An entire semester's worth of preparation had gone into that day's presentation. The free-spirited professor didn't believe in homework or tests which meant the entire semester's grade was riding on one class presentation about changes in portraiture during the Renaissance. Art history had seemed like such an easy elective. Why was I sweating so much?
For starters, Florida was hot and humid in the afternoon even in early December. I wondered if it would be another eighty degree Christmas. Additionally, the only button down white shirt I had been able to find was long sleeved because clothing shops ignore the fact that Floridians need short sleeves until January and only stock wool sweaters and long sleeves after September. I was suffering for their stupidity as I hauled my laptop across campus in my long sleeved shirt, long black pencil skirt and shiny black leather stilettos. Underneath my sophisticated presentation outfit was a black lace bra with matching lace panties. I made sure even my under clothes were snappy.
Finally there were my nerves. The weather, outfit and stress were the perfect storm for making my stomach churn. My dark brown hair was coming lose from the restrictive bun I had arranged on top of my head giving me a disheveled appearance on top of being flushed.
I have never been a lucky person. This may be why that day was unseasonably hot and the class was in the building furthest from my dorm at the top of a steep incline. After struggling to make it there with five minutes to spare I was panting and sweating when I finally arrived. The large projector screen was down and the day's presenters were all standing around holding tiny scraps of paper. I realized I was the last to arrive.
Professor Hippie was already droning on about turning off cell phones and passing in the term papers. Wait, the...
I looked to the guy next to me who looked calm and collected in his gray sweater and khaki slacks. "Term Paper? I thought the presentation was the entirety of our grade..."
"For sure. The term paper is just the one you wrote on your topic for the presentation." He said it so calm and sure. Was he acting to try to hit on me or had I really overlooked the fact that the bulk of this presentation grade was a paper I hadn't written?
I started to panic. The Professor took her seat in the front row and I realized all of that day's presenters were staring at me. I readjusted my laptop in my hands and the helpful guy from before leaned in to whisper to me, "Everyone drew numbers to see who goes first, you are the last presenter to arrive."
I noticed a stained ceramic mug with one remaining strip of paper inside. I blushed with even further embarrassment as I struggled to shift my laptop to allow a free hand to grab at the tiny scrap of paper. Please say I had time. If I was last, maybe they wouldn't get to me today and I could rectify this problem? Even second I could towel off most of the sweat...
"1," said the asshole scrap of paper. When I glanced at the other presenters I saw on their face that they had known the first spot was the only one still unfilled. I was fighting for breath.
"Alright, it's 3 o'clock, if the first presenter will please take the..."
The last thing I heard was a collective gasp. The last thing I felt was the weight of my laptop leaving my hands. Then just sweet, blessed darkness.
Light seemed to be flashing from far away. I frowned and opened my eyes right as the light flashed again. My eyelids felt like someone was trying to force them back closed. I moaned and my throat was parched.
"Angel? Are you awake?"
I grunted an answer that was meant to be "Yes," but then I was coughing, a dry rasping sound. I tried to focus on the room. I had never been here before but it looked brightly lit and sterile. I tried to move and heard the crinkle of paper covering the padded table where I was resting. A large figure moved to block the unforgiving fluorescent light as I caught my breath.
"Here dear, drink this," said a deep, soothing voice. I took the thin paper cup that was offered me and downed what tasted like cold water.
"Ahh...where am I?" I croaked, before taking another gulp of the water.
"You were in class and you fainted dear. They brought you to the campus clinic," replied the man here. He was in his mid-fifties with short gray hair and a meticulously manicured black goatee. He wore a bright green golf shirt and navy slacks under a white doctor's coat. A name tag read, "Dr. Winthrope."
I winced as the memories flooded back. I had a ten page paper to write, a possible broken laptop to repair, and maybe even a failing grade for my easy blow-off class of the semester. How embarrassing. I then became aware that I was naked.
A light pink paper gown was covering me but someone had removed all of my clothing and my underwear before draping the gown over my body. I suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Um...how did I get here?"
"A fellow classmate of yours brought you here with your computer. You did not have any I.D. but he thought your name was Angel."
"Yes, Angel, that is my name, but what happened to my clothes.."
The doctor smiled a reassuring smile. "The nurses and I removed your clothes to make you more comfortable. You were wearing very restrictive clothing and that could have caused your fainting spell."