Pandora's Box

This story starts here.

“Better yet,” Sister Ann continued, “I’m going to have your mother come in. I’d like to talk to her as well.”

When my Mom arrived in the office, she looked incredibly worried. I wished that she was coming in to take me home because I was sick. I remembered each of the times she’d done that. I’d always cry with relief as soon as I saw her. One day, she’d had to come in because my menstrual cramps were unbearable. I’d curled up in the backseat of her car for the entire ride home. Then she doped me up with an old prescription she had for Tylenol with codeine that took the cramps right away.

I wished my Mom could give me a pill right then and there in Sister Ann's office that would take away all of my fears and anxieties - a pill that would make my world stop spinning.

I refused to tell my mother what had happened, so Sister Ann did the honors.

“There are rumors going around the school that your daughter had sex this past weekend,” Sister Ann matter-of-factly told my mom, the verdict unquestionable in her voice.

There was a heavy silence as Sister Ann let my mom digest the news.

My Mom looked at me, “Well, did you?”

I looked at her briefly, then looked away and shrugged. I honestly didn’t know. Had I?

(to be continued)