Filling In the Wrong Shoes

"Yarrow Chapman, why have you copied my designs?"

In front of everyone, Avery Zane accused me of plagiarizing his designs.

Before I could explain, my fiancée, Sabrina Langford, beat me to it and stepped forward.

"Yarrow, I can understand your desire to win this competition," she began. "However, plagiarism is disgraceful. You can't take someone else's work and present it as your own, can you?"

She spoke with such heartbreak, as though I had truly committed an unforgivable sin.

But only she and I knew how many sleepless nights I had spent on that design, nearly burning out several computers in the process.

Yet, the day before the deadline, she stole my design draft while I rested and handed it to her beloved senior.

It was all to help him win the prestigious Golden Zenith Design Award.

We had been the picture of a perfect couple, celebrated as the golden pair of our academy. Naturally, no one would doubt her words.

Faced with the pointing fingers and whispers around me, I was trembling with anger.

Sabrina, however, took it upon herself to apologize in my stead.

"Please accept my sincere apologies, everyone. I never expected Yarrow to do such a thing. As his fiancée, I am obliged to extend an apology to everyone here. I hope, for the sake of past friendships, you could all forgive him."

I was so furious I could hardly breathe. Yet, Sabrina urged me to apologize to Avery.

Looking at his smug expression, I shook Sabrina's hand away.

"I am not uttering an apology, for I am not guilty of plagiarism.

"But I am not taking part in this competition anymore."

With that, I turned and walked right out of the design institute without looking back.

This seemed to throw Sabrina into a panic as she ran up to me and grabbed my arm.

"Yarrow! Design has always been a dream of yours. Think about all the blood, sweat, and tears that you put into it!

"So what if you copied someone else's design? As long as you apologize sincerely, everyone will still welcome you back to the competition with open arms!"

"That's right, buddy," Avery chimed in with fake magnanimity. "I won't hold it against you. Just apologize, and you can rejoin the competition."

Watching their sickeningly coordinated act, I felt nothing but disgust.

Once again, I swung Sabrina off me and removed the design institute's badge.

"There's no need. This place is just too dark. I fear I might trip over stones shrouded by the darkness."

...

When I reached home, I packed up all my belongings.

I even formatted the computer that had accompanied me for so many years.

After I was done, my family called.

"Yaz, how was the competition?"

My gaze dimmed, and I told my mother on the other end of the line, "I pulled out."