First Campaign Challenge

It's time for the first Writer's Platform Blog Campaign challenge!  Wahoo!

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

And so, without further ado, here is my entry, at 182 words.

The Light 

The door swung open and Tess darted out the bathroom past the two giggling girls.  Can’t be late, can’t be late, she chanted to herself.  She had been late the first day of school and the teacherly look Mrs. Dallas had given her made her want to squeeze into the nearest locker and hide there forever.  She glanced at the clock hanging in the hallway, clutching her color coded tabbed binder and her Calculus book tightly to her chest.  If Mrs. Dallas closed that door, she was doomed.

Suddenly a dazzling light exploded silently before her, a brilliant white sheet that encircled her and just as quickly disappeared.  It stung her eyes before thrusting her into darkness.  

Tess' heart pounded and she struggled for comprehension.  Her legs trembled with a tingling weakness and she feared they would collapse under her.  White fuzzy dots swam before her.  Adrenaline coursed painfully through her body.  

Finally, like a camera lens struggling to focus, the images of the hallway slid clearly into view.  But before Tess could even feel the relief of regaining her sight, down the hall the door swung shut.