chapter 6

Sophia's POV

The pain when I fell in the cafeteria was excruciating. It felt as though my knee had shattered into a thousand pieces. My right leg was completely useless—I couldn't even muster the strength to move. Leah, my best friend, tried to help me up, but even with her support, I couldn't stand. Each attempt sent sharp, searing pain shooting through my leg, leaving me gasping.

My vision blurred from the tears streaming down my face, and the muffled sounds of students chattering around us faded into the background. Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted. My head lolled weakly, and I blinked through the tears, only to meet a pair of piercing emerald green eyes. For a moment, I forgot about the pain, caught in the intensity of his gaze.

"I'll take you to the clinic," he said firmly, his voice steady and reassuring. I managed a small nod and whispered, "Thank you."

Leah, always protective, quickly added, "Thank you so much for helping her." He gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable, and carried me out of the cafeteria with ease.

When we reached the clinic, he set me down gently on the bed. The softness of the mattress felt like a relief compared to the cold, hard floor of the cafeteria. Before I could even thank him again, he turned and left without another word.

The nurse entered moments later, her face filled with concern as she took in my tear-streaked face and trembling form. "What happened, Sophia?" she asked, her tone soft but tinged with worry.

"Deborah caused this," Leah interjected, her voice sharp with anger. "She tripped Sophia, and she hit her knee hard on the floor."

The nurse gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Let me examine your knee and see if we need to take you to the hospital for an X-ray, okay?"

I nodded, unable to speak. The pain was overwhelming, and every movement felt like torture.

When the nurse touched my knee, a loud groan escaped my lips. I couldn't hold back the sobs that followed. The room seemed to spin as the pain intensified, and I felt Leah's comforting hand on my shoulder.

"You'll be okay, Sophia," she said softly, though her voice trembled. "I'm here for you."

Her words were kind, but they didn't lessen the throbbing in my knee. As the nurse continued her examination, I bit my lip to keep from screaming. My thoughts drifted to my mom—how worried she would be when she saw me like this. I hated adding to her stress. She already had so much on her plate, and now I'd be a burden for weeks, maybe even months.

I was pulled back to the present when I heard Leah and the nurse arguing.

"Leah, you need to go back to class," the nurse said firmly. "I'll take care of Sophia."

"No, ma'am," Leah replied stubbornly. "She needs someone here to comfort her. I'm not leaving her alone."

"I understand," the nurse said, her voice softening slightly. "But the principal won't be happy if he finds you here during class hours. Please, Leah, go back to class. I'll stay with her."

I tried to speak up, my voice barely above a whisper. "I want Leah to stay."

The nurse gave me a sympathetic look. "I know, sweetheart, but Leah has to go. Only students who are injured or sick can stay in the clinic during school hours."

Leah sighed, clearly unhappy but understanding the nurse's point. "Fine," she said reluctantly. She turned to me, squeezing my shoulder gently. "I'll come back as soon as the dismissal bell rings, okay?"

She leaned down and kissed my cheek before heading to the door. "Rest up, Sophia. I'll see you later."

I watched her leave, waving weakly as she disappeared down the hall. The room felt emptier without her, and the nurse's quiet movements didn't help distract me from the pain.

As the nurse continued to examine my knee, I sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent—rich, sweet, and unmistakable. My heart skipped a beat. It was Deborah's perfume, the expensive choco musk she always wore. My eyes darted to the door, and I caught a shadow retreating. I knew it was her.

What is she doing here? Is she checking to see if I'm suffering enough? My chest tightened with anger and frustration. I cursed her silently, trying to push back the fresh wave of tears threatening to spill.

When the nurse finally released my knee, I hugged it instinctively, burying my face against it as I sobbed. The pain was unbearable, radiating like a heartbeat through my leg.

"Sophia," the nurse said softly, her eyes full of concern.

"Yes?" I croaked, my voice trembling.

"You'll be fine," she said, though her tone was cautious. "But your knee is broken, and it will take time to heal. We'll need to get an X-ray to confirm the extent of the damage, but you'll likely need crutches for support while walking."

"How long will it take to heal?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"A month, maybe longer," she replied gently.

"A month?!" I shouted, the panic rising in my chest. I hugged my knee tighter, but the sharp pain made me cry out.

The nurse gently pried my hands away. "You've hugged it enough," she said kindly. She rested my leg on the bed and placed an ice bag on it to reduce the swelling.

"What's this on your forehead?" she asked, leaning closer. "Did you hit it too?"

"Yes," I admitted, touching the sore spot. "The tray I was carrying hit my head before I fell. No one noticed, but it hurts now, and my head is pounding."

The nurse's expression grew more serious. "I'm so sorry, Sophia. Let me get some pills for your headache and another ice bag for your forehead."

She hurried out of the room and returned moments later with a small tray. She handed me two pills and a bottle of water. I drank half the bottle in one go, realizing how thirsty I was. The cold water felt soothing as it slid down my throat.

After placing the second ice bag on my forehead, the nurse smiled gently. "Try to rest, Sophia. Sleep will help you heal faster."

"Okay," I murmured, exhaustion finally taking over. I closed my eyes, the darkness pulling me in. The pain was still there, but sleep dulled its sharp edges, and for a while, I drifted into a restless slumber, my body desperate for relief.