I hauled the backpack off of my shoulder, stuffing it into my open locker as I kept trying not to let my supplies fall from my grasp.
I was carrying my English binder, my pencil case, and my agenda, balancing it all whilst trying to lock my locker. We had English first two periods.
I opened the classroom door, revealing the rows of desk group arrangements. I then spotted Charlotte. She was sitting in her normal seat, but she was talking to someone: a girl.
The girl had long blond hair, down to her waist, and chocolate brown eyes. She was pretty and looked like a nice person, but I was still skeptical as to who she was. I didn't recall seeing her before.
Charlotte suddenly took notice of me and locked her gaze with mine, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Hey! Amy!" She yelled, getting out of her seat as a few people took notice of her.
"Hi. It's good to see you." I greeted her as she came towards me. I was a little surprised, hearing my monotonous voice sound. Seeing the way Charlotte looked at me after I spoke, I could assume that she was wondering the same thing.
"Hey, what's wrong? How did the appointment go?" She asked worriedly, a concerned expression on her face
Before I could speak, the girl walked up next to Charlotte, a puzzled expression playing on her face. She tapped Charlotte on the shoulder. Charlie turned around, then facepalmed.
"Oh, sorry Ella! I didn't mean to ditch you like that...." She apologized. "It's fine. I don't mind." Ella said, waving her hand in dismission. "Who's this?" She asked.
A smile spread across Charlie's face. "Amelia," Charlie said, loud enough for Ella to hear. "Meet Ella." Charlotte made a gesture from me to the girl- Ella. "Ella, meet Amelia."
I smiled as warmly as I could at the moment and shook hands with her. Ella's face changed from a look of confusion to a look of recognition, as if she had heard of me before.
"Anyway," Charlotte started. "Please, please please, please please PLEASE tell me what happened at the appointment!" Charlie pleaded.
I started to oped my mouth to talk, but I got cut off by the ringing sound of the bell. "In your seats!" Ms. Green called out.
"Come ON!" Charlotte said under her breath, a harsh tone lacing her words as if she wanted to punch a hole in some wall. "Hey," I tapped her shoulder. "I'll tell you at lunch." Charlie nodded, and we went to our seats.
I sat down in my seat, watching as Ms. Green scanned her gaze over us all. She was probably looking to see every single tiny detail that she could've gotten us in trouble for.
She was probably talking at that point, but I could just barely hear her. I tried to make out what our English teacher was rambling on about, but I just... couldn't. It was like my mind wanted nothing more but for me to think about what had happened yesterday.
Part of the reason why I still wasn't listening to Ms. Green was because I let my mind take over. I also didn't exactly disagree with what my mind wanted me to do. I knew I had to think about what was revealed to me and take it in more.
I didn't realize how much time had passed by until I took a glance at the clock. 10:54. Lunch break started at 10:55.
My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the dismissal bell. "Don't forget!" Ms. Green shouted after us. "Diagnostic test next period! Be ready!" I barely heard her, but when it registered in my mind, I felt like I was a balloon, and I had just deflated.
A diagnostic test...? I thought, thinking that this would be the day that I'd die.
I sighed. It was only a diagnostic test, though. It was just to see how much you remembered from past grades.
My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden pat on the shoulder. "Hey," Charlie said with a reassuring smile. "Let's sit together at lunch, okay?" Charlotte asked, Ella, looking on concernedly from behind her.
I smiled halfheartedly. "Okay."
* * * *
"So, tell me all about what happened yesterday." My best friend asked inquisitively. Even Ella had a curious look on her face. I sighed.
"Well, it's a long story...." I told them as I took a deep breath, and started remembering the horrid image.
* * * *
I stood in the optometrist's room, my dad beside me, walking towards the leather seat placed in the middle of the room. I remember being asked to look through a device that looked like a telescope. I also remember being asked to try to read certain words that kept getting smaller and smaller.
The memories were scattered, and I couldn't remember which step had come first or last, but I did know one specific part almost too well.
The optometrist eventually covered his mouth, as if surprised, and led my father out of the room for a few minutes.
I remembered a tugging feeling in my gut as if my emotions were going into overdrive. I felt a huge wave of nervousness and fear wash over me.
Why did the doctor look so surprised? Why did he have to take my dad outside? What's going on!? I thought, my mind filling with questions.
Finally, the door opened, my dad's head poking out. "It's time to go home." He told me, his smile warm... but his eyes pained.
When I got home, I demanded what happened.
"Amelia... the doctor pulled me outside because he wanted me to tell you this by myself." He started, but I could almost hear the tears boiling close to my eyes, ready to start pouring down on my cheeks.
"Amelia... the doctor told me you have something called alexia. Alexia is a form of dyslexia. You've heard of dyslexia before, right? Do you know what it is?" I shook my head, my throat starting to swell.
"Well, alexia is sort of a learning disability... and- it prevents you from... well... reading properly..." He said it as slowly as she could as if my emotions were very delicate and he knew that if he wasn't careful, he would let them loose.
As far as I knew, he wasn't careful enough. Hot, wet tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably as I started to sob. It made so much sense now.
"B-but... how? I wasn't l-like before." I asked through sobs.
My dad cupped a hand over my cheek affectionately. "Well, alexia is just like dyslexia, except dyslexia... you have it since you are born. You can get alexia later on in life." My dad explained. "The good thing is, if you learn the right way, your alexia won't affect you that much anymore." He said quickly as if trying to get my hopes up before they went all the way down.
Too late.
I threw my arms around my dad, sobbing frantically into his shoulder. He started to kneel down as I started to put more weight on him and hug him tighter.
He patted my back reassuringly, and we stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity.
YOU ARE READING
Who I Am
General Fiction"This, dear reader, is how I overcame my biggest challenge ever. This, is how I became Amelia Levy." - Amelia Levy, Epilogue * * * * Amelia Levy was a normal girl, who had talents she never really knew of, or that she didn't pursue enough. But Am...
