Chapter 46: "Breaking Points"
The next morning, Zariah stood in front of the mirror, staring blankly at her reflection.
She didn't recognize the girl looking back at her.
Sunken eyes.
Pale skin.
Bandages hidden under long sleeves.
A smile so fake it hurt to wear.
She pulled her hoodie tighter around her body and slipped out the door without a word to her mom. If her mom noticed anything, she didn't say.
Maybe she was too tired.
Maybe she was drowning too.
At school, everything felt louder.
Harsher.
Every hallway felt like it was closing in on her.
Every whisper felt like a knife.
There were stares.
Some full of pity.
Some full of cruel amusement.
Zariah kept her head down and pushed forward, pretending she couldn't hear them.
But the words still sliced through.
"She's unstable."
"Should've stayed gone."
"Bet she's just looking for attention."
Zariah clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms.
Anything to distract herself from the way her heart was shattering.
She made it through her first two classes barely breathing. Jasmine stayed close by, watching her like a hawk, but even Jasmine couldn't stop everything.
It happened right before lunch.
A group of kids she didn't even know that well cornered her near the lockers.
Their voices low and vicious.
"Guess you're the new school project, huh?" one sneered.
"Bet you fake all that sad girl stuff for attention," another hissed.
"You're just a burden," someone else muttered, just loud enough for her to hear.
Zariah's throat closed up.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't breathe.
All the fear, all the shame, all the pain boiled over inside her until it felt like she was about to explode.
She ran.
Past Jasmine calling her name.
Past the confused teachers.
Out the side door, into the freezing air.
She didn't know where she was going.
She just needed to get away — from them, from herself.
Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled toward the edge of the school field, clutching her sleeves so hard her fingers went numb.
The voices in her head screamed louder than ever.
You're worthless.
You're broken.
You don't belong here.
And for the first time, Zariah started to believe them.
Really, truly believe them.
She collapsed onto the ground, sobbing so hard her whole body shook.
She didn't even notice Jasmine until she was kneeling beside her, arms wrapping around her tightly.
"I've got you," Jasmine whispered fiercely into her hair. "I'm not letting you go."
Zariah clung to her like a lifeline, the last thread keeping her from falling completely apart.
But deep down, even as Jasmine held her, Zariah felt the cracks inside growing wider.
And she was terrified — terrified that next time, even Jasmine might not be enough to pull her back.