Rose's POV

2 years ago.

It's the last day of twelfth grade, we were having a quick chemistry practical today. I love chemistry and everything else that had to do with it, and even as it was a broad one to study, I came out top of my class.

Skimming through the hallway, my smile was bright, and my cheeks hurt from the unsure joy I had.

Maybe it's because I'll be kissing this high school goodbye in a bit or for the fact that I'll be in college in a short time. Both of which I do not know.

I had lost so much weight due to my intense studying; my skin was pale, and my Dad was concerned.

I've argued with him on several occasions that I'm fine and he's still not having it.

******

We had gone far into the test practicals, I managed to finish up my work and leave.

My head hurts and my joints beg for ease. I'm eager to get home as I feel dizziness cloud my senses.

I removed the safety goggles that I had on, in case it was the cause of my air shortage.

It still didn't help.

I didn't want to bring attention to myself in the lab.

I felt like I was spinning, my breathing hitched. It happens often that I kind of grew into that constant feeling. Today was worse than other days.

I looked around and saw most of my batch mates; each of them had their heads bowed, locked up in the test they carried out.

I ran my hands on the bridge of my nose.

“Oh God,” I spoke with a soft sigh; I shot my eyes tight.

I felt a warm and moist feeling in my nose. With my index finger, I wiped my nose with my palms.

The blood I saw this time was not the usual one, it was usually a few drops. I thought it was just the minor stress that I usually put myself through that caused it.

I looked at my hand gloves, it was covered in thick red blood. they formed thick blood clots.

I gasped, doing my best to stop the bleeding.

My hands were shaky or maybe I was the one wobbly.

I feel blood slowly run out of my nose like I was an active volcanic mountain, erupting molten lava, bit by bit. In This case, my body was the mountain, and my nose was the vent from which thick blood spilled out. I cleaned them up some more, with my hands.

It made it a whole lot messier, the blood was now spread on my nose and mouth region.

Blood ran down my nose, staining my mouth, and droplets of blood were on my lab cloth. All that had happened now had drawn the attention of the kids by my side.

I heard them gasping; they removed their safety goggles to get a good look at this bleeding child.

"Please don't raise alarms." I pleaded with them in my head.

You guys could just act like you saw nothing, I would sneak out of the lab without anybody noticing. I could try.

“You're bleeding.” The short blonde boy with freckles dispersed below his eyes, whispered to me like I did know the storm that was occurring in my own body

“Yes, I can see that too; please, can you turn back to your work and mind your goddamn business,” I whispered back to the boy, who had his eyes bulging out. His eyes zeroed on my blood-stained face.

I didn't mean to sound rude, I swear. Gibson, by name, was only trying to show concern.

But that's not what I need right now, I'm already choked up on my Dad doing that too much.

I know I look frightening now. I'm no different from the zombie dressed in a lab coat from World War Z he had watched last night.

While I was busy trying to quiet Gibson with the little energy I had in me, the other guy, I couldn't quite remember his name, had drawn the rest of the class’s attention towards our angle.

We were at the back left corner of the science lab, I thought it would be easier to not be heard or seen.

That wasn't enough for them, the Lab attendant appeared right next to me with a very concerned face.

Away with the attention I never wanted.

“Please I need you all exit this premises immediately. If you're done with your test, kindly leave them behind. This is an emergency.”

There were murmurs in the lab as my overly concerned mates shuffled around; the sound of their foot steps added to what was going to make my head explode in a minute.

I shot my eyes tightly, trying to conserve and contain all these external noises that they made.

I stood and leaned on the wall effortlessly, my hands gripping my head tightly; any little force of push would bring me to the ground in seconds.

I just stayed, there watching these healthy kid exist in the lab, sweat dripped from my temple down my face.

“Come here, child, let me help you get this off.” The old lab attendant helped me get rid of the blood-stained lab coat. I let her help me; I couldn't help myself anyway.

I was drenched in sweat mixed with blood.

I heard her conversing with someone over the phone, her tone was hasty.

“I just called in for help, they will be here in a minute.”

“Let me get you a rinsed up, child.” She supported me in the restroom. And helped me rinse out the blood that was beginning to stick to my face.

Blood still ran out of my nose, quicker than before, the old lady's hands were stained with blood.

The white face towel she used to wipe out the blood was painted with my blood.

I was soaked in blood, too, more than before; the metallic stench hit my senses hard this time.

At this point, my thinking went from my present situation to how my Dad would feel if he heard this; he had always worried that these little health issues would escalate. I didn't picture this day coming, that I would bleed out two pants of my blood in a few minutes.

My eyes began tearing up.

If this is to be my end, I should know better.