Broken then Healed (REWRITTEN)

CHAPTER 5

The Breaking Point

I woke up with an uneasy feeling twisting in my gut. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something felt off, like the day was already destined to go wrong.

Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

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I sat in the library, staring at the computer screen as I typed my English essay. Since I didn't have a laptop at home, I came here often. My mom had offered to buy me one, but I never saw the need. The library worked just fine.

After everything that's happened lately, I tried to focus on my studies. Most of the seniors were checking out early—partying, goofing off—because it was our last year. Trisha and I had planned it all out, how we'd apply to the same colleges and, if we ended up at different schools, we'd still find a way to be close. But now? All of those plans felt like a distant memory, like they belonged to someone else's life.

Sighing, I turned off the computer and left the library.

On my way to my final class of the day, I overheard someone say my name. At first, I kept walking, but then something they said made me stop in my tracks.

Turning around, I spotted three girls from my history class, whispering behind cupped hands. They didn't even try to hide their smirks.

"No wonder Trisha hates her now," one of them said, loud enough for me to hear. "I mean, who wouldn't? Her best friend tried to steal her boyfriend! And Jane even asked Chris to cheat with her. I can't believe it."

My heart dropped. What?

I couldn't listen to another word. Anger boiled inside me, and before I knew it, I was marching straight toward them.

"What the hell are you guys whispering about?" I snapped, my voice trembling with rage. "You don't even know the truth, and here you are, spreading lies."

One of the girls, the loudest one, raised her eyebrow and looked me up and down like I was something to be pitied. "Oh, look, it's the boyfriend stealer herself. Filthy and desperate." She grinned, her friends laughing beside her. "Better watch out, people. Don't let your boyfriends get anywhere near her."

"Seriously?" I scoffed, trying to keep my cool. "Where did you even hear that from? Or did you just make it up?"

She crossed her arms, smirking. "Why? You scared? You shouldn't have done what you did."

That was it. My patience snapped. I stormed toward her and grabbed her arm tightly. "Enough! I don't care what lies you're spreading. I just want to know who started this."

She blinked in surprise, but her bravado didn't fade. "It's all your fault. We heard Trisha this morning in the bathroom, crying to someone on the phone about how you kept flirting with Chris."

My heart sank further. Trisha?

Of course. Who else would do this? She was the only one with enough venom to poison everything this way.

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I found Trisha near her locker, looking as smug as ever. I didn't waste any time.

"Trisha, we need to talk. Now."

She turned slowly, rolling her eyes. "What do you want now, Jane?"

I could feel my anger bubbling to the surface, but I held it together—barely. "How dare you spread those fake rumors about me around the school. What happened to you? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

A twisted smile crept across her face, as if she enjoyed watching me fall apart. "Why can't I? I wanted you to suffer, Jane. And it's working. Funny, isn't it? You used to trust me so much."

I felt the tears well up, but I refused to let them fall. "I trusted you because I thought you were my best friend."

Her smile widened, her words cutting deeper than any knife. "I never felt like you were my best friend. You were just... convenient. Someone to make me look good in front of others. When people saw us together, they only noticed me because you were so boring. Like one of those outcasts."

She motioned toward a group of students talking in the corner, as if to drive the point home.

I stood there, stunned. I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. Had I really been this blind the whole time? How had I not seen this before?

"Thank you," I finally said, my voice shaking with emotion. "Thank you for showing me just how awful you are as a friend. At least now I know the truth, and I won't make the mistake of trusting you again."

She laughed softly, as if she had won. "You're welcome. And just so you know, half the school doesn't want to be friends with you anymore, thanks to those rumors. I guess you'll have to find a new crowd—if anyone will take you."

I wiped away the tear that finally escaped. "You know what? That's fine. I'd rather be alone than surround myself with fake people like you."

Without another word, I turned and walked away, my vision blurred with tears. As I made my way out of the school, I realized something: this wasn't just about losing Trisha. This was about finding the strength to let go of the toxic people in my life, no matter how much it hurt.

I wished I could be anywhere but here. Somewhere far away, where the pain didn't follow, where the weight of betrayal didn't exist. A place filled with peace and light, not like the darkness that seemed to surround me now.

But I knew that place didn't exist. Not here. Not on earth.

And yet, maybe... just maybe... the only way to survive this darkness was to become my own light.

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