“Let's get him to the nurse,” the vice principal said.
William stood and followed the vice principal to the nurse’s office. The secretary
asked to come along, but he told her to stay at her desk.
The nosebleed lasted for another ten minutes. The blood had dripped onto his
flannel shirt. The school let him call home to get permission to leave, but they
were unable to reach his father or grandmother. He had to stay at school the rest
of the day.
He put his flannel shirt in his locker and went to the bathroom to clean up. Once
confident that no blood remained on his face, he headed to class.
It was halfway through the second period.
William spent the rest of the day hoping his nose wouldn’t bleed again. He made it
to the end of school without another drop.
When he walked out of the classroom and turned left into the hallway, the girl who
helped him earlier walked out of the first door he passed.
William slowed down his pace so he wouldn't catch up to her, but she saw him and
stopped.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Good,” William responded. “Thanks for helping earlier.”
He kept his gaze in front of him. He didn’t want to make eye contact. Falling in
front of her had ruined any chance he had.
“You're welcome,” she said.
William stopped at the first exit and walked out of the school. His car was in the
lot on the other side of the building, but he took the nearest door to avoid seeing
her again. Walking home from that exit would be faster than making the trek around
the building to his vehicle.