They forced me to go to court, to tell them what happened in that classroom. I'm the only "survivor" that goes to every funeral for each person who died. Mrs. Randall's is the saddest funeral. At Vanessa's, her parents hug me and tell me they know I'll miss her. I don't tell them that I'm partially relieved she's gone.
I meet Mr. and Mrs. Tate. They're nice people, but they admit to some physical abuse. Summer's mom sits next to Summer in court with her hand on her daughter's. She cries when Summer is sentenced to lifetime in prison. Summer refuses to give a statement, but when I pass her, she says, I'm going to get prison raped. And despite how she may deserve it, I say sorry. She laughs.
I feel sorry, like I could've prevented all this. I could have sat with her at lunch and asked her what she likes to write about and her favorite color. So when she's being pulled away, I yell.
"Wait! Summer!"
She turns, but is forced to keep walking.
"What's your favorite color?!"
"Purple!"
They pull her neck so she's facing forward. Her mom is crying again. It's her fault and mine that this happened. So, I hug her. She hugs me.
YOU ARE READING
school
Horrorshe had round back glasses and bubblegum in her mouth. she didn't raise her hand.
