Chapter 25
Sapphire
I got my answer when I went to the bathrooms before the last period. ti had been a long day, and I figured a quick break before class would help me refocus. I was bumaning to myself as I scent about my business, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that had been creeping up on me all day just nerves. Hold myself.
As I sculed into the stall, 1 heard the door creak open, followed by the sound of looteju echoing in the nalierwise clipay restroom. Harely paid it any mind. 11’s juu soner ele ustred of a spick, bacak, Erlinaghi. Bir iad thange unease Filbern fighting, all slay seemed to sjuke, making the hain on my neck stand om eind Itried to som chalking it spierparamia Nothing was wrong,
The Tesisirps saated, then moved to a stall urar mine. I kept bantamning, trying to drown our the gouring, feeling in any gut. Moments later, E. hand the stall door swing open again. The person had left breathed a squirt sigh of relet
I finished up and made my way to the sink wash my lamb, slakang all the reas of the nervous orgy. I splashard cold water on my lace hoping it’i help clear my head. When Hooked up at my reflection, Howcril myself in smile. “See! You’re four,” Læligered to myself.
Hot as Humed toward the done and grabbed the knob, that sense of dread cause crashing back. The handle wouldn’t budge. Lroze, gripping it harder, twisting and pulling saball gag strength. But a didin move. Fair began clawing its way so my temat, Lyanked at it again, but the door remained stubbantly locked.
|My heart started racing, pounding so loud in my ears that it drowned ant every other sound. “No, no, in.” Inntered moder my lerails, trying 10
stay calm. Maybe it rym just stuck. I tristeilihe knob again—poiling, I pushed my shimudder apart the dour and showed, hoping it would pop open.
“Hello!” Halled out, my voter shaky. Heauet my car aplost the dour, hoping to hear someone passing by, Hat there was only silence Classes MÚSÍ have already started again, and the hallways were empty Is anyone and dere?” 1 simutril poureding the door with my Est. “Tin tuck Please, let me out!”
Nothing
The quiet was suffocating. It was like the walk were closing in, the air getting thicker with every breath I took. My claustrophobia kacked in full force. My chest tightened, and tears priced at the comers of my eyes, I slapped my palun açma the dour and started banging again. Somebody, please!
I knew no one was likely to hear ine. walking by Pas alonie.
hothromen was tucked away at the end at the hallway–Arel with classes back in session, who would even be
The tears spilled over, hut and unwelcome, as I slid down the door, Libada’i care about the diny floor mymore. I just needed to get our. I pulled my krevaptoomy chest and hugged thien tightly, bourring in face against farmax Trocked back and forth.
“Leal, please notice T’in gone.” I whispered, hoping my friend would realize something was wrong when I didn’t show up for class, Leal was the one person I knew would come lookeų, for me. In fact, she was the only one,
But what if she didn’t notice? What if she doughs ‘t just skipped the last period? Cir worse; what is she didis) cnmr by this bathroom! I couldn’t stand the thought of being stuck here for hours or even longer.
1 wiped my
bears with the back of my hand, trying to pull myself together. I needed to think. What conlal lala? My phone, the one the Alphachad given me. I reached for it bunny pocket with shaky fingers. Tenukbrali Leali, or anyone nobly, and they’d get me out. But when I pulled it out and looked at the screen the
Of course. The ane tumse Locally needed.
1 scas spiraling. My dhaouglas raced, ejchi une darker than the last. What if no one found me unil after school? What if no one found inr The usure I thought about it, the cuore my baverthing sped up. The walks seemed doser now, like they were pressing icon me from all sides. † felt
I sqpieczed my eyes shut, trying in block out everything, I just needed to calm down. I had in form, Breathe in, breathe out. Just like I’d learned in online therapy. Focus on something small, something; Fenulid control. But all Trooki think about was that lies stuck, alone, and nobody knew I was
there
Tae feli like it was stretching on forever. Mannes felt like hours, I kept listening, Imping, praying might signal help was in the way. But the bathroom remained eerily quiet.
oil–foursteps, a voler, anything that
one trapped. Eleaned my head bark against the door,
A new wave of tears came avd realized how helpless I was. Fil never feb more vulnerable, more
letting the tears flow freely, I couldn’t stopalem anymore “Leali- plewe”
The ulence was finally broken by the faint sound of the bell signaling the end of the school day. My heart leaped with a mos of hope and fear. Would Deal realize I was missing and come check the bathroom? Che would she just assume I’d gone home early? I listened insently, holding my breath, hoping in hear her voer calling u my mine.
But instead, I heard the sound of laughter and loonsteps as people left their classes. The rush of students heading out to catch their buses or meet their rides filled the hallway. I pounded on the done with what little energy thad left. “Helpt I’m in here! Somebody, please!”
The footsteps grew louder, then started to fade as students moved toward the exits. No one heard me. Despair settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating. I slumped back agaima the duor, nay body drained. What now!
Then just as I was about to give up, heard it, someone calling my name. “Ashley! Are you in here?”
Chap 25
Anime Lened it, prosting am the daur again
. The knob rattled from the outside. Hang on! I’m getting
griting someone!” Leah caire was firm, determined. I could hear the part in
- long before 1 brand more voters and the jingle of keys. The door creaked open, and the flood of light from the hallway was almost blanding.
1 scrambled up from the floor, practically throwing myself into Leah’s arm as Thurst into trans again
“Thank God you’re okay “ she whispered, holding me tiebe
I nodded too cho
