Writing Wednesdays 3

Prompt: Write a stressful situation in second person.


You stare at the blank answer sheet and test booklet in front of you. The ticks of the clock echo through your head as your pencil scratches your name on the top right hand corner. You didn't study for this test. You forgot all about it. Now the room only inhabits soft scribbling sounds and the loud tick of the clock. You have twenty minutes. You feel the teacher's eyes on you as you gulp and begin reading the first question. Your stomach growls, but no one seems to notice. The room seems like a white box with only the glare of the black text asking you questions and expecting you to fill in a bubble for your answer. The air grows hotter as the pressure builds on your brain. How are you going to get through this? You close your eyes and take a deep breath. You sift through memories of class, but your mind becomes distracted with your favorite song, your latest conversation and the ringing of your ears. The desk is cold as you lean over the test. Your hair tickles your forehead and you brush it back, hoping to find a way to focus. You tap your pencil to the paper as you think. You resist looking at the clock for fear of wasting more time to complete the test. Your hand begins to itch. Focus.