Trying to live #Wattys2024

Chapter 28(Edited)

Days passed like the wind, and suddenly it was Friday.

Yes, the day when Principal Richardson's punishments would become a reality.

"Don't forget to stop by the hospital," Mrs. Avilla reminded me.

Since my car broke down, Mrs. Avilla dropped me off at school every morning. It had already become a ritual.

I paused for a moment. Today was also the day I finally decided to visit my mother in the hospital. Despite everything she had done to me, I realized I didn't need to be like her. I shouldn't let her distaste for me shape who I was. There was a time she did love me, and even if that part of her heart had vanished, it hadn't vanished from mine.

"I won't forget," I assured her.

"Will you find a ride?" she asked.

I nodded. My plan was to call an Uber, though I wouldn't tell Mrs. Avilla. It was a good plan but one I couldn't afford to do every time.

My car needed at least two weeks to get repaired, if not more. That left me without a vehicle, and I didn't have another car to use. I wasn't the best driver, and Scott had his own car that he used every day. Mom's car was damaged, and our fourth car wasn't automatic.

"Here we are," Mrs. Avilla declared, cutting the engine.

"Thank you," I said sincerely. She had been a real help and took care of me in ways my own mother never did.

Mrs. Avilla looked me in the eyes, then, to my surprise, took me in her arms and kissed me on the top of my head.

I closed my eyes. How long had it been since I received a hug like that? A hug so similar to my mom's. How much did I yearn for my mother to give me the care and affection that Mrs. Avilla was giving me?

I never thought that Mrs. Avilla and I would have this kind of relationship again—the one we had when I was still with Henry. After all, she thought I broke her son's heart, and maybe I did, but not more than he broke mine.

And one day, I saw how you looked at them—not with hate, not with rage, just pain and something else that broke my heart. I followed you that day, followed you to the lake. You cried, I remembered the words she spoke to me a few weeks ago.

She also found the note under Henry's pillow, so she must have an idea of what happened at the summer party before junior year started. Not that anyone knew what happened except Wyatt, Henry, and me. All the other classmates, including my brother, Juliette, Priya, Jake, Cam, Leah, Franny, and even Rose, heard a slightly different version when my breakup became a spectacle. The real truth, the real reason, was a secret between Wyatt and me. I was done with giving justifications when the person I trusted most couldn't trust me.

Although Henry had the right to mistrust me because I wasn't always honest with him. He knew something was up between my mom and me, but I never told him. I just couldn't, and I knew it hurt him that I wasn't trusting him, but he didn't poke about it much because he always kept everything inside.

Henry was the key to my happiness. He was my happiness, but at the same time, he was also the person of my sadness and heartbreak. No wonder they say the people you love most will hurt you the most.

Henry was that person for me.

I released myself from the hug and got out of the car. I had to go to the counselor's office, which was why I was so early at school. Then I had classes, a four-hour gap where I would go to the hospital, and afterward F.T.D. class.

But before that, I had to use the washroom and freshen up, leaving all those memories and thoughts of Henry in the toilet. Once I was finished, I quickly washed my hands when I heard someone crying. I looked up, trying to figure out where the sound came from. Every stall was halfway closed, but the last one was fully shut. I bent down and saw three pairs of shoes.