2017 - Holmiensis 4

N u d l a r , s t u d i e r & s t å l a r
Reluctantly she took his hand, and immediately they were
flying at such a high speed that she had trouble catching her
breath, and the world around them blurred away. Then suddenly,
they stopped. They were in a lecture hall. It was in session,
yet no one seemed to see them standing there at the front.
Then she recognized what class they were in.
“Oh my God. I remember this! I was sitting right…”
Ebba looked up at the seats and saw herself seated among the
students.
“This was your first term as a recentior. Look at how happy
you are”
Ebba did look, and although she looked tired she did have
a faint smile on her lips.
“This was an 8am lecture, and yet you showed up, eager
to learn,” the Spirit looked at her, “Do you go to any lectures
now?” Ebba had to look away from him, instead turning her
gaze to her happier self.
“Ready?” The Spirit asked, and Ebba took his hand.
When they stopped flying, they were in a corridor. Her
corridor. It was filthy. The boxes were starting to become overflowed
with cartons and plastic. The door opened, and Ebba
walked in, her hair slightly wet from snow. She glanced at the
trash, but then kept on walking to her room.
“This was last week. It was your week to take out the trash.”
The Spirit said, looking at her.
“I was tired, okay? And I had an upcoming exam. I had
to focus on studying.” She answered, her arms crossed over
her chest. The Spirit simply walked to her door, and stepped
through, forcing Ebba to follow him. Her room was messy,
with dirty plates and clothes all over. On the bed lay Ebba, her
attention fixed on her phone, wholly engrossed in upvoting a
picture of a cat. The spirit turned and looked at her.
“This does not look like studying” was all he said, before
reaching out his hand towards her. This time, she grabbed it
before he had the time to ask her if she was ready, the shame
too much to bear.
When they landed, they were in an unfamiliar room, but
she did recognise the person sitting at the table, typing away at
his computer.
“We have left the past, and entered the present,” the Spirit
told her. “Since you cancelled again, Tor was forced to do it
alone.”
Ebba looked at Tiny Tor, and saw how puffy his eyes were,
either from crying or lack of sleep. Or perhaps both. The shame
in her chest was starting to blossom into an uncontrollable
monster, and she happily accepted the Spirit’s hand.
This time they landed in an empty room. “We are in the
future now. The person who lived in this room had to leave. Not
focusing on studying, the person spent all their time on Tinder,
Jodel, and watching shows on Netflix. The person consequently
failed the course they were taking.”
Ebba knew who the spirit was talking about, yet she could
not quite face it, not yet. There was a noise outside the room,
and Ebba and the Spirit walked through the door, following
the noise out into a small party going on in the corridor. The
celebrating people, the ones who lived in Ebba’s corridor, were
suddenly hushed, and a toast was made.
“To Ebba finally leaving! Cheers!”
Ebba did not quite know what to feel, but she could feel
her eyes starting to tear up. She turned to the Spirit. “Is no one
upset about me leaving?” She asked him, and took his outstretched
hand for the last time. They landed in the same room
they had been in earlier, only now Tiny Tor was stood staring at
the empty room, tears rolling freely down his cheeks.
“When you did not help with the group assignment, you
both failed. Tor had trouble continuing the program, his faith
in humanity, and himself, lost forever. Because of you.” The
Spirit stared into Ebba’s eyes. She saw a fire within his eyes,
and fear started to mingle with the shame and guilt. “Do
you see now that your actions have consequences?” He asked
her, his voice booming in the small room. “Please,” she said,
“Please!” The Spirit smiled viciously, and said “Make it right.”
25