Zora

Chapter Thirty-Two

Pulling up outside Zora's house, Tiffany parked the car and lolled her head towards the silent girl. "I am going to go back to school and show the principal the video. Those girls should get expelled for what they've done to you. I'm also going to call your brother and tell him what happened. Hopefully he hasn't blocked my number after our failed date. He must be gay if you didn't want to go on another date."

Rolling her eyes, Zora exited the car. Tiffany rolled down her window with a smile. "Get some rest. I'm going to take care of this," she assured before driving away.

Heaving a sigh, Zora trudged her way up to the front door. Thankful her mom wasn't home, she quickly ran up the stairs to her bedroom. Slamming the door shut, she slid down the wall and buried her face in her knees. All silence was replaced with the echoing roar of violent crying. Feeling isolated, Zora curled into a ball as she fell onto the floor and wailed.

To know cruelty could be buried so deep into one's soul was atrocious. To be ridiculed and made a fool of for being herself covered her in shame. Never in her life was she ever ashamed to be who she was. She always held herself up high, finding herself to be beautiful even when no one else could.

But the pain was strong, far too deep to be removed with a good cry. Not wanting to feel the pain any longer, she crawled over to her desk. Searching though her junk for her pills, she screamed in anger as she slammed the drawers shut, knowing Terrance had them. Storming out of her room and into her brother's, she began to tear his room apart as she searched for her pills. Finally finding them in his sock drawer, she took a pill as she walked back into her room.

Staring at the bottle, she remembered the last time she took the pills. The numbness wore off quicker than usual, so she took another pill to avoid feeling anything. And with another pills, she'd hopefully feel emptier, allowing herself to calm down. After the anxiety and misery she suffered through, she didn't want to feel anything at all. She wanted to be numb, erasing all emotions bouncing in her mind. She wanted the memories that spun around like vertigo in her head to disappear. She wanted to be happy. She needed to be happy. But she couldn't be happy so long as she was in pain.

Closing her eyes, she hummed in content as the numbness travels from her head to her toes. Her body was relaxed, but her heart began to frantically beat in her chest. Slapping her hand over her heart, she panicked as she gasped for air. Glancing down at the pill bottle that should have been half full, she saw it was completely empty. Her stomach began to perform backflips, and she could feel herself slowly fading away.

Phone ringing beside her, she quickly answered the call. She didn't care who it was, only that she needed help. She didn't mean to take all of her pills. It was an accident. She didn't want to die, only to quit feeling. But she would rather feel the same pain she felt before over and over again if it meant she could live. She made a mistake. And she needed help.

Tears gathered in their eyes, their jaws dropped to the floor in disbelief. It was impossible to imagine the pain Zora endured as they watched her be bullied into submission. Once the video ended, Tiffany locked her phone and crossed her arms. "I've already brought this to the principal's attention, and they intend to go to the superintendent to fix this matter. They're not going to be staying here."

"I can't believe they would do that to her," Denise cried, and Kendall pulled her in for a hug.

"Where is she now?" Spencer asked in a panic.

"I drove her home. She wanted to be alone and away from everyone. I couldn't refuse, especially with her in such a state," Tiffany replied.

"Oh no," Terrance muttered. He knew what Zora would do if she felt such lengthy extents of suffocating pain. He knew she would want to end it, and nothing was worse than a drug addict submitting to their demons when they desired what they craved the most. In a hurry, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed her number. He had to know she was okay.

When she didn't pick up the first time, Terrance jumped out of his seat in the cafeteria and ran to the exit. A few teachers called out after him, but he refused to quit running and calling. Finally, before his third call could drop, she answered.

"Hello," she slurred.

"Zora?" he asked as he climbed into his car. "Where are you? Are you alright?"

"No," she whimpered. "I need help."

"What happened?"

"I...took..."

The call didn't drop, but the line was silent.