“ Love is love.  
Lust is lust.  
There is no in-between. ”
***
— Joel —
I had just placed my pen on the table when the first wave of pain struck me like a bolt of lightning. I doubled over, gasping, unsure at first what was happening. Was it… cramps? My eyes widened as the realization crashed over me like a cold wave. 
“ Cramps…” The word slipped out, almost a plea, as I shut my eyes tightly, hoping—no, willing—the pain to vanish along with the world around me. But it was no use. The pain persisted, a stubborn throbbing that refused to be ignored.
“ Pain. ” The pen slipped from my trembling fingers and clattered to the floor, as I fell from the chair and landed on my knees. The cold, hard ground met me, offering no comfort.
I saw stars, not the kind that twinkle serenely in the night sky, but sharp, blinding pinpricks of light that danced in my vision as sweat beaded on my forehead and neck. I had known pain before, sure, but nothing like this. Nothing that consumed every ounce of strength I had, leaving me gasping for breath. The intensity of it all blurred my sight, and I wondered, in a daze, if this was what women experienced. I had never given much thought to cramps, dismissing them as something I could never understand. But now? Now, I couldn’t help but marvel at the cruel twist of fate that had me writhing on the floor, my body betraying me.
The pain grew sharper, more unbearable, until I could feel my strength ebbing away until, finally, darkness enveloped me, and I fell into its cold embrace.
***
— Cecile —
“ Follow your heart, Cec. It knows what to do. ” Essy’s voice echoed in my mind, a gentle reminder as I made my way to class, just in time for the second period. Her words clung to me like a protective charm, but they did little to soothe the unease bubbling inside me.
As I scanned the room, my gaze swept over familiar faces, but one was noticeably absent. Joel. Where was he? The question gnawed at me, a persistent worry that only deepened when my eyes met Stacy’s across the room. She looked just as anxious as I felt.
“ Where could he be? ” I mouthed silently to her, and my heart sank when she shook her head, her expression mirroring my own concern. “ Okay, we’ll wait, ” I whispered to myself, though my mind was anything but calm.
Worry gnawed at me, until I could hardly breathe. Where could he have gone? The minutes ticked by, each one a drop of fuel added to the fire of my anxiety until it burned too brightly to be ignored.
“ Miss Grayson, are you listening? ” Miss. Phoebe’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, dragging me back to the present. My heart skipped a beat as I realized I hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Spanish was usually my favorite subject, something I looked forward to with eager anticipation, but today? Today, I could hardly focus. My mind was miles away.
“ Yes, ” I lied, nodding to her as she resumed her lesson, but the words on the board meant nothing to me. We were learning about the famous restaurants in Spain, their top ten meals, and the nuances of ordering a meal there—topics that would usually fascinate me. But not today. Not with this gnawing worry.
“ Excuse me, Miss, ” I said, standing up before I could think twice. “ I’d like to use the restroom. ” I held my breath as she scrutinized me, her piercing blue eyes assessing whether I was genuinely in need or simply trying to escape. 
After a moment that felt like an eternity, she nodded. “ Okay, you may go. ”
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I fled the classroom, my footsteps echoing down the hallway as I hurried away. But where was I going? I wasn’t sure, my feet moving on their own accord, driven by a force I didn’t fully understand. Before I knew it, I was standing outside the studio, the door looming before me like a portal to something I wasn’t prepared to face.
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle, but the fear of what I might find on the other side pushed me forward. I opened the door slowly, dread curling in my stomach.
The sight that greeted me was like a nightmare brought to life.
Joel lay on the floor, curled into a fetal position, his body a tight knot of agony. My heart hammered against my ribs as I rushed to his side, dropping to my knees beside him. His skin was pale, too pale, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his brow. I touched his arm gently, afraid that he might be cold, lifeless. But to my immense relief, warmth still radiated from him.
“ Joel? ” I called his name softly, hoping, praying for a response. But there was nothing. Panic surged through me, and I looked around frantically, spotting a bottle of water nearby. I grabbed it with trembling hands, unscrewing the cap as fast as I could. With a desperate hope, I sprinkled some water on his face, my heart leaping when I saw his eyelids flutter, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
“ Joel? ” I called again, my voice laced with fear. This time, his eyes opened, just a sliver, revealing pain so raw it made my own heart ache.
“ Joel? ” I repeated, my voice trembling with the fear I could no longer hide.
“ Ulcer…” He murmured, his voice barely a whisper, but I heard it, and the word hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes widened in alarm.
“ Oh no. ” The words tumbled out as I scrambled to my feet. I dashed out of the room, my mind a blur as I raced toward the school clinic, my only thought being to get help—fast.
The staff at the clinic moved quickly once I explained the situation, and before I knew it, Joel was being lifted onto a stretcher, medical staff swarming around him. I stood to the side, helpless, my mind racing as I watched them work.
Minutes dragged by in agonizing slowness, each one adding to the weight of worry pressing down on me. “ Is he okay? ” I asked, my voice betraying the depth of my fear. Miss Maya, the school nurse, placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“ He’ll be fine, ” She said softly, but I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at my insides.
***
— Joel —
Consciousness returned to me slowly, like a distant memory surfacing from the depths. The first thing I noticed was the absence of pain. Relief washed over me, so profound that for a moment, all I could do was lie there, savoring the sensation.
Gradually, I opened my eyes, blinking against the bright light. Confusion set in as I took in my surroundings—a sterile, unfamiliar room. My gaze landed on a poster on the wall, its bold letters confirming my location: “ Stardust hills school Clinic.”
How did I get here? The thought barely formed in my mind when the door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped in. The school nurse, Miss Maya, entered with a tray, her smile warm and reassuring.
“ Joel, ” She greeted me, her voice as soothing as a lullaby.
She looked effortlessly graceful in her blue uniform, her presence a beacon of calm in my disoriented state. Despite the lingering soreness in my throat, I managed a hoarse “ Hi, ” though I hated how weak and fragile I felt.
“ It’s okay, ” She said, setting the tray down on a nearby stool before taking a seat beside me. She took my hand in hers, the gesture so motherly and kind that it brought a lump to my throat. “ You know you have an ulcer, right? ” Her eyes, filled with warmth, met mine.
She reminded me so much of my mother, and the thought made my chest tighten with a homesick longing. I missed her, more than I could ever put into words. 
“ Yeah, ” I muttered, struggling to keep my emotions in check. The last thing I wanted was to break down in front of Miss Maya. 
“ Have you been skipping meals? ” Her question was gentle, but it pierced through me, filling me with shame. I had always wondered why some people, especially women, would starve themselves to the point of illness. And now, here I was, doing the exact same thing.
“ Yeah, ” I admitted, my voice barely audible.
She studied me for a moment, as if trying to see past the surface to the thoughts swirling in my mind. “ Don’t do that again, okay? It could get much worse. ”
I nodded, grateful for her concern. “ Yeah… Thanks. ”
“ If it wasn’t for the young lady who found you lying in the studio, who knows what might have happened? ” she continued, her words sending a jolt of surprise through me.
“ A lady? Who? ” I asked, trying to piece together the fragmented memories.
Before she could answer, the door opened again, and my Aunt walked in, her expression as stern as ever.
“ Miss Silverado, ” Miss Maya greeted her, her tone respectful.
“ Yes…? ” Her face was stern, and a knot of dread formed in my stomach. I was in trouble.
But what could have possibly gone wrong? I wondered, my eyes locked on hers in confusion.
---
A/N: What do you think, guys?