Through It All

IV

"Wake up Grace, you have midterms today."
I woke up at the voice of my mom the next morning, not remembering when did I fall asleep last night. All I can remember is that I was crying in my bed.
I stood up, washed my face, wore my clothes and went to school. I was trying not think about what happened last night.

I entered the class to start my physics exam. Though I was the most brave student at physics in my class, I couldn't understand any question of the exam.
I started to cry in front of everyone in the class. The students started laughing at me thinking that I was crying because of the exam.
I couldn't tell why was I crying, neither what was I feeling.
The death of James's father, and how James was feeling at the same moment, was all I could think about.
I knew that I loved him. But after what has happened yesterday, I discovered that what I felt for him was much more than just love.
It felt like it's my own father who died.

I walked out of the class, still crying.
My physics teacher came out and asked me: "what happened Grace? Why are you crying?"

"My friend's father has died" I replied with eyes full of tears and shaking arms.

"That's life, you have to be stronger to face it. Come inside and try to solve the exam another time." She was trying to help me but I couldn't solve the exam. I couldn't think about anything else.
I left my teacher standing alone and went outside. I waited there for the next exam to start without talking to any of my friends. I entered the same class another time. I did what I knew in my french exam and went home.