Why oh why did she write this list? [Part 1]

As Terrie watched Hannah pass through the wide library doors, the notebook sat glaring at her. The clean, blank pages called out to be written on and the pen was proclaiming an invitation to be picked up. Hannah had left behind various notebooks in Terrie’s care before but Terrie had never had such a strong desire to write in one. There was something different about this notebook; something magical. To turn away was agony. Terrie tried thinking of anything and everything else but not even thoughts of the purple man could tame the inescapable desire to write in Hannah’s notebook.

Seconds and then minutes passed while Terrie played an intricate mind game against Hannah’s seemingly innocent notebook. Oblivious to this silent war the other students continued their studies in peace without even a glance in Terrie’s direction. As her mind battled against this immovable force the pressure built up. Words and phrases began rushing into her head. Memories of lost jokes packed in tight; cold nostalgia freezing her mind. A low scream built up in her head getting louder and higher until the high pitch scream dominated Terrie’s mind. Pain tore down her spine causing Terrie to cry out in agony and grasp for a friend’s arm.

Terrie’s fingers brushed against a cold, hard surface. The pain and pressure rushed out of her head and Terrie jerked her eyes away from the notebook. Glancing around the room the pain was soon replaced by fear. Everywhere she looked was still. No drop of a pen lid, no rustle of paper. Teachers and students alike sat cold and hard like marble statues. Terrie slid her chair back and stood up. Glancing at the notebook her mind began running through all the possible options but each one returned to the clean, blank pages of Hannah’s notebook. The searing pain had gone and the desire to write on the pages had diminished but that had been replaced by nothingness. No sounds, no movement, not even the ticking of a clock. Time had stopped dead leaving Terrie trapped at ten past three for an eternity. Gone was tea-time, break-time, lunch-time, home-time, telly-time, YouTube-time... any-time. Never again would she talk to another person or look forward to tomorrow. In despair, Terrie tried shaking her friend hoping for any sort of reaction... nothing.

To be continued...