- 6.
<
I didn’t go back to class that day. I went
straight home.
I rushed to my room and started frantically
searching, turning my bookshelf, closet, and
drawers upside down.
I grabbed a big cardboard box and threw in
every single thing Jason had ever given me. The box filled up quickly. I made sure I hadn’t
missed anything.
I carried the box downstairs and dumped it all
in the trash.
My parents weren’t home yet, so I called my
mom.
“Hey, sweetie, what’s wrong?”
“Mom, when you get back, tell Mr. and Mrs.
Miller that Jason and I are done. And…”
My voice turned cold.
“From now on, Jason is not allowed to step
foot in our house. Tell him to stay away from
me.”
く
When my mom got home, she saw the slap
mark on my face and was furious.
I told her everything that had happened.
How Jason had slapped me, how he’d stood
by and watched Brianna bully and mock me,
and how he’d ultimately defended her.
My mom’s face turned white.
Our families had been so close for so many
years, and now, because of me, there was a
rift.
But Mom didn’t blame me. She hugged me
and said gently, “No one is allowed to treat
you like that, Ashley. Whatever you decide to
do, your dad and I will support you.”
All the pent–up hurt and sadness came
pouring out. I buried my face in my mom’s
shoulder and cried.
