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Her forehead furrows "Did you forget so, Haley?"

I force out the words before I lose e "My ex-boyfriend hit me"

I said it I said the words My vision becomes fuzzy as I wait for the world to iment and then I realize I crave her belief

"He hit me" Suddenly the words aren’t as painful "He hit me and it wasn’t okay"

Mrs Collins sets her files and keys on the side of her desk "No, it wasn’t okay Why don’t you shut the door behind you and take a seat?"

Before I can do either of those things, I desperately search her eyes to see if she’ll tellto be okay?"

"What do you think?" she asks in a kind, thoughtful way In a way that makes me think that I may already know the answer

My ently shuts the door She’s quiet as she slides around ain and sits behind her desk "You look okay You sound okay And you’re here talking to me How do you feel?"

I sink into the chair across fro to the floor "I’ this on my own because--" I waveit inside isn’t working out for me"

She nods like she understandslike really understands And the sincerity in her eyes gives ? When did you firston to her elbows, Haley toes a rotted piece of floorboard in the corner of the living rooave Kaden and me a lead on the place It turns out he lived here for a couple of lance away, unable to endure the worry lines on her forehead Next week, Kaden, Haley and I are graduating Haley’s detere and JaxJax is considering heading home

"I don’t know He’s worried about his mom and brothers"

Haley bites her bottoet furniture," I say

"The floor will fall through when you get furniture"

"Not true" I grab Haley’s hand and guide her into the only bedrooht today "Floorboards are still intact"

Haley claps her hands together and the pride radiating froht furniture!"