The school hallway was the same as always—buzzing with chatter, lockers slamming shut, and the occasional shout across the corridors. But to me, it felt like I was stepping into a completely different world. My fingers clenched the straps of my backpack as I walked down the hallway, eyes cast downward to avoid the curious stares I could feel burning into me from all sides.
"Asher?" A voice broke through the noise, and I looked up to see Ethan standing by his locker, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance. He rushed over to me, concern evident on his face. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon."
I forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "I had to come back eventually, right?"
Ethan frowned, his hand hovering as if he wanted to reach out but wasn't sure if he should. "Are you... okay?"
"I'm fine," I lied, though the tension in my shoulders and the heaviness in my chest told a different story. "Just need to get back to normal, you know?"
We stood there for a moment, an awkward silence stretching between us. Ethan glanced around before leaning in closer. "People have been talking, Asher. About what happened to you. They think—"
"I don't care what they think," I cut him off, the words coming out harsher than I intended. I saw the hurt flash in his eyes and immediately felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, Ethan. I just... I don't want to talk about it right now."
He nodded slowly, the worry in his expression not fading but softening a little. "Alright. But if you ever do want to talk, I'm here. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know," I said, grateful for his support but feeling too exhausted to express it fully. "Thanks."
The bell rang, signaling the start of the first class, and students began to disperse. I walked towards my classroom, Ethan following close behind as if he was afraid to let me out of his sight. I couldn't blame him. After everything that had happened, I was afraid of being alone too.
The classroom was already half full when we arrived. I slid into my usual seat by the window, feeling the stares from my classmates as I did. Conversations hushed as I sat down, and I could feel the tension in the room, thick and suffocating. I forced myself to ignore it, pulling out my notebook and focusing on the blank page in front of me.
"Asher," a quiet voice said from beside me. I looked up to see Sarah, the girl who sat next to me in most of my classes, offering me a small, sympathetic smile. "It's good to see you."
"Thanks," I mumbled, managing a weak smile in return.
The teacher walked in then, sparing me from having to continue the awkward exchange. As the lesson started, I tried to focus on the words coming from the front of the room, but my mind kept drifting back to the cabin, to the fear that had gripped me when I was tied up, to the relief of being rescued by Matthew.
My thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Ethan passing me a folded note. Glancing around to make sure the teacher wasn't looking, I opened it.
Are you really okay?
I stared at the words, my mind racing. How was I supposed to answer that? I wasn't okay. Not really. But I couldn't tell him that, not here, not now.
I will be I scribbled back, folding the note and passing it to him.
Ethan read it, then glanced up at me, his expression unreadable. He didn't push the issue, though, and I was grateful for that.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of half-heard lessons and whispered conversations that fell silent whenever I walked by. I felt like I was in a daze, the world around me muffled and distant. By the time the final bell rang, I was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
As I packed up my things, Ethan hovered nearby, clearly waiting for me. "Do you want to hang out after school?" he asked, trying to sound casual, but I could hear the worry in his voice.
I hesitated, the idea of spending time with him was tempting, but all I really wanted was to go home and collapse into bed.
"Maybe another time," I said, giving him an apologetic smile. "I just need some time alone today."
He nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. "Okay. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."
"Thanks, Ethan. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, I left the classroom, feeling his gaze on my back as I walked away. The school was emptying out, and students were hurrying to get home or to their after-school activities. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact, just wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.
As I stepped outside, the cool air hit me, a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the school. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. The parking lot was mostly empty, with a few cars pulling out as I walked across the pavement towards the street.
"Hey, Asher!"
I turned to see a group of students lingering by the entrance, their expressions a mix of curiosity and something darker. They were the type who thrived on gossip and rumors, always looking for the next piece of drama.
"Glad to see you're back," one of them said, though the smirk on his face suggested otherwise. "Must've been pretty scary, huh?"
I didn't reply, just kept walking, hoping they would leave me alone.
"Come on, don't be like that," another one called after me. "We just want to hear the story. What really happened?"
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep walking, to not react. They weren't worth it. But the words stung all the same, a reminder that even though I was back, things would never be the same again.
Finally, I reached the sidewalk, the voices of the students fading behind me as I walked away from the school. The path home felt longer than usual, each step heavy with the weight of the past few days. When I finally reached my house, I was exhausted.
As I stepped inside, the silence of the house was a welcome change from the noise and chaos of school. I dropped my bag by the door and headed straight to my room, collapsing onto my bed. The events of the day replayed in my mind, mixing with memories of the cabin, the fear, and the uncertainty that still lingered.
But as I lay there, I reminded myself that I wasn't alone. Caleb, Ethan, and even Matthew—they all cared about me. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to get me through this.