TOMORROW
“Tomorrow”? That was the first word I saw after turned over the question paper. I almost fainted with fear. It just was not happening. The other titles seemed hard to me. ‘What am I going to write about tomorrow?’ My mind went totally blank. I had written so many essays when I was revising but now, I could not even start on any of the topics!
‘It is alright, Izy. Calm down. You know that you can do it!’ That is what I thought. I tried to calm down and think more about how to make a storyline about ‘Tomorrow’. ‘Is it about what will happen tomorrow? Or is it about twist in our life? No, maybe it is about our future. Argh! What am I going to do?’
Suddenly, I started shivering. I could not control myself. I put my head down on the desk and tried to control my breathing. ‘Tomorrow, tomorrow, what am I suppose to write?’ I was going to cry. I had written about four essays the night before. I also had gone through the entire question that our teacher had given us. Why could not I remember anything?
“Are you alright?” It was the invigilator. She was very concerned. “Yes, yes. I am fine” The invigilator did not seem convinced. “Are you sure?” “Tomorrow” The invigilator seemed confused. “Tomorrow? What about tomorrow?” “Ah? No, I mean, I am fine. Do not worry about me” She stood near my table. That made me more nervous.
I started shivering again. He stared at me as if I was cheating. I looked around me. Everyone had their heads down and they were busily writing away. Suddenly, the same invigilator walked towards me. She pats my head and said, “Basmalah”. I felt a strange sense of calmness falling over me. Right at that time, I said to myself that in future, I am going to be like her. ‘Wait, it is ‘tomorrow’!’
I picked up my pen and started writing. What I wrote I do not know but I managed to fill two foolscap papers. I was numb with shock and fear. ‘What was happening to me?’ I do not know how I suddenly have an idea on how to write the essay about...