The morning after Maddox's apology felt like stepping into someone else's life.
I walked across campus under a washed denim sky, no clouds or rain, just the soft winter sun that made the frost on the grass glitter like broken glass.
My breath fogged in front of me, but for the first time in months it didn't feel like I was breathing through a straw.
The stares were still there, of course, but they were different. It was now out of curiosity instead of cruelty. Some people even nodded at me when I actually greeted them good morning.
A girl from my psych discussion group actually smiled and said, "Hey, you okay?" like she meant it.
I didn't know how to answer, so I just smiled back and kept walking.
The whispers had changed too, what began as Kianna did this, Kianna did that turned into;
"Heard Maddox cried in front of the whole hallway."
"Trent's been hiding in the library like a kicked puppy."
