When I was a kid, I once pretended to have a stomachache just to skip school.

I wasn’t a great liar, and my grandma —

who was watching me that day — could tell something was off.

Instead of calling my bluff, she calmly said, “

Alright, if you’re too sick for school,

we’ll just go to the doctor and get you checked out.”

I panicked a little but stuck to the act, thinking I’d just get a free day at home.

Three hours later, I found myself being rushed to the emergency room.

Turns out,

my “fake” stomachache was actually a case of acute appendicitis.

The doctors said if I’d waited even a few more hours, my appendix would’ve burst —

and things could’ve gone very badly.

I hadn’t even felt that bad earlier,

just a mild ache that I exaggerated to get out of math class.

In the strangest twist of fate, pretending to be sick ended up saving my life.