"Hey Sydney, what happened?" I heard a gentle voice ask just as a hand was placed on mine.
Looking up through my tears, I saw Chris, and for a moment, he seemed stunned by my appearance.
"Oh my god! You look horrible," he exclaimed, clearly concerned.
"C-Chris," I managed to stutter out.
"It's okay, I'm here," he reassured me, pulling me gently into a hug.
"I'm tired of this school, Chris. I think I have to quit," I said in his embrace as I continued to cry.
"No, you can't quit," Chris exclaimed almost immediately, his voice filled with urgency.
I pulled out of his embrace, surprised by his sudden outburst.
"I... I mean," he faltered, his tone softer now. "You can't give up. You don't want everyone to think you are weak, especially not Rex," he continued.
"But I can't take it anymore," I cried, feeling overwhelmed by everything.