The Collapse
Summary: I fainted at school; the nurse started connecting the dots.
That morning I begged, “Please. I’m really sorry. I understand I was rude. Can I have some cereal?”
Mom studied me. “Are you sorry — or just hungry?”
“I’m truly sorry,” I lied.
“I don’t believe you,” she said coolly. “Empty words don’t earn food.”
Melanie buttered her toast. “You can tell when Kimberly’s faking. She gets that desperate look.”
Preston loaded his plate. “If you cared about learning, you wouldn’t focus on food.”
Dad folded his paper. “Discipline doesn’t break just because things get hard.”
By first period, I could barely focus. Second period, the words on the page began to blur.
“Kimberly?” my teacher whispered. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. I wasn’t. My vision tilted.
Third period gym — halfway through laps, the world went black.
