Sane

Chapter 12

August 13,2016
Brookhaven, New York

Niya POV

Certainly! Here's a continuation of the story:

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As Niya quietly left the bathroom, the room fell into an awkward silence. The group of girls who had been gossiping exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that their words had been overheard. One of them, Sarah, shifted uncomfortably and broke the silence.

"Do you think she heard us?" Sarah asked, her voice tinged with guilt.

"Of course she did," replied Jess, her tone defensive but with a hint of regret. "We shouldn't have been talking about her like that."

Another girl, Emily, sighed and leaned against the sink. "I didn't mean for it to get so personal. I was just venting."

"Still," Sarah added softly, "we need to be more careful about what we say. It's not fair to judge someone without knowing what they're going through."

The group nodded in agreement, the weight of their words settling heavily upon them. They knew they needed to make amends, not just for Niya's sake but for their own integrity.

Meanwhile, Niya found a quiet corner in the school library where she could gather her thoughts. She wiped away her tears and took deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. Despite the hurtful comments, she resolved to stay strong and not let their judgments define her.

As she sat there, she thought about how she might address the situation. Maybe it was time to have an honest conversation with them about how their words affected her. For now, though, she focused on calming herself and finding solace in the pages of a book.

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Dezmon POV

My heart raced as I searched the hallways, calling out Niya's name. I had checked the bathroom and found it empty, but the worry clawed at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was hurting, and he felt a growing urgency to find her.

As I turned a corner, I spotted a familiar figure sitting alone on a bench in the library. Relief washed over me,but it was quickly replaced by concern when I noticed her tear-streaked face. As I approached cautiously, my heart heavy with empathy.

"Niya?" he said softly, sitting beside her. "I've been looking for you. Are you okay?"

She looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just needed some time alone," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I frowned, feeling the weight of her pain. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."

Niya nodded slowly, grateful for his presence but still feeling vulnerable. "It's just hard sometimes... I didn't want their words to get to me, but they did."

I took a deep breath, determined to support her. "Let's talk about it. You deserve to be heard."

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As they sat together in the quiet library, Dezmon realized that this moment was not just about comforting Niya; it was also about strengthening their friendship and helping her find her voice again in the face of adversity.