DARK CHEMISTRY
The gym buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. Students lined up neatly, the floor polished and gleaming, the walls adorned with banners welcoming the president. Teachers stood on the stage in a perfect line, their expressions formal, professional. School captains stood at their positions, alert and ready. The principal lingered near the podium, a smile plastered on his face as he prepared to greet the dignitary.
Applause erupted as the president entered, shaking hands, nodding politely, the crowd cheering. Students whispered among themselves, some craning to get a better look.
Lizzie clutched her folder tightly, taking deep, steadying breaths. It was her turn to step onto the stage to greet the president. Her shoes clicked against the polished floor as she walked forward, head held high.
And then—it happened.
A sudden, sharp gush startled her. Her eyes widened in panic. Her water had broken.
The gym went silent. The principal froze. Students gasped. Teachers exchanged worried glances.
The school captain nearest her whipped out his phone, dialing 911 without hesitation. Lizzie's legs gave way beneath her, and a few strong arms guided her to a nearby chair before she was swiftly wheeled out of the gym in a wheelchair, her baggy sweater doing little to hide the obvious sign of labor.
The principal's brow furrowed. His gaze flicked around, landing on someone he had noticed spending unusual amounts of time near Lizzie… Daniel.
At the hospital, chaos and urgency took over. Doctors and nurses moved quickly, preparing her for labor. Lizzie gripped the rails of the bed, eyes squeezed shut, as the contractions wracked her body. She whimpered, panting, tears streaming down her cheeks.
And then, with a final push, a cry filled the room—a new life had entered the world. Lizzie collapsed back, exhausted, relief and terror mixing in her gaze.
A nurse placed the baby in her arms, and for a brief moment, Lizzie felt a surge of overwhelming love and fear all at once.
The hospital staff ran standard DNA tests, as was protocol in cases where identity needed verification. A day later, the results came back: the child's DNA matched Daniel's perfectly.
The news hit the college like a thunderclap.
The principal called an emergency meeting, his face pale with fury. The police arrived swiftly. Reports were filed. And just like that, Daniel—once the captivating, untouchable chemistry teacher—was fired on the spot and arrested, accused of misconduct and illegal relations with a student.
The world that Lizzie had known, and the dark, intense love she shared with Daniel, shattered in an instant.
And she held the tiny life in her arms, wondering how she would survive a world that had just turned completely against them.