Chapter 3

It was gym class in the afternoon.

The shuttle run test.

I stood by the track, watching others warm up.

The coach blew his whistle.

"Maya, are you running today?"

Everyone's eyes were on me.

Usually, I'd bring a doctor's note to be excused.

But today, I didn't have one.

My mom hadn't prepared it for me last night.

"Yes," I said.

A ripple of whispers went through the crowd.

"Doesn't she have asthma?"

"Must be faking it, she looks fine usually."

"She's a schizo, probably a different personality today."

I ignored them and walked to the starting line.

Chloe stood beside me, giving me a glance.

"Can you do it?"

"Yes."

The whistle blew, and I sprinted off.

I ran fast.

The wind whistled past my ears.

I wanted to run out all the pent-up frustration in my heart.

I wanted to prove that I was a healthy person, that I wasn't Lily, that I didn't have asthma.

The first lap, I was in the lead.

The second lap, my breathing became ragged.

Not faking it, I was genuinely tired.

It had been too long since I had done any strenuous exercise.

My lungs felt like they were burning, and there was a metallic taste of blood in my throat.

The sound of footsteps behind me grew closer.

Chloe overtook me.

Other girls also passed me one by one.

I gritted my teeth, my eyes fixed on the track ahead.

Can't stop.

If I stopped, I was Lily.

If I kept running, I was Maya.

The last lap.

My legs felt heavy as lead.

My vision started to blur.

I heard someone calling my name.

"Maya! You got this!"

It was Chloe.

I pushed with all my might and crossed the finish line.

Then, my legs gave out, and I fell to my knees on the synthetic track.

I gasped for air, sweat blurring my eyes.

Someone offered me a bottle of water.

I looked up. It was Chloe.

"Drink some water."

I took the water, twisted open the cap, and guzzled a large mouthful.

"You ran pretty fast," she smiled.

I managed a weak smile back.

Just then, a harsh voice cut through the air.

"Well, well, the asthma patient can run now? Didn't die, huh?"

It was Jake.

The class troublemaker.

He walked over with a few other guys, looking down at me.

"Maya, your acting's terrible. Yesterday you were coughing your guts out, and today you can run? Is your illness intermittent or something?"

The people around them snickered.

I tightened my grip on the water bottle.

"Mind your own business," I said coldly.

"Got a temper, do we?" Jake stepped closer. "I heard your mom's a psycho. Did you inherit it?"

My head buzzed.

I shot up, and the mineral water bottle in my hand smacked him square in the face.

Water splashed all over him.

Jake froze.

The whole field fell silent.

"You fucking hit me?" Jake yelled, regaining his senses, and shoved me hard.

I was already out of strength, and his push sent me tumbling to the ground.

My palms scraped, oozing blood.

"Jake! What are you doing!" Chloe stepped in front of me.

"Chloe, stay out of this!" Jake pointed at me. "This crazy bitch hit me first!"

"You started by insulting her!" Chloe stood her ground.

The coach ran over.

"What's going on! Are you rebelling!"

Jake and I were both called to the principal's office.

The principal was a bald, middle-aged man.

He slammed his fist on the desk, spittle flying from his mouth.

"Fighting! You dare to fight! Maya, it's bad enough you fake illnesses, now you're hitting other students?"

I kept my head down, looking at the blood on my palms, and said nothing.

"Jake, you too! Why are you picking a fight with a girl?"

Jake rolled his eyes.

"Call your parents!" The dean of students issued a final ultimatum. "Bring your parents in tomorrow!"

My heart sank.

Call my parents.

My mom.

If my mom came, the whole school would know what kind of person she was.

Everyone would see her madness.

I looked up at the dean.

"Dean, my mom is sick. She can't come."

"Sick? What kind of sickness?"

"Mental illness."

The office suddenly fell silent.

The dean froze.

Jake froze too.

I looked at their shocked expressions and suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

"She's crazy," I said calmly. "She can't come. If you want to expel me, go ahead."

With that, I turned and walked out of the office.

Behind me, I heard the principal's enraged roar.

I ignored it.