I absolutely cannot fail.

Faliure is not an option.

If I fail this test, they'll hold me back a grade. Then all my friends will move on without me, and I'll stay behind.

I'll take this same test at the end of the year with kids younger than me, and feel the same pressure I'm feeling now.

If I fail then, I'll have to retake the test with kids even younger than the kids from the year before.

It'll be awful. It'll be humiliating.

It'll be awfully humiliating.

I studied for hours, and committed dozens of facts and equations to memory.

I pre-sharpened all of my wooden pencils the night before, and carefully packed away clean erasers into my pencil case.

I slept at a recommended time, and studied during the ride here.

But my hands are clammy and the answers escape me.

My sharpened pencils now seem dull.

My erasers are crumbling and leave graphite smears.

My eyes are heavy with exhaustion and tears.

None of my studying matters here.

Only my overwhelming fear.