Dear Diary

Chapter 34

Soon the beginning of autumn rolled in, bringing with it the relieving cooler weather. Everyone was happy to be done with the heat for another year. But one day, about two weeks into autumn, there was a blistering hot day and it brought a massive problem for me along with it.

Out of all the days of the year, today happened to be the one day that my class was told to do P.E. for marks. We were told in advance, so my mom had packed me a frozen bottle of coke which I kept in my cool locker for the day. But it was so hot that even the normally pleasant building temperature was making everyone sweat.

The P.E. lesson was the last hour of the day. Something I was grateful for because then you don't have to deal with stinky boys in a classroom for the rest of the day. I was very glad that Mom had packed me that coke, because in no time flat, my lukewarm water was finished. But I only allowed myself a few sips from it because I would still be getting tutored afterwards and I needed to keep up my blood pressure.

However, me being me, I had forgotten to take the coke out of my locker before the lesson began. So here I was, in the boiling sun with nothing to drink. Normally, I could hold having nothing to drink quite well. I didn't drink much anyway, even after my runs, but today was different - because it was for marks.

I'm naturally a very competitive person, but my shy side always hides it. So, when I do something for marks, I subconsciously push myself more than my body can handle and I only realise it after I'm finished and the adrenaline has stopped pumping. By then it's too late.

"Okay, everyone, the bell's just gone so you can leave," Mr Jacobs said and everyone gave a tired cheer before getting up and leaving. I, however, stayed rooted to my spot, too tired to move.

"Hey, Lizzy, you okay?" I looked at Anne, who was only a little sweaty, and waved my hand.

"Yes, I'm fine," I gasped. "Just trying to catch my breath," I said and she gave me a look. 

I felt lightheaded, but then again, I've felt like that the whole day: the first sign of low blood pressure. I know that I've survived running in summer heat, but that was because my body was used to it. Now my body's used to cooler weather, so that alone lowers my blood pressure because my body can't adjust to the sudden temperature change. 

The joys of my medical life.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. You can go," I said and ushered her away, which she did so hesitantly. 

I waited another minute and tried to swallow, but my throat felt like sandpaper. By now I was the only one left by the fields, but I wanted to wait until the corridors were clear so I didn't have to walk through so many people.

I sighed and stood, but as I did, my vision swirled and I quickly caught myself before I fell. I took a shaky breath. I needed to get to my locker. I forced myself to take slow, tentative steps.

 Unfortunately, my locker was on the second floor so I had to drag myself up a flight of stairs first. Sweat was streaming down my face by now and I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand while trying to keep my balance.

Soon my locker was in sight and I rushed up to it as fast as I could and put in the combination. My brows furrowed in confusion when it didn't open. I took a deep breath to try and settle my increasing heart rate and tried the combo again. 

I started to panic when it wouldn't budge and I felt my hands begin to shake. My blood pressure was dropping and I needed to get to my coke. It was a miracle worker with low blood pressure. I took a step back and tried to think.

I knew that there were some kids in the school who thought it funny to tamper with someone else's locker code, but I really wasn't amused at the moment. Frustrated tears came to my eyes. The only way I could get something to drink was if the lock was cut as I didn't even have money to buy from a vending machine.