Whispers Of The Heart

Chapter 27

Emery Rose

I really don't want to go to school today.

A week ago, I never would've imagined my life would change so drastically. Just a week I was fine- a girl with friends, dating the star quarterback of Silvervale High School, juggling cheerleading with my best friend Leslie by my side.

It wasn't perfect, but it was mine.

And now? Now everything is different.

In one night, I lost my friends, my boyfriend, and Leslie- the person I trusted the most. They all betrayed me. Even Dylan, someone I thought was different from the rest, couldn't tell me the truth. He knew, and that hurt more than I could ever have imagined.

How did I not see it sooner? Justin's constant disappearing acts, the last-minute cancellations, the strange excuses. Leslie not answering my calls, her subtle digs that I brushed off as nothing. I was so stupid. No, not stupid. naive. I should have seen the signs, but I didn't want to. I trusted them.

And Dylan. God, that one stings.

We used to hang out all the time, and I always thought he was different from the other guys on the football team. He wasn't like them. at least, I didn't think so. I felt closer to him, thought he had my back. But he knew. He knew about Justin and Leslie, and he said nothing.

Not a word.

How am I supposed to face them today? Walk into school, see their faces, and pretend like I'm okay? I'm not.

I'm anything but okay.

I don't know if I can do it.

People are going to notice.

The second they don't see me walking hand in hand with Justin or hanging out with our usual group, it'll be obvious. They'll whisper. They'll wonder.

And what will they think of me? That I wasn't enough? That something's wrong with me?

Amelia never went through this. She never had to worry about this kind of betrayal or being left behind. She was always popular, effortlessly so.

Everyone adored her. She never had to deal with rumors or fake friends. Her life seemed perfect, like everything just fell into place for her.

Why can't I be the same? Why can't I handle things like she did?

It's like, no matter how hard I try, I'm always falling short. People expected so much of me after she died, and I thought I could live up to it. But now... now I'm not sure I can.

Everything is falling apart.

The cracks were showing. Everything was unraveling, piece by piece, and no matter how tightly I clung to the fraying edges, I couldn't stop it from falling apart.

I can't do this.

The thought spiraled, looping endlessly in my mind, until the edges of the world blurred and all I could hear was the deafening rush of my own breath. I paced the room, my movements frantic, my heart racing faster with each second.

I can't-

Then I heard it.

A sound. Quiet at first, almost drowned out by the storm raging in my head. A faint, rhythmic tapping.

It wasn't until the fourth or fifth knock that it broke through, anchoring me just enough to pull me from the spiral. I stopped, my chest heaved, breaths still sharp and shallow, but the sound was persistent.