𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨

Careful [SHORT STORY]

Careful, I warned myself in my thoughts. Walk too loudly and the world falls to pandemonium.

There was no one in the building. It was a football day so everyone from the school, students and professors alike, was outside in the sun cheering for our team.

I padded lightly, and silently, and gracefully, and smoothly along the tiled hallway, not knowing where I was headed but knowing that I needed to be careful.

The field was too far away for me to hear the cheering or booing of the opposing schools as they fought through sport for a title. So, the world seemed silent. Nothing was moving, or swaying, or inching, or budging. It was like I was walking through frozen time.

I found myself in Ms. Maradill's history room. I knew it was her's; no other teacher would let their classroom be so full of colors, and posters, and brightness, and carelessly placed textbooks.

Careful, I caught myself again. There are wooden floors in here, I can't let myself be loud.

I felt my stomach clench lightly as I took extra care in crossing over the floorboards of the history room. My legs bent, and placed, and picked up, and moved my feet next to effortlessly. I found myself at a stop in the corner between Ms. Maradill's desk and the whiteboard.

Careful, I reminded myself another time. Breath too much and time will start to move again.

My eyes washed over the room. With the windows shut, the projects, and papers, and decorations, and dusty memories which all hung from the ceiling didn't move. Not a spin, or a twist, or a flutter, or a twirl.

It was very calm. Peaceful. Nothing dared make noise, or move, or fall, or change.

Careful, the word echoed through my head. If anything makes sound, life might unpause.

Careful.

13/10/2020