I can feel the cold sweat dripping on the back of my neck as she stares us down from the front center of the room. Her face is pale and cold, graying blonde hair pulled tight into a severe bun, pointed finger ready to press the dreaded button. My heart rate builds and my face scrunches in a fierce panic. God, all I wanted was to have a fun Halloween. How is it that I ended up here?

People around me begin praying, looking up to the heavens in terror and down in desperation. Their heavy breathing is the only sound I hear. I close my eyes, thinking, reviewing, recalling. I try imagine the necessary bolded words, the haphazard sentences I strung together last night. It proves pointless; my mind remains blank and horrifically inarticulate. I want to cry and scream but I can’t. I’m stuck here, in this wretched, uncomfortable chair that stabs at my back.

I glance around at my friends, my peers, and I see the same frozen fear on their faces. None of us are prepared for this rapidly approaching horror show, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Our terrible fates are all settled and sealed.

I take a nervous breath and look up at my instructor, eyes brimming with hopeless tears. She merely purses her lips, gives a ruthless smile, and stamps her finger down to start the timer.

“Your exam begins now.”

I sigh, and turn the page. So much for Halloween.