Agony

Martha groaned as she slammed the phone down, her frustration bubbling over. "School on a Sunday? Are they out of their minds?" she muttered, throwing herself back onto her bed. The dream outfit she’d bought, now draped over a chair, seemed to mock her. “What’s the point of looking fabulous if no one sees it?” she sulked, staring at the ceiling.

Dragging herself out of bed, she dressed in her uniform, a stark contrast to the glamorous look she had envisioned for herself. "Palace soldiers, huh?" she snorted, glancing at her reflection. "Might as well be walking into a prison with golden gates."

As she trudged to school, her curiosity simmered beneath her annoyance. Why was it so urgent to hold a mandatory gathering on a Sunday? The grand halls of Eddington High buzzed with an unusual energy as students gathered, whispering and speculating. Martha frowned, feeling a knot of unease tightening in her chest.

By the end of the day, when she discovered the true purpose of the gathering, her earlier sarcasm felt like a cruel joke. The regret weighed heavy on her heart, and for the first time, she wished she could take back her words, realizing how fleeting and fragile life could truly be.

Martha stood frozen in the midst of the chaos, her heart racing with confusion and fear. The noise around her seemed to grow louder, the weight of the emotions in the room overwhelming her. For the first time, she noticed how truly different things were. The students, usually so composed, were now a sea of whispers and tears. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for something—anything—that could explain the sudden shift.

Just then, Monica came running toward her, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Martha… oh Martha, how should I tell you this?” Monica’s voice quivered, and it was clear something was terribly wrong. Martha’s stomach churned with anxiety.

"Monica, what’s wrong?" Martha asked, her voice trembling with fear.

Before Monica could answer, the booming voice of Eddington’s chief, the owner of the school, echoed through the hall. "I never thought in my life that my son and daughter of Eddington High would have to go into a state of coma," the chief began, his words faltering. "They were the stars of this school..." His voice broke, and the room fell silent. The pain in his words was unmistakable. Martha’s heart skipped a beat as she realized who he was talking about.

The crowd’s reaction was immediate. Some gasped in disbelief, while others, already knowing the truth, hung their heads in sorrow. Alan and Emma—Eddington High’s beloved stars—had been in a coma.

"I humbly request that everyone take a moment to pay your respects and pray for them to wake up," the chief continued, his voice barely a whisper. "Because this school is nothing without them."

Martha stood there, numb, as the news settled in. Her mind raced as she struggled to process it. Alan and Emma—gone, lying unconscious in a hospital bed. The weight of the truth crashed down on her like a tidal wave. The students around her reacted in different ways—some silently nodded, agreeing to pray, while the aristocrat students scoffed, dismissing it as just another part of life. But Martha, unable to shake the agony of the moment, heard the soft sobs of Alan’s friends. His close friends, the boys who had always looked up to him, were now crumbling under the weight of the loss. Even those who weren’t as close to him—like the girls who secretly admired him from afar—couldn’t hold back their tears.

Martha felt as if the world was collapsing around her. She had secretly crushed on Alan since kindergarten, but now, the one person she had always dreamed of being close to, the one person who had been the light of Eddington High, was lying in a hospital bed, unconscious. The thought of never being able to be with him, never having the chance to be more than just an admirer from afar, hit her like a brick.

“No…” she whispered quietly, the words barely leaving her lips. She said it again, louder this time, her voice cracking with the weight of her sorrow. “No!” She collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Alan… I’m sorry..." she cried out, her sobs echoing in the quiet hall.

Monica rushed to her side, pulling her into a tight hug. “Oh, Martha,” she whispered, holding her close. “It’s going to be okay. He’s going to wake up. He has to wake up. And you two—he’ll wake up, and you’ll be together. You’ll be the star couple of Eddington High, just like you always dreamed."

But as comforting as Monica’s words were, Martha couldn’t shake the sinking feeling in her chest. She didn’t know if Alan would ever wake up, and she didn’t know if she would ever have a chance to be more than just a distant admirer. The truth was, nobody knew about Alan and Emma’s relationship—no one except their families. And with Emma’s life hanging in the balance as well, Martha knew that the dream she’d held onto for so long might never come true. The heartbreak she felt now was only the beginning.

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