Ordeal

The mass of black swirl in my mind. Seemingly obscure, yet strangely familiar.

Salad. That's what I had for dinner last night. Yes, that's it. I'm attributing this senselessness to it. Word salad, that's what's going on.

The classroom has transmogrified. I was no longer safe. This is a struggle to survive. Armed with a ballpoint, I sieved out my prey - the strange-looking creatures who term themselves 'equations'.

Unfathomable. Enigmatic. The way they're born to be.

The clock ticks, and with it, the rhythmic pounding of my heart. My attempt at concealing this trepidation has failed. The enemy grins sardonically, as if taunting me, feeding upon my despair and thriving upon it.

Soon, perspiration superseded ink and the questions blurred even further. I forced the nib onto the paper but the sheet was blank. I established a connection at last.

Finally I clear my mind; only as the arbiter cleared his throat.