Vengeance

The school bell rang, signaling the start of lunch. Students enthusiastically packed their bags—the exact opposite of my own actions. I let out a deep sigh and gathered the notes from my desk. I waited a moment for the crowd to thin out before trailing behind a swarm of students rushing toward the school cafeteria. Luckily, I managed to get out of the classroom without being crashed into or hit by anyone. My vision fixed on the ground, I bit my lip, watching my feet step forward. I was back at the university, though the return was still surreal. Some of my professors had asked how I was, having heard I was gone for a week. I just stated that I’d been hit by a bus and managed to live. Carl remained unusually quiet. Sometimes, his gaze would drift my way, but the minute our eyes locked, he’d look away as if he’d seen something horrific. The color would drain from his face, and whenever I tried to talk to him, he would push me away. I didn’t understand why. I was the one attacked by