won't go anywhere, and won't succeed. Then there is the bully. He is arrogant, power hungry and malicious. The threat is intense, very intense. He's everywhere, constantly making comments wherever I go. He preys on the weaker students (like me), and verbally abuses us with his strength and aggression, building his ego and shattering the remains of his victims. Once he spots someone, he gets ready to strike and scream. He gets a cold joy and a cruel, merciless mirth. You can feel a heated energy around him. You see the veins and passion filling his face with the colour of demons, blood red. But, I know I have to ignore all of this; and that's the challenge I face, every day.

I kept fidgeting to get comfortable. I turned over to my side and there it is; the graduation ticket. A swarm of butterflies made my stomach churn. I had forgotten about it. It is staring right at me being propped up by a vase of lifeless tulips; on the old, weak side table. It is a glistening gold colour with the date "September 28th, 7:00PM" I don't think I'll make it. Suddenly, the door swung open and a nurse came in. I didn't know what to expect. She came over, my heart is thumping, the sound is giving me a migraine. I saw the numbers on the heart monitor shooting up. The sweat is gathering on the back of my neck, under my hair and steaming my face. She told me: "You can go home today, Mason."

There is a sigh of relief on my face. I could breath again; and the sweat dried up. My mum came into the humid hospital room to take me home. I shoved my clothes in the bag and placed the ticket on top; the light is beaming off it and blinding my eyes. I took off the old gown that must have been worn hundreds of times. It is a depressing grey colour with small blue dots covering it. I stepped out the room, still feeling a bit weak. My legs were shaking - I just knew I had to get out of this place. The corridors are endless and there is signs pointing in every direction, it's like a maze. The smell of disinfectant is killing my nose sensitivity. Finally, the exit. I stepped out and the fresh breeze hit my face. The sound of the trees rustling in the wind and leaves covered the ground. And, the sky is a wild blue yonder.

6:30PM, thirty minutes till graduation starts. I walked through the big, rusty gates that towered over me and that I've been walking through for the past five years. I am walking down the corridor and I am being suffocated by the muggy air; the windows haven't been opened in years. The floors were dirty and dusty. There were lines of identical, grey lockers with oily smudge marks for as far as the eye can see.

The bully is approaching. I can see the growing smile on his face as he moves closer down the corridor to me; and prepares his thoughts to be propelled at me. I feel my palms heating up and beads of sweat forming on my forehead. For years, I've seen him do this to others. Picking on the little kids, separating them from their friends and pinning them up against the lockers; threatening them. Everyone saw it happening - but nobody wanted to say anything. Nobody wanted to say anything in case that happens to them, and they get hurt.

One cold, frosty, icing morning I was targeted. I was walking into school minding my own business; concentrating not to slip and fall on the ice. But then, out of the corner of my eye; I saw him. Not just him, but he was with his gang. They came over in the big black coats, with a devilish snarl on their faces and started with their comments like normal. But, this time I couldn't get away. The bully said to his friend: "It's your turn."
These were so simple words, but very powerful. I've seen others after their "turn" and it wasn't something you want to see.

This is what I've faced for the past 5 years and, I've learnt just to ignore him. This time I am becoming enraged with him. My blood began to boil. I became flushed, my face is turning to shades of crimson and I felt an unearthly, demon inside me trying to grab out to him. My mouth went dry and I had baring teeth. I clenched my fists and I felt the steam coming out my ears and the blood rushing through my body. But I held my ground. Hopefully this will be the last time he can do this to me...

I opened the doors into the graduation hall. There is hundreds of peoples sitting on the cheap school chairs looking like they are going to collapse at any second. There is a mist in the air that is suffocating me. I sat down with a sigh of relief knowing this is the last time I will be here, and I can finally move away from this torture.

It's finished. The last part of my school career. I rapidly moved to the door so I could get out of the suffocating, muggy room, I didn't think that could've gone any slower, the longer I looked at the clock on the wall, the slower it went; it was torturing me. I left out the back way, it's nice to feel the crisp, sharp, ice cold air again. And just in a calming environment; just the gentle whirring sound of cars passing in the distance. I could see my breath and it evaporating into the night sky. The bully is in front of me. He didn't know what is coming for him. I walked down the dark, damp alley; lightened by the colour popping graffiti that is not only art, but it told a story. Running my fingers slowly across the rough colorful wall made me feel as if I were in a different dimension. The light began to fade before connecting with another street. I took it out of my bag. It is heavy, scary. My hand is shaking. I could feel my pulse beating like it is about to escape my body. "BANG!"

Suddenly, everything has gone quiet. He froze as the metal fragments pierced through his chest. I felt no remorse, or regret; it is what he deserved. I felt electrified with the amount of power this small machine gave me. He collapsed and made a pile on the floor. A stream of thick blood began to trickle slowly down to the ground like syrup.

It's a shame I never had the privilege to know his name. I put the gun back into my bag and it felt like it's weighing me down to the ground. I turned away, and began to walk back down the cobbled path; home for the night, whilst being soaked with rain. It's been an exhausting and long day.