Seal your lips!

Sometimes people have to face some situations on their own. They can't tell even their closest one. I did the same. 

I thought in my heart, "I have to keep this secret inside my heart as long as I can, or else, everyone will think that I've banged my head somewhere during that incident so I'm talking nonsense. Just like that day, when I tried to tell my family clearly about the whole incident, my mom was the first one not to believe me. So, I didn't tell anyone. I'm sorry, Shams, even if I try to believe that you will, believe me, I can not tell you." 

I looked at Shams with a teary face because it felt horrible to hide something from him. He was my best friend and like a brother since childhood. It was the first time I had ever hidden something from him. 

Seeing me like this, he looked very sad.

"Ashma, I already felt very guilty about not knowing anything. Now, seeing you like this, I am feeling so ashamed. Not only was I unaware but also couldn't console you. I am really sorry." 

Hearing his statements, I assumed that he thought the tears in my eyes were due to an explanation and I'm still in big shock so I tried to console him. I wiped my tears and said, 

"Shams, I believe uncle hasn't told you because you have a grand test coming up in a few days and studying is important. He doesn't want to make you worried or lose your focus. You are already the top student in your class. If your grades fall, then it would be a shame for our family. Besides, having you with me through thick and thin is enough for me."

 When I said these words, he looked satisfied and smiled. 

"Ashma, I'm fortunate to have a friend like you." 

"Okay, okay, you don't have to be so emotional right now. You're really overprotective of me. That's why my brother, James, often gets annoyed that you are even more protective of his sister than him." I chuckled.

The bell rang and the break was over.

"Let's go to our classes." He said.

I nodded my head yes.

—-----

 We went to our classrooms. It was physics class after the lunch break. Susan's seat was on my left hand and Jasmine's seat was on my right hand so during class they were gossiping with each other and it bugged me. I tried to stop them because the lecture was still going on. It was difficult for me to hear a single word and concentrate.

"Hey! If I couldn't do today's physics assignment, then you both know the consequences. The Biology grand test is coming up and who is going to help you then? Also, in the midterm exam, if you both get an F in Biology don't blame me." I told them with an evil and irritated expression. Then I gave them a burst of evil laughter with fire in my eyes. 

"Okay, it's really dangerous to offend you", said one of them. But both of them behaved and I could hear the words of the teacher.  

"Of course, you should know the consequences of offending your master, ha ha ha!" I replied with a beaming face.

I listened to the whole lecture carefully but during the lecture, I had a constant feeling that someone was observing me outside the window. Although my seat was between Jasmine and Susan, it was also beside the window in a row. I felt constant whispers but whenever I looked out the window, there was nothing. 

After the class was over, I started getting goosebumps all of a sudden. It was very odd and I felt an unusual scent around me. A very strange scent I've never smelt before. Probably, it was giving me goosebumps. I started feeling dizzy.

"Ashma, Ashma! Are you okay?"  My friends called me.

But, I couldn't respond to them. Then, I happened to hear a very faint sound of a flute. I was attracted to it. It was very hypnotizing. I couldn't control my body anymore. I heard nothing, nothing but that flute tune. 

"What is happening to me? Why can't I control my body? This is terrible. I can't dodge it. I can't escape. What am I going to do?" I thought in my heart.

I was moving in the direction of the hypnotizing tune. My eyes showed no consciousness. My mind became occupied by some thoughts. I felt myself in a big valley with flowers everywhere, a cool breeze touching my skin gently, giving me its faint sound. As I walked, with every step, I heard a child's joyous laughter, a little girl calling my name. 

"Big sister, Ashma! Come on. Let's play! Big sister, are you mad at me?" 

I was going after the constant laughter, chasing the voice, a sensation of curiosity wrapped my whole heart, impatient to find who it was.

 Sure enough, I was on the rooftop of the school building and only one step away from death. 

I was about to fall but Susan grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her. I regained consciousness. 

She and Jasmine were looking at me with great shock.

 Susan said, "Girl, you…" Then yelled at me while holding my arm, "What were you thinking? What were you just going to do? Are you tired of living?" 

Jasmine yelled at me with a shocking face, " Do you want to die? What happened all of a sudden?" 

They both were so mad at me. I couldn't understand anything. It was all of a sudden. I didn't have words to describe the situation. My mind left me in chaos. I was so confused. Also, I had never seen both of my friends so angry and worried before.

 I asked myself, "What should I do? What should I say? Make an excuse? Or say I pranked them? But...Would they believe me, if I tell them the truth?" 

I was feeling very confused. I didn't know what to do so I ran from there with tears in my eyes escaping my arm from Susan's hand. I thought of it as the only way to escape from the situation. 

I ran to the restroom, cried silently, and asked myself. 

"Why? Why did such a tragedy take place in my life? Am I really imagining things or am I turning crazy? I don't know anymore. Today, I was almost dead but I can't tell you the truth either, my friends. I don't know what you'll think of me. I am afraid, telling you, you'll betray our friends and leave me behind, saying I'm a psycho person." 

I was blinded by the situation, and couldn't figure out anything. I even skipped the Maths period, the last class that came after the Physics class. When school time was over, I planned to go home silently without meeting my friends. I couldn't even have the courage to face them but I texted them.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm going home by myself today. If you see me here somewhere, pretend you haven't seen me. I beg you. I don't dare to face you or explain anything to you. About what happened earlier, please don't tell anyone, especially not Shams. Bye."

 I  began to walk on foot and said to myself,

"I must prepare a better excuse at home."