#Chapter 73: We Stand Together

Rushing, though not speeding, I am somehow able to get the girls to school on time and myself to work one minute to nine. I still feel late. I like to be early, giving myself enough time to prepare for the day. It still bothers me about my phone. I have it password protected, how did my alarms get removed? I can’t spend too much time thinking about it, though, not with work to do. Kimberly loads me up with assignments and just like that everything is back to normal – with the notable absence of Amber, her desk fully empty. Several people stop me throughout the day to ask about my health. Hugo himself makes a trip to my desk to make sure I’m okay. “If I had ever suspected that Amber would have tried to actually hurt you…” he starts. “It’s not your fault,” I say. I should have told him about the bullying sooner. Or I should have spoken to Miles. I don’t know if either of those things would have helped, but that doesn’t change that Hugo isn’t to blame. Hugo shakes his head. “A