Riley, a college junior, had always felt a bit out of place at her predominantly white institution. As an African American woman, she often felt the stares of her classmates and professors, most of whom were not used to seeing someone like her on campus. It wasn't until recently that she had started to feel more comfortable in her own skin, thanks in part to a biracial girl named Lisa who had become one of her closest friends.
Today, Riley was taking a quick break from studying in the university's crowded library when her stomach began to rumble. She hadn't eaten since breakfast, a granola bar consumed on the run just minutes before her first class. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but as Riley stood up from her desk, she felt a sudden pain in her lower abdomen.
Without much time to consider her options, she knew she would have to find a bathroom quickly. The library was packed, and she didn't want to draw any more attention to herself than necessary. After confirming with a sweep of her gaze that there weren't any empty stalls in the nearest row, she made her way over to what seemed like the least occupied toilet.
As luck would have it, just as Riley was about to sit down, she felt an intense urge to defecate. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the uncomfortable sensation. With one hand holding onto the toilet paper dispenser, she lowered herself onto the cold hard seat and sighed in relief.
Her stomach churned as she released a small amount of gas, but it wasn't long before she felt the familiar weight in her bowels. Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment as she realized that she was about to have a BM in front of strangers, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
With a few forceful thrusts, Riley pushed out a large turd, the smell filling the small room. She sat there for a moment, trying to catch her breath, when another wave of nausea washed over her. Gritting her teeth, she braced herself for the next round of pushing.
Her mind wandered, thinking about Lisa and their plans for dinner tonight. They were going to meet up with a group of friends at a new sushi place downtown. Riley couldn't wait to try some of the more daring rolls with Lisa, who always had a way of getting her to try new things. Despite her current predicament, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of their evening together.
Ten minutes later, Riley finally felt like she had finished. The sound of running water was music to her ears as she flushed multiple times, trying to get rid of any lingering evidence. She felt a strange mix of relief and shame as she washed her hands, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart.
As she exited the bathroom, she noticed that there was still a slight tinge of discomfort in her lower abdomen. Maybe she should have eaten something before heading to the library, she thought to herself, making a mental note to pack some snacks for next time.
Feeling somewhat better, Riley gathered her things and made her way back to her desk. As she sat down, she felt a pang of guilt wash over her. She knew that her friend Lisa would be horrified if she knew what had just happened. They had talked about bathroom etiquette many times before, and Riley knew that this was a huge violation of their code.
Shaking her head, she tried to banish the thoughts from her mind, telling herself that it was just an accident and that Lisa would understand. Deep down, she knew that she might have to come clean about her indiscretion sooner rather than later, but for now, she would just focus on her studies and try to forget about the embarrassing incident in the bathroom.
