There are bad days… and then there’s this day.

It started innocently. I woke up late.

Not the “I’ll still make it” kind of late. The “assembly is probably over” kind of late.

I rushed, wore my uniform in record time, grabbed my bag, and ran out—no proper mirror check, no nothing.

By the time I got to school, the gate man had already locked the gate.

My heart dropped.

After begging like my life depended on it, he finally let me in with that look that says, “We’ll deal with you later.”

I entered class quietly, trying to avoid attention… but my teacher saw me immediately.

“Why are you late?”

I gave one long story that didn’t even make sense to me.

Punishment: kneel down outside the class.

Under the sun.

In full uniform.

With seniors passing and looking at you like you committed a crime.

As if that wasn’t enough, when it was time for the next period, another teacher came and asked why I was outside.

Before I could explain, my classmates shouted, “She’s late!”

Ah. Betrayal.

Second punishment added.

At that point, I was already questioning my existence.

Finally, I was allowed back into class. I sat down, tired, embarrassed, and ready to just survive the rest of the day quietly.

Then my friend leaned over and whispered, “Do you know you wore your shirt inside-out?”

…

I froze.

Slowly looked down.

Everything… INSIDE-OUT.

That was when I remembered I didn’t check the mirror.

So all that kneeling, all that punishment… I was also looking like a confused magician.

I didn’t talk for the rest of the day.

Till today, if I wake up late, I will still check my clothes twice.

Because some lessons… come with trauma.