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φ Chapter Eight φ

An assembly was put together the following day and the entire school attended and so did Harper's parents. It was somewhat of a funeral, but they said the same anti-bullying message. "It is a tragedy that Harper took her life. No one knows for sure why she did it, but she will be truly missed." Mia and her group giggled behind Vincent. No way am I letting this happen.

He ran up to the principal and grabbed the microphone, "I know why Harper Murphy killed herself!' Gasps rose from the crowd. "Mr. Evans! This kind of behavior is at most inappropriate and will not-" "No. The behavior of this stupid school 's at most inappropriate' and you just let it slide."

Vincent held up Harper's diary, "This is Harper's journal and in it tells why she did what she did. She explains how her bullying broke her and killed her. Yes, she did take her life, but bullying led her to that point. But she kept quiet because she and I had been bullied for years now and nothing changed.

"This school is all about 'anti-bullying' and blah blah blah. But no action is taken. Harper went to school five days a week for seven hours and put up with Madison and Mia's group torturing her every day. Just a few days ago, they nearly drowned her in the toilet! In her diary it says, 'They called me a slut and told me to kill myself. I know that if I do, they win, but maybe it's better off this way.'

"Those girls made her believe she was worthless. This has gone on for years and no matter how many times she tried to get help, they'd get away with it. Over and over, time and time again. She killed herself because they treated her like garbage... But no one wants to admit it. So we can keep having our annual assemblies and the 'Be a buddy, not a bully' posters and keep things the way their going and act all sad and caring when something like this happens and then make no changes until another person kills themself.

"And we can do this over and over until graduation. Or we can stop and take responsibility for what we've done and punish those who've done wrong. The truth is in this journal and you all can deny it, but the truth WILL come out!

"It's cliche, I know... but... We have to step up. I know we're nervous, or scared, or hesitant for a million reasons. But we have to push through that. So many stay silent and just let the hate continue.

"But if you want people to be drawn to you, if you want to be popular for the right reasons, do something that sets you apart. Don't stay silent. Intervene at that moment, despite your hesitation. Or go talk to someone who can help afterward.

"If it's happening online, formally report it as 'abuse' to the site or social network, and help the person to use the privacy settings or blocks or filters to control who is able to message them or post to their profiles.

"I'm just tired of being given labels. I am me and no one can change that. I just wish that I'd have figure that out before it was too late. And I wish I would've told Harper that. And now it is too late." Vincent turned to face the principal "Maybe use that in your next assembly." he handed over the microphone and sat back down in his seat.

A.N/ Ahhh! I can't stop writing. I think I'll finish this book today haha. Anyway, please comment and vote, bye.