Evelyn walked slowly toward a restaurant in the city center—one of her favorite places back before all the rumors had wrecked her life.
She wore a soft brown blouse and black slacks. Her hair was neatly tied back, and a thin mask covered part of her face. She looked calm on the outside, but every step was taken with caution.
Since that morning, social media had exploded with vicious gossip about her. The hashtag #AvoidEvelyn was trending. Her photos were plastered next to slanderous headlines accusing her of having HIV. All of it traced back to one person: Julian.
Evelyn tried to remain composed. She wanted to prove she wouldn’t be broken by rumors alone. She needed lunch, and today, she simply wanted to enjoy a moment to herself.
The moment she stepped inside the restaurant, several customers turned their heads. Whispering began almost immediately.
"That’s her, right? Evelyn... the one who's supposedly sick..."
"Oh God… why did she come here?"
“She should know her place.”
Evelyn pret
