The Worm Phobia

    By Walace Camargo

    The Worm Phobia cover image

    05 Apr, 2024

    a girl in a school uniform standing in front of a classroom full of students in uniform and holding a cup, vancouver school, a poster, Christabel Dennison, promotional image

    The school bell rang, announcing lunch. Maria, a reserved girl with a secret phobia, walked through the crowded hallways, her anxiety rising at the prospect of yet another meal in the cafeteria.

    a group of girls sitting at a table in a classroom with food on the table and a plate of food on the table, quito school, a stock photo, Emma Ríos, promotional image

    She was invited to join a group of girls she called friends, although she felt out of place among them. "Maria, come sit with us!" They said, waving their trays of food. She hesitated, then joined them, trying to force a smile.

    a group of girls sitting at a table with plates of food in front of them and a glass of orange juice, heidelberg school, a stock photo, Choi Buk, japanese

    A tray covered with a cloth was pushed towards Maria. "You should try the special today, Maria. It's delicious!" One of the girls said with a wry smile. Maria hesitated, then slowly reached out to lift the cloth.

    a girl is eating noodles in a classroom with other girls sitting at desks behind her and a glass of milk in front of her, institutional critique, a stock photo, Chang Dai-chien, promotional image

    The moment she lifted the cloth, she felt a knot in her stomach. The sight of the noodles - the elongated strands writhing on her plate - triggered her terrible phobia of worms. Fear gripped her and she found herself in a world where worms pulsed on her plate.

    a woman in a school uniform is screaming in a classroom full of students, with one woman holding her fist up, serial art, a detailed painting, F Scott Hess, ultra realistic illustration

    The cafeteria began to spin, and she could have sworn she could hear the girls' laughter echoing in her ears. Her hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her skin as she tried to control the bile rising in her throat.

    a group of girls sitting at desks eating food in a classroom with a glass of milk in front of them, quito school, a poster, Choi Buk, promotional image

    The laughter of her so-called friends became louder, mixing with the sound of silverware hitting plates and high-pitched conversations in the cafeteria. Maria felt cold sweat on her forehead, her heart pounding in her chest.

    a woman sitting at a desk with a surprised look on her face in a classroom full of students in uniform, quito school, a stock photo, Araceli Gilbert, promotional image

    Struggling to stay calm was proving futile. The sight of the writhing noodles and the laughter of her peers pushed her over the edge. Finally, unable to bear another second of torture, Maria let out a scream.

    a group of girls in school uniforms sitting at desks with their mouths open and one girl standing up, quito school, a renaissance painting, Araceli Gilbert, promotional image

    The scream echoed throughout the cafeteria, causing the chatter to die down. She pushed the table hard, causing the dishes and food to fall to the floor. Then, she spun on her heel, the girls' mocking voices still ringing in her ears.

    a group of girls sitting at desks in a classroom with plates of food on the table and one girl standing up, precisionism, a stock photo, Andreas Gursky, movie still

    The cafeteria was silent as Maria stormed out, leaving behind a mess of spilled food and shocked faces. The girls at the table stared after her, their laughter replaced with surprise. The echo of Maria's scream still hung in the air.

    a woman in a school uniform standing in a hallway with a clock on the wall behind her and a hallway with tables and benches, quito school, a character portrait, Clarice Beckett, promotional image

    Maria ran through the empty hallways, her breath ragged and uneven. The laughter and mockery of her so-called friends chased her, even when she could no longer see them. She felt small, humiliated, and utterly alone.

    a girl sitting at a desk with her hand on her chin and looking at the camera with other students in the background, quito school, a poster, Emma Ríos, promotional image

    Eventually, Maria found herself in an empty classroom. She slid into a seat at the back, her heart still racing. The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic cafeteria. She buried her face in her hands, trying to calm herself.

    a girl sitting at a desk in a classroom with other students in the background looking at the camera and a third girl standing behind her, quito school, a poster, Emma Ríos, promotional image

    Her ordeal in the cafeteria was over, but the pain and embarrassment lingered. She knew she would have to face her 'friends' again, and the thought filled her with dread. But for now, Maria was alone with her thoughts, grappling with her phobia and the cruelty of her peers.