chapter 10

Author's POV

The car ride to school was unusually smooth. Twenty minutes passed without the familiar frustration of traffic jams, and they arrived on time. The towering gates of the school loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the lively chatter of students already milling about the courtyard.

Leah's driver stepped out and opened the car's trunk, retrieving Sophia's wheelchair with practiced ease. He carefully helped her into it, taking extra care not to jostle her injured knee. Once Sophia was comfortably seated, Leah moved to take over.

"I'll push you," Leah offered with a smile, already gripping the handles.

Sophia shook her head, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Leah, but I've got it." She pressed a button on the armrest, and the wheelchair came to life, smoothly gliding forward.

Leah's jaw dropped. "What? It's automatic?" she exclaimed, staring at the chair like it was a piece of alien technology.

Sophia chuckled. "Yup. State-of-the-art, courtesy of Mr. Benjamin."

Leah trailed behind her, still marveling at the wheelchair. She had never seen one like it before, and for a moment, she forgot her worries about Sophia's injury.

As they entered the school building, the atmosphere shifted. The bustling hallways fell silent, and all eyes turned to Sophia. The sound of the wheelchair's gentle hum seemed to echo in the suddenly hushed space.

Some students whispered behind cupped hands, their murmurs blending into an unintelligible buzz. Others stared openly, their gazes filled with a mix of pity, curiosity, and, in some cases, disdain. Sophia kept her head high, refusing to let their reactions faze her.

By the time they reached their classroom, Leah's earlier excitement had faded, replaced by a protective edge. She walked close to Sophia, her presence a silent shield against the judgmental stares.

Inside, the classroom was empty except for a few early arrivals. Miss Karen, their teacher, was nowhere to be seen. Sophia maneuvered her wheelchair to her usual spot, and Leah took the seat beside her.

"I guess we have time to settle in," Leah said, unpacking her books.

Sophia nodded. "Yeah. Let's just get ready before Miss Karen shows up."

They were chatting idly about nothing in particular when Sophia's gaze locked onto a figure standing at the front of the room. Deborah.

The room seemed to grow colder as Deborah walked toward them, her expression unreadable. Sophia didn't break eye contact, her heart pounding as she tried to decipher Deborah's intentions.

When Deborah reached her, she did something no one expected. She knelt down.

"I'm sorry, Sophia," Deborah mumbled, her voice so soft it barely reached them.

"What?" Leah snapped, crossing her arms and stepping closer to Sophia. "Say it louder."

Deborah rolled her eyes at Leah but quickly turned back to Sophia, her gaze earnest. "I said I'm sorry, Sophia. I'm sorry for everything. For the pain I've caused you. For being the reason you're in this wheelchair."

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Deborah—the Deborah—was kneeling before her, apologizing. For a moment, Sophia wondered if it was all an act, but the misery in Deborah's eyes said otherwise.

Leah, on the other hand, looked ready to pounce. "You think an apology is enough after everything you've done?"

Sophia raised a hand to stop her friend. Her gaze never left Deborah's face. The anger and resentment she'd held onto for so long began to dissolve, replaced by a strange sense of peace.

"I forgive you, Deborah," Sophia said softly, her voice steady.

The entire class gasped. Whispers erupted, students exchanging shocked glances. No one had expected this.

Sophia repeated herself, louder this time. "I forgive you. Not because it's easy, and not because you deserve it, but because I refuse to let the pain and hate you caused control me. You've done unspeakable things to me, but I'm ready to let go. I'm ready to heal."

The murmurs grew louder, and Sophia could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on her. Some stared at Deborah with barely concealed contempt. If looks could kill, Deborah would have been reduced to ashes.

Deborah bowed her head, her voice trembling. "Thank you, Sophia. Thank you so much."

She stood, her movements slow and deliberate, as if afraid to break the fragile moment. Just as she turned to leave, Sophia's voice rang out again.

"I forgive you, Deborah, but don't think for a second that I'll let you hurt me again. This is your only chance."

Deborah froze, then nodded. "I understand. I won't." She returned to her seat, her head bowed, the weight of the class's judgment pressing down on her.

Leah leaned over, her hand on Sophia's shoulder. "You did the right thing," she said softly.

Sophia nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure. Forgiving Deborah felt like both a victory and a surrender.

Moments later, the door burst open, and Miss Karen swept in, her face flushed. "I'm so sorry for being late, class. Traffic was a nightmare," she said, setting her bag down on the desk.

Her eyes landed on Sophia, and her expression softened. "Sophia, dear, how are you?"

"I'm good, ma'am," Sophia replied.

"Good. I was worried about you. It's wonderful to see you here and looking strong."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Miss Karen smiled and turned to the board, ready to begin the lesson.