Chapter 9

Ever since Betsy lied for me, we grew closer.

I really admired how down-to-earth and hardworking she was. She always kept her head up, her eyes fixed on the blackboard. I had heard she fought hard with her family just to go to school.

We went to school together and walked home together afterward. Along the way, we would confide in each other.

Betsy told me she dreamed of going to college and becoming a teacher.

The teaching at the high school was really awful. I knew that even if she gave it her all, her chances of passing the college entrance exam were really slim, let alone getting into college.

So I decided to tutor Betsy every day after class. That way, she would have a better chance of getting into college.

Betsy's eyes lit up. "Nathan, you're really brilliant. Are you some kind of genius?"

I chuckled sheepishly. I didn't dare tell her that I was actually a teacher.

But I never imagined that Betsy, who dreamed of going to college, would never get to fulfill her dream.

We used to meet at the village entrance every day. But that day, she didn't show up at all.

Perhaps she had been held up at home.

Confused, I walked into the classroom, only to find her seat empty.

Maybe she was sick.

Over the next few days, there was no sign of Betsy at all.

Finally, I couldn't sit around any longer. After school, I made a beeline for Maurice's house at the far end of the village.

Maurice Bell was a scrawny old man who liked smoking tobacco, just like Peter.

I hurried over to him, gasping for breath. "Where's Betsy? Why hasn't she been going to school?"

He refused to look at me. "She's getting married. She won't be going to school anymore."

I thought I heard someone crying inside the house.

I felt my mind go blank. Before I knew it, I shouted, "She's getting married? But she hasn't even finished school!"

He shot me a glance and chuckled. "Are you stupid or what? She's getting married soon. Why bother going to school?"

I tried to protest. "But Betsy's a great student. She can definitely get into college!"

"What's the point of going to college?" He snorted. "No matter how good her grades are, she'll eventually marry someone. I already found her a good husband. That's what's really best for her."

Maurice continued, "You're not the only one trying to talk me out of it. Vanessa already came by several times. I'm telling you—I'm not going to change my mind!"

A chill ran through me. I wanted to run into the courtyard and see Betsy, but Maurice held me back and shoved me to the ground.

The gravel dug into my palms, making them sting.

Maurice yelled, "Get lost!"

By then, several villagers had already gathered around to see what was going on, including Peter. When he saw what had happened, he hurried over, pulled me up, and repeatedly apologized to Maurice.

The villagers kept whispering and pointing at me. I knew I would be in for another beating when I got home.

The truth was, I was already numb to the beatings. What really scared me was the idea of the children in the mountains ending up like Betsy.

They would get married and remain stuck in the mountains, feeding pigs and chickens and doing farm work for the rest of their lives. They would never get to go to college.