Rumors

“...freak...”

“...probably cuts, too...”

“...staring at me…lesbian?”

The lies weighed her down, pulled at her in all directions. The voices’ owners searched for a reaction, a sign that she could still be broken. They only saw happiness in her irises, a little laughter in her smile, the disguise she wore. But every word, every action, was another jab at her scattered spirit. They couldn’t see the sorrow in her lungs, the anger pumping through her heart. This needed to end. Next time, the reaction wouldn’t be silence.

“What a loser, sitting alone and scribbling in that notebook.”

She stood up.