Noor and the Quiet Corner

A story about managing worry, practical calming skills and asking for support.

Noor was good at school, and nobody guessed that she was struggling. Under the surface, her mind raced. In the morning, she worried about her tests. At lunch, she worried about her friends. At night, she lay awake, replaying every word she had said that day.

One Wednesday, her chest felt tight in maths class. Her heart was beating hard, and her hands were damp. The numbers on the page swam. She raised her hand, and asked to go to the bathroom. In the cubicle, she breathed fast, and tears pricked her eyes.

After school, her teacher, Mr Bell, found her in the library. “You looked upset today,” he said gently. “Would you like to talk?” Noor hesitated. She was not sure how to explain. “I just feel like I cannot stop worrying,” she said at last.

“Thank you for telling me,” said Mr Bell. “That is a hard thing to say. Many people feel that way. Would you like to see the school counsellor, Ms Adeyemi?” Noor nodded slowly. It felt scary and a relief at the same time.

Ms Adeyemi had a small room with soft lamps and a basket of fidget toys. She listened without interrupting. “Worry is a normal feeling,” she said. “But there are things we can do to help it.” She taught Noor to breathe slowly, in for four counts, out for six.

She showed her how to ground herself by naming five things she could see, four she could touch, three she could hear. “It brings you back to the present,” she said. Noor tried it, and found that the racing in her chest slowed. “That is amazing,” she said.

They talked about sleep, exercise and writing worries down in a notebook, to take them out of her head. Ms Adeyemi suggested that Noor talk to her parents too. “They want to help,” she said. “You do not have to carry this alone.” Noor promised to try.

That night, she told her mother. Her mother hugged her tight. “I am so glad you told me,” she said. They arranged a visit to the family doctor, who gave them more information. Over the next weeks, Noor kept practising her breathing and writing in her notebook.

She still felt worried sometimes, but she knew what to do. She found a quiet corner in the library, and she used it whenever she needed a minute. “It is like a reset button,” she told Mr Bell. He smiled. “That is a good way to put it,” he said.

Print a gratitude journal sheet →