Solitude

Part Eight

"What's going to happen to me?" she whispered.

"You're going to be rescued," Eve whispered back. "Come here after school."

"I'll miss the-"

"You're not going home tonight."

"Dad will-"

"I'll get together with the school at lunch. But sweetheart. Why are you failing all your classes?" Eve said gently.

"Because I just want to die."

"I promise, we'll find a way to make this better."

"Mrs Diollo, you are the only one who makes me smile," she whispered as she hugged her rescuer. "Thank you."

Eve hugged the girl back, rubbing her back, and she said back, "You're welcome. I prayed for you last night. I didn't know if you were going to make it."

"I never know if I am, either...." she said. "At least I never did, now I do."

And with that, they reentered the room, both smiling, and for the first time, she felt hope.