Facing The Truth

I sat under the big tree behind the library.It was the only place that still felt untouched by whispers and stares. The air was still, like the world paused just to watch me break. A soft breeze brushed my cheek, but it couldn’t dry the tears already falling.

I buried my face in my palms and let the sobs escape.

“I didn’t mean for it to get this far,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. “I just... In fact,I had not enough reason to set her up badly.

My chest hurts . It was not from the crying, but from the weight of everything I’d done. I had no one to blame but myself. Lola and Andrew weren't speaking to me. And Sara,poor Sara was suffering for something she didn’t do.

I pressed my back against the tree bark and stared at the sky through the leaves. A memory of the conversation I had with my mum flashed in my head.Something discussion we had when sat down together in my room.

She told me about a girl in her school back then who got jealous of another classmate and ended up setting the poor girl up to get suspended. At the time, I just nodded and laughed, thinking it was one of her random stories. But looking back now, I think she was indirectly talking to me.

I sensed she has known long enough or did she read my diary the day she entered my room? Mum was someone that does not pry into people's privacy.I wonder what changed.

Still, that story wasn’t just a random memory. It was a warning and a reflection. And I wasn’t any better than that girl. In fact, I might be worse because Sara has always treated me nicely since she came and I let her take the fall.

Another tear rolled down as my dad’s voice echoed in my head: “You’re strong, Olivia. Whatever you put your heart into, you’ll achieve.”

But I didn’t win anything. I cheated. I let my fear of being second push me into darkness. And now, no matter how hard I wish it was away, I can’t undo what I did.

My fingers clenched into fists. “I have to do something about this.”

I looked down at the dirt, then closed my eyesand it all came rushing back...

Olivia's Flashback

It was that Friday afternoon. The hallways were empty except for the faint noise of footsteps in the distance. I walked into the bookshop with my heart pounding so loud that it echoed in my ears.

The shopkeeper wasn’t around.

A brown envelope sat at the corner of the wooden counter, half-tucked under a pile of receipts. My eyes locked on it.

I stood there for a full minute, frozen.

Then, slowly, I stepped forward. My hand shook as I reached for the envelope. I could hear my self breathing heavily.

I slid it into my backpack very quickly and quietly. No one saw me.

Just after then, the door creaked open. I panicked, stepping away and pretending to browse. It was Sara. She smiled at me. I forced one back feeling my face burn. She asked if I’d seen the shopkeeper and I said no.

I left before she could ask me more questions that day.

******

I gasped, blinking back to the present. My hands trembled again, just like that day.

“I stole the money,” I said out loud, to the wind. “It was me... not her.”

But how could I just walk into the principal’s office and say that? Everyone already hated me. The school would crush me after this.

I breathed deeply, wiping my face.

“No,” I whispered. “There’s still a way to fix this... even if I don’t have the guts to do it face-to-face.”

I looked around,the air was cool now. The sky had softened to that warm golden evening glow. The tree leaves danced gently, and for once, the wind didn’t feel like it was attacking me. It felt like it was listening.

So I stood up, walked to my bag, and pulled out a plain white envelope. I’d written everything down with my name on it.

Later that day, I knocked quietly on Mr. Smith’s office door.

He looked surprised to see me.

“I... I just wanted to drop this, sir,” I said, placing the envelope on his table. I didn’t wait for a reply. I turned and walked out before I changed my mind.

Straight from there, I headed home.

For the first time in days,my steps felt lighter and I felt fulfilled .I know nothing has been fixed yet but atleast,I have started somewhere. Maybe that was for enough now.