A Race Against Time
On the morning of my medical college entrance exam, I woke up late to find that all my alarms were mysteriously turned off. As I hurried to get ready, my 8-year-old brother stepped in with a plan that would save the day.
Since I was young, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. After my mom died of cancer, that dream became even stronger. I wanted to help people like her, learn more about the disease that took her away, and support others in their battles against it.
Source: Pexels
I worked for this moment for years, going through late nights, countless books, and more exams than I could count. Today, all that hard work was about to pay off: it was finally the day of my medical entrance exam.
Last night, I did everything to make sure I wouldn’t oversleep. I set three alarms on my phone—6:00 a.m., 6:15 a.m., and 6:30 a.m. I even left my curtains open so that the sunlight would wake me up. As I lay in bed, I thought of my mom and promised myself that I’d make her proud.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, something felt wrong. It was dark, too dark. I reached for my phone, and my heart sank—9:55 a.m. My exam started at 10:00.
“No, no, no! This can’t be happening!” I threw off my blankets and grabbed my phone. All three alarms were turned off.
“I know I set these!” I muttered, my hands shaking as I got dressed quickly. My mind raced with questions. How did this happen?
I bolted down the stairs, half-dressed, with my hair everywhere. “Linda!” I called out, desperately looking for my stepmom. “Linda, please! I need a ride to the college. My exam is in five minutes!”
She was in the kitchen, sipping her coffee calmly, watching me with a look I couldn’t quite understand. She raised an eyebrow, giving me a look that was as cold as her coffee cup was hot.
“You’re late already,” she said flatly. “Maybe next time, you should learn to set an alarm properly.”
“I did set them!” I almost shouted, feeling frustrated and panicked. “I triple-checked. They were on, all three of them.”
She shrugged, a slight smirk on her lips. “Clearly, you didn’t. Maybe this is a sign that you’re not cut out for med school. If you can’t even wake up on time, how will you handle something serious, like a patient?”
I stood there, feeling my face grow hot, my mind swirling with disbelief and desperation. This couldn’t be real. My stepmom wouldn’t do this to me, would she?
I turned toward the door, knowing I’d never make it on foot but feeling I had to try. Just as I reached for the handle, I heard a small voice behind me.
“I know who did it,” my little brother Jason said, his voice shaky but his eyes steady.
I turned, confused. “Jason, what are you talking about?”
He took a small step forward, looking at Linda cautiously. “I saw her. Last night. She turned off your alarms, Emily.”
Linda shot him a sharp look. “Jason, stop making up stories,” she hissed.
Jason gulped but didn’t back down. “I’m not lying! I saw you go into her room, pick up her phone, and turn off the alarms. You said she didn’t need to be at that stupid exam anyway.”
My mind was spinning. I looked at Linda, searching her face for denial, for any sign she’d say it was a misunderstanding. But she just sighed, crossing her arms.
“You know what, Emily?” she said coolly, her voice hardening. “Fine. Yes, I did it. You’re not fit to be a doctor. It’s a waste of time and money that your dad could spend on something worthwhile.”
“Like… your beauty salon?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Just as I was about to push past her and leave, I heard sirens in the distance, getting louder as they approached our house.
Jason, now holding my hand, gave me a small, hopeful smile. “Don’t worry, Em. I called for help.”
Linda’s face hardened as she looked at Jason, who stood by my side. “You seriously did this?” she asked, barely able to speak.
Jason’s small voice cut through the tension. “You are the bad guy, Linda,” he said, his eyes fierce despite his small size. “Emily is going to be a doctor one day. Mom would be proud of her.”
Linda’s face twisted, and before she could say anything, the wailing sirens outside grew louder. I watched her look toward the window, her eyes widening with surprise.
The front door opened, and two police officers stepped inside. One of them, a tall man, spoke with calm authority. “Is everything alright here?”
Jason didn’t hesitate. “I called you,” he said, standing tall despite his age. “My sister needs to get to her entrance exam. Linda turned off her alarms so she’d miss it.”
The officer’s eyes moved to Linda, who immediately pretended to be innocent. “This is absurd!” she scoffed, folding her arms. “They’re just children, making things up because they’re late.”
But the other officer, a woman with kind eyes, knelt down to Jason’s level. “You called us to help your sister?” she asked gently.
Jason nodded vigorously. “Yes. Emily studied so hard, and she was ready. Linda turned off her alarms so she’d miss her test.”
The officers exchanged glances, then turned to me. “Is that true?” the male officer asked.
“Yes,” I whispered, feeling the weight of everything settle over me. “I have to get to my college right now, or I’ll lose my chance to take the exam.”
The officers nodded and exchanged another glance. “Alright, young lady,” the female officer said, standing up, “We’re going to get you there.”
Linda’s face twisted with disbelief. “Wait, you’re actually going to escort her?” she stammered, frustration evident in her voice. “This is ridiculous!”
“It’s our job to help people,” the officer replied, coolly dismissing Linda. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
I turned to Jason, who was smiling proudly, a little hero in his own right. “Thank you, Jason,” I whispered, hugging him tight. “You saved me.”
As I left with the officers, Linda’s face showed a mix of fury and disbelief. The officers helped me into their squad car, and we sped down the road with the sirens blaring, weaving through traffic as we approached the college. My heart pounded in my chest, but this time, it was with determination.
At the exam center, we arrived just minutes before the doors were set to close. The officers stepped out with me, guiding me toward the entrance.
One of the proctors noticed us and approached, looking confused. “Ma’am, the exam is about to begin,” he said, glancing at the officers.
The policewoman explained quickly. “This young lady had her alarms sabotaged at home, but she’s here now. I understand if you can’t make exceptions, but if there’s any way she can sit for the exam…”
The proctor’s stern face softened as he listened. He looked me in the eyes, as if weighing my sincerity, then gave a brief nod. “Alright. Go on in.”
“Thank you,” I managed, barely believing I’d made it.
I found my seat, still shaken but refusing to let the morning’s events get the best of me. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, and thought of my mom. This was my moment, and I wasn’t going to let anyone take it from me. I picked up my pencil and began the test.
Hours later, I walked out of the exam room, exhausted but relieved. The officers who had helped me were gone, but I felt their kindness with every step as I headed home. Jason was waiting on the front steps, and he jumped up as soon as he saw me.
“Did you do it?” he asked eagerly, his eyes bright with hope.
I nodded, a smile breaking out despite my exhaustion. “I did, thanks to you.”
He threw his arms around me. “I knew you could.”
Inside, my dad was waiting. His face was pale, and his mouth was set in a grim line. He had been waiting for me to come home to hear everything. Jason took the lead, explaining every detail of what had happened while I was gone.
My dad’s face grew red with anger, his eyes narrowing as he looked over at Linda, who was trying to look calm and unaffected. “Is this true?” he demanded, his voice trembling with restrained fury.
Linda’s eyes darted between us. “I… I was just trying to keep her from a mistake. I didn’t mean for it to go so far,” she mumbled, finally looking cornered.
“You sabotaged her dreams because of your own selfishness,” my dad said coldly. “You’re not staying here another night.”
Linda’s face turned pale as she realized he was serious. She tried to protest, but he shook his head firmly. “Pack your things, Linda. This family deserves better than this.”
Jason and I stood by the door, watching as she finally left. There was no satisfaction in it, just a sense of justice and relief.
Woman Summoned to School Over Her Son’s Misconduct and Is Stunned to Discover Who His Teacher Is
It was a tough life for Molly. Her main concern was her son, Tommy. The constant changing of schools and towns wasn’t good for him. He started bullying other kids and starting fights. She never imagined that one call to the principal’s office would restore a part of her life she thought was lost.
Molly sat quietly across the table from her husband, Nigel, as they shared a tense lunch. The clinking of cutlery was the only sound breaking the heavy silence between them.
Nigel’s frustration was evident in the way he poked at his food, barely taking a bite. His brow was furrowed, and his mouth was set in a tight line.
Finally, he muttered under his breath, “This is overcooked,” pushing his plate away with a look of disdain.
Molly felt her heart sink at his words. She had tried her best with the meal, but it seemed nothing she did ever pleased Nigel anymore. His next words cut even deeper.
“And why can’t you get your son to behave? He’s always causing trouble, and it’s making our lives more difficult.”
The way Nigel referred to Tommy as “your son” stung. He never called Tommy “our son,” always distancing himself from the boy.
Despite being together for so many years, Nigel had never fully embraced Tommy as his own.
Tommy wasn’t Nigel’s biological child, but Molly had hoped that, with time, he would come to love him as a father should.
But instead, the constant moving and instability seemed to be tearing their family apart, with Nigel’s impatience growing more pronounced with each passing day.
Nigel had struggled to find stable work, bouncing from one city to another, taking on whatever part-time jobs he could find.
Each time he lost a job, they would uproot their lives again, packing up their belongings and moving to a new place.
Molly had tried to be supportive, taking care of Tommy and doing her best to keep their small family together. But for Tommy, who was only eight, the constant upheaval was taking a toll.
Every time they moved, Tommy had to adjust to a new school, new friends, and new teachers.
It wasn’t surprising that he had started acting out in school. He had changed schools three times in the past year alone, and it was becoming harder and harder for him to keep up.
The frequent relocations meant that he never had a chance to settle in, to feel like he belonged anywhere.
Molly worried about him constantly, knowing how much he was struggling but feeling powerless to help.
The phone rang suddenly, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the table.
Molly reached for it, dreading what the call might bring.
When she heard the voice on the other end, her heart sank further.
“Mrs. Jones, we need to talk about Tommy,” came the voice of Mrs. Kolinz, the school principal. Her tone was serious, and Molly knew what was coming.
“His behavior has been disruptive, and we’d like you to come to the school tomorrow to speak with his teacher.”
Molly sighed, her heart heavy. This conversation was inevitable. She agreed to meet with the teacher, hoping against hope that this wouldn’t lead to another expulsion.
If Tommy was kicked out of this school, finding another one willing to take him in would be nearly impossible.
The weight of the situation pressed down on her as she hung up the phone, feeling more alone and helpless than ever.
The next day, Molly walked into the school with Tommy’s small hand firmly in hers. The halls were quiet, but her heart pounded with each step they took toward the principal’s office.
The walls seemed to close in on her, amplifying her anxiety. She could feel Tommy’s grip tightening, a reflection of his own unease.
She wished she could comfort him, but her own nerves were too overwhelming.
As they approached the door at the end of the hallway, Molly noticed that it was slightly ajar.
She took a deep breath and peeked inside, seeing the familiar figure of Mrs. Kolinz, the school principal, seated behind her desk.
Standing next to her was a man with his back turned toward the door. Molly’s breath caught in her throat as she realized who it was.
It was him. Christian. Her ex-boyfriend from nearly nine years ago. The man she had once loved deeply and the man who left her.
Christian looked right into her eyes, and she knew he recognized her too. But they both understood it was better to keep it to themselves for now.
Molly quickly pushed her thoughts of Christian aside, forcing herself to focus on the situation at hand. This wasn’t the time to dwell on the past.
Mrs. Kolinz glanced up as Molly and Tommy entered the room.
“Mrs. Jones,” she began, her tone professional and firm, “thank you for coming. Mr Rogers, the boy’s teacher, and I need to talk with you about Tommy’s behavior.”
“It’s been quite concerning lately, and we can’t tolerate any more disruptions in the classroom. If this continues, we may have to ask him to leave the school.”
Molly’s heart sank as she heard those words. She had been dreading this conversation, knowing that Tommy’s behavior had been getting worse with each move they made.
But this school was their last hope, the only place that had agreed to take Tommy in after so many rejections. If he got expelled from here, she didn’t know what they would do.
“Please, Mrs. Kolinz,” Molly pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. “Tommy just needs more time to adjust.
“We’ve moved so much, and it’s been really hard on him. He’s not a bad kid; he’s just struggling to find his place. This school is our last hope. If he has to leave, I don’t know where we’ll go.”
Mrs. Kolinz softened slightly, her eyes showing a hint of sympathy, but she remained firm in her stance.
“We understand that Tommy has been through a lot, Mrs. Jones. But we have to think about the other students as well. We’ll give him one more chance, but if there’s another incident, it will be his last.”
Molly nodded, her heart heavy with worry. She knew the odds were stacked against them, but she had no choice but to hope that Tommy could turn things around.
As the meeting ended, she gently guided Tommy out of the office and down the hallway toward the car.
Her mind was racing, filled with fears about the future and the challenges that lay ahead.
Just as they reached the car, she heard a voice call out to her, a voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Molly, wait.”
She turned around slowly, her heart pounding as she faced Christian.
“Tommy, get in the car and wait for me,” she said softly to her son, who obediently climbed into the backseat.
Molly watched him shut the door before turning back to face the man she never expected to see again.
Christian’s voice was soft, but the weight of his words hit Molly like a ton of bricks.
She could see the genuine concern in his eyes, a concern she hadn’t expected to find after all these years.
He had always been a caring persson, but hearing him now, admitting his regrets, was something she hadn’t prepared for.
“Christian…” Molly began, her voice barely above a whisper. She struggled to keep her emotions in check.
“You made it very clear back then that you didn’t want the responsibility. You walked away without looking back. What’s different now?”
Christian’s expression softened, and he took a deep breath, as if trying to gather the right words.
“I was scared, Molly. I was young and stupid, and I didn’t realize what I was giving up. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you… about what we could have had.”
He exhaled.
“When I saw Tommy, it all clicked. I see so much of myself in him, and it made me realize what I missed out on. I can’t undo the past, but I want to make things right now.”
“Nigel is Tommy’s father now,” Molly said, though her voice lacked conviction.
“I’ve made a life with him, and I can’t just throw that away.”
“I’m not asking you to throw anything away, Molly. I just want to be there for Tommy. He deserves to know his real father, and I want to help him in any way I can.”
He came closer.
“I’ve seen kids like him before—kids who are acting out because they’re missing something important in their lives. I know I can be that for him, and maybe… maybe we can find a way to make this work.”
Molly’s heart ached with the weight of the decision she faced. She knew Christian was right—Tommy needed more than what Nigel was providing. But admitting that felt like betraying the life she had tried so hard to build.
“Please, just think about it,” Christian said, his voice gentle but pleading.
“I’m not asking for an answer right now. But I want you to know that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere this time.”
Molly nodded slowly, her mind racing. “I’ll think about it,” she whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Christian gave her a small, hopeful smile. “That’s all I ask. Take your time, Molly. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Molly returned home with Tommy later in the evening. She decided to take her son for a ride after school and have dinner out. As she opened the door, the familiar sight of Nigel sprawled on the couch greeted her.
His shirt was rumpled, and a half-empty bottle of whiskey sat on the table beside him. The room was dim, and the air smelled of alcohol and stale air.
Nigel had lost yet another job, and rather than facing his problems, he had chosen to numb himself with drink.
Molly sighed deeply, her heart heavy. This wasn’t the life she had envisioned for herself or her son. She walked him to the bed; he was already sleepy, and as soon as he touched the sheets, he closed his eyes.
She glanced around the small, cluttered apartment, filled with items they had collected over years of moving from one place to another, never really settling.
The decision she had been avoiding for so long suddenly became clear. It was time to leave, to give Tommy a better life, one where he could feel stable and loved.
Quietly, Molly packed a few bags, gathering Tommy’s clothes and his favorite toys. She checked if Nigel woke up, and after seeing that he was still asleep she went for her son.
She moved with a sense of purpose she hadn’t felt in years. When everything was ready, she gently shook Tommy awake.
“Come on, Tommy. We’re leaving,” she said softly.
Tommy rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep. “Where are we going, Mom?”
Molly smiled, her heart swelling with a newfound sense of hope. “We’re going to stay with someone who cares about us. Someone who wants to be part of our lives.”
As they left the apartment, Molly felt an enormous weight lift off her shoulders.
For the first time in a long while, she felt like they were on the right path, heading toward a future that held promise and happiness—a new beginning for both of them.
Leave a Reply