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Chapter8:ASceStudentontheEdge—anda39°CFever
Forthewoweeks,CraLinlivedalifethatwasalmostinhuman.
Asasce-trackstudent,thefirstmidtermsofeleventhgradefeltlikeanightmarewith.Physics—projectilemotion,horizontalunches,ahrows.Chemistry—moletrationcalcutions.Biology—endlesscellstructuresaabolicpathwaysshecouldneverfinishmemorizing.Eachsubjectwasamountain,pressingdownwithoutmercy.
A,iairtightpressure,shestillforcedoutthirtyminutesadayofsphell.
FollowingTeacherCai’sinstrus,nomatterhowtecramschoolran,nomatterhowexhaustedshewasfromstudying,shewouldlockherselfifour-tatamiroom,putonherheadphones,andhammerthethickestfifthstringtoametronomelikeshewastryingtobreakit.
Thefirstfewdays,thejointofherthumbturnedredandswollen.Thenblistersformed,splitopen,andseepedclearfluidthreadedwithblood.Shedidn’tmakeasound.Expressionbnk,shepulledoutbreathableathletictape,edthewoundtight,ariking.
Whenthepainpeaked,shechedherteeth.Hermindfilledwithnothingbutstubbornrefusaltolose—andElian’sprovocation,thewordsthathadhitherlikeastone:
*Youshouldn’tbelockedbehindthatbrokenirondoor.*
Twoweekster,athiewcallusfinallyformedalongthesideofherthumb.Themetallicgraiackgrewclearer,sharper—morereal.
Butatthesametime,herbodywasbeingdriventoitslimit.
Caughteverydaybetweenschoolexams,cramschoolsinXimendingandNanyangStreet,andhigh-iymuscletraining,Cra’ssleepwascrusheddowhanfourhoursanight.icsleepdeprivatiochedtight,plusthesharptemperatureswingsofautumn—
thebodyshe’dbeenfintoobediehsheerreasonfinallysouhearm.
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