Red Love

Chapter 34

(Back to Lucy's POV)

"Are you ready?" Aunt Kathleen slides me a glass of orange juice and smiles.

"Ready for what? It's just school." I shrug.

"But it's your first day back in two weeks. The first day in weeks that will be normal."

I laugh. "It's high school, nothing is ever normal."

"That's true." Aunt Kathleen turns back the stove and continues making herself breakfast while I shovel spoonfuls of cereal into my mouth.

With the silence now present, my thoughts can't help but run wild, overlapping. My first day back, a day that will be filled with side glances and hushed whispers, but hopefully won't be all bad. I couldn't help but feel nervous. Of course, I had stayed home the week after my attempt, but after Aunt Kathleen found out about Francine and saw my state, she decided to keep me one more week. During this last week, I had made great progress. Aunt Kathleen called a doctor, who helped me strengthen my tired voice and gave me medication to help me sleep. My voice was now back to normal, the bags under my eyes were almost gone, and I was starting to get back on my normal sleeping schedule. Jason also helped. He would whisper sweet encouragements to me randomly, or write kind notes and place them random places, or send short text, telling me how much he loved me. All of which were very helpful.

I finish off the cereal and go to place my bowl in the sink. "I should get going, don't want to be late." I gulp down the rest of the orange juice and kiss Aunt Kathleen's cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight, dear. I love you." She pats my arm.

I grab my backpack and walk out the door, smiling as the warm sunlight hits my face. I walk through the streets of Gotham and allow my thoughts to travel some more. I try to anticipate what I might endure at school, but honestly, I can't. Besides the glances and whispers, I have no idea what to expect. My classmates know nothing of my attempted suicide, so it's not like they're going to do anything to celebrate me still being alive. I shake my head and clear all my thoughts because they're beginning to make me tired. Instead, I focus on the bright sun and beautiful day.

Finally, after a couple more minutes of walking, I reach the school. I look at the front courtyard, already busy with kids. Students are scattered everywhere. Some individuals rush to meet their friends while groups talk and lounge around on the front yard, and couples hug and kiss one another, thinking no one can see them. I rub my hands together, adjust my backpack strap, then head in. I walk through the halls, and as I had guessed, I am greeted by shocked looks and light talk. I ignore the murmurs and keep my head up, hoping to show the others that I am strong and can bounce back from pain.

I continue on through the halls, heading for my locker, and when I reach it, I stop and gasp. Tears well up in my eyes as I look over my locker, which is adorned with stickers and pictures and notes on colorful paper. In front stand Dina and Antonio, Dina holding a bouquet of flowers, and Antonio holding a fuzzy teddy bear.

"W-what." I place a hand over my mouth as I get closer to the locker.

"We thought you would want a little morning motivation on your first day back." Dina brings me in for a hug.

"Thank you." I breathe.

Dina lets go, and I give Antonio a quick hug before getting a good look at the locker. I look over the photos and notice that most of them are from the family reunion. There's one of Aunt Kathleen and me holding each other in front of the sunset, then one of me laughing with Janet, then a side profile of me on the beach. I move onto the notes, reading a couple of them. They say things such as 'Missed your sweet smile❤️' or 'Glad you're back', or 'I'm with you.' I plan to look at the locker some more, but the bell rings, and I realize I have to get to class.