Stonewall Academy

Chapter 6

Present

I blinked back the tears as I finished writing down my memory onto the paper. I looked to see Bianca trying to hold back tears too. What was her saddest memory? Why would Professor Carmon even ask us to do this? I stood up in a blind rage, we shouldn't have to do this.

"How dare you make us do this; you have no right. Maybe we don't want to relive our saddest memory. I mean we're both nearly in tears. But here's my essay anyway, I'm sure you'll love reading about your best friend's death," I yelled.

I threw my essay at Professor Carmon and stormed out of the room. I ran straight to my dorm and luckily, it was empty. I locked the door and hopped in the shower. The hot water ran over me as I relived the memory, over and over. I don't know when I started crying but I was sobbing. I could hear someone knocking on the door but I couldn't move.

"Rose, come out. Come out," someone called from the other side of the door.

Then I heard a key being put into the door and it opened. Lexi, Aunt Sam, Bianca, Professor Carmon, and Grandma D stood there looking at me. At least I still had my clothes on, it would have been awkward if not. Aunt Sam and Lexi pulled me up from the floor and I put my arms around them. I couldn't move or speak, I was frozen. The memory just kept replaying over and over, I just wanted it to stop.

"Make it stop," I screamed.

"Rose, what's wrong?" Aunt Sam asked concerned.

"Make it stop," I repeated.

"What happened to her in your class?" Aunt Sam screamed at Professor Carmon.

"It isn't my fault," Professor Carmon shrugged.

"Yes, it is, you made her relive it," Aunt Sam argued.

"Enough," Grandma D bellowed and silence fell.

"I can get her to calm down," Bianca spoke up and put one hand on my face and the other on my back.

"Make it stop," I pleaded.

"Rose, I hate you and you hate me but we both had to relive something terrible today. I had to relive my Dad hitting me and my Mum putting him in jail for it. I agree with you, what Professor Carmon did was not ok but you have to get over it. Stop reliving it and let's go get ice cream from the cooks," Bianca said and it snapped me out of the memory.

My eyes widened and I pushed everyone away. I could stand on my own, I'm not weak. This was a relapse and I am so lucky I didn't have an incident. I closed my eyes and pushed the memory back into its box. Then I opened them again and wiped away the tears.

"I'm going back to my dorm. Coming Lexi?" I asked.

"Yeah sure," Lexi replied.

"Wait, come to my office and talk for a while," Grandma D said.

"No Grandma D, I need to go," I whispered.

I ran back to my dorm, Lexi and Bianca were close behind me. I slumped down on my bed and closed my eyes. I just wanted to shut out this day forever. I forced myself to fall asleep, I'm sure everyone wanted to talk to me, but I couldn't right now.

I woke up with my eyes throbbing, I did way too much crying yesterday. I needed to get back to normal, no more crying or anything not normal. Everyone was still asleep as it's early in the morning. I put my jacket on and walked out of the school. A fresh layer of snow surrounded me, I've never seen it before. I lay down on the snow and made a snow angel, it was fun and it got yesterday off my mind. After a while, I heard footsteps and looked to find Professor Carmon joining me.

"Aren't you cold? How long have you been out here?" Professor Carmen asked, I looked up and she was shaking.

"You don't have to stay," I mumbled.

"No, it's fine. I am sorry for yesterday," she apologized and sat down next to me.

"It's fine."

"No, it's not and I'm sorry. I think in the back of my mind I wanted to hear about your mother's death. If it helps when I read it, I was in tears too. Now I've got to apologize to your Aunt, not just for today but for your Aunt's funeral. See you at your detention later," Professor Carmon said.

"Aunt Sam will forgive you; she misses you. She needs a friend that isn't me, I mean I'm a great friend but she must be my parent too. Go on Professor Carmon," I encouraged.

"Call me Rachel, or Rach, when we're not in class," Professor Carmon – Rachel - said happily.

"Ok, Professor C- Rach," I smiled and Rachel left.

I sat in the snow for a while, I don't know why the cold wasn't bothering me. I just never really got cold. I dusted myself off and walked to Rachel's classroom. Once again Bianca was waiting, she sent me a tiny smile before ignoring me again. At least it was an improvement. Rachel opened the door and for once she had a smile on her face.

"Bianca, you are dismissed. You can have a day off, just don't tell Professor Adler," Rachel said.

Bianca smirked at me and poked her tongue out before running down the hall. Rachel beckoned me to come into the room and Aunt Sam, as well as Grandma D, were there. I looked confused at Grandma D and Aunt Sam; why were they here? I sat down on the desk from yesterday and looked at my family who was looking nervously.

"What's up fam?" I asked.

"I made you show me your saddest memory and now I'll show you mine," Rachel mumbled and Grandma D put her hand on my face.

"Relax Rose, take a deep breath and open your mind," Grandma D whispered.

"I don't get it what's happen...i...n...g."

Pain hit me and I passed out.