A stage for Humiliation

The ride home felt like walking through shards of glass. My body still ached, my mind replaying every second of last night, twisting it sharper each time and I wanted to explode.

When I pushed the door open, Mom was waiting.

Her arms were folded, her eyes furious and worried all at once. “Aria Scarlett Monroe, where the hell were you last night?” Her voice cracked with anger.

I tried to stand tall, to swallow it down, but the moment her gaze locked on my swollen eyes, my trembling lips, and the way I clutched myself like I’d shatter—her expression softened.

Her anger melted into fear. “Baby… are you okay?”

And that was it.

The wall broke. My knees buckled. I tried to hold it in, but the tears. “Mom,” I cried, my voice breaking into pieces. “I… I messed up. Something happened—last night—Something I can’t take back.”

She pulled me into her arms before I could finish. “Tell me. Whatever it is, I can take it. I’m here.”

My words spilled between gasps and hiccups, messy and shameful. “It was at the party. I drank too much. And Liam—” My throat locked, shame tightening its claws.

“He touched me, Mom. He… he took everything. My first time. I didn’t even know it was him." I honestly told her everything— the way he looked at me in the morning, like I was filth.

Her body stiffened, heart melted into grief under my cheek. She stroked my tangled hair, kissed my temple, and whispered, “You’re not broken. You hear me? You’re not broken. You’re my daughter. We’ll get through this.”

I shook my head, sobbing uncontrollably. “He threatened me. Said if I told anyone, he’d ruin me. And he hated it, Mom. He looked at me like I was nothing. Like I disgusted him.” I protested.

Mom’s hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet her eyes. “Don’t you ever believe that,” she said fiercely, though her own voice shook. “You are not nothing. You are my everything. His cruelty doesn’t define you. Do you hear me?”

I clung tighter, my sobs soaking her blouse.

Then she cupped my face and wiped my tears. “You’ve got graduation today. Don’t let them steal that from you. Kollin’s coming to pick us up. You’re walking across that stage, Aria. Hold your head high.”

I nodded weakly. Though if anyone finds out, they won’t just laugh—they’ll hate me burned in my chest, but still, I did as she said.

Kollin is my mother’s boyfriend. Mom and Dad divorced years ago, but when she met Kollin, something shifted. He didn’t just fill the empty space in her life—he filled it in mine too. In his own quiet way, he took care of both of us the best he could.

I wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.

___

Backstage at the auditorium, the air buzzed with excitement. The principal’s voice still echoed from the microphone as he wrapped up his speech.

“Congratulations, Class of 2018! The future is yours.” He walked out to applause, his steps fading behind the curtain. I kept my eyes down, clutching my gown tighter, praying no one noticed me.

But fate was cruel. I barely had a second to breathe before a hand yanked me back.

“Is it true?” a girl’s voice hissed, sharp with disgust. “Did Liam Brooks actually screw you last night?”

The air drained from my lungs.. My throat locked. I forced myself to keep walking, silently, like if I ignored it, it would disappear.

But then a leg shot out. I stumbled, crashing to the floor as laughter erupted.

“Answer the damn question, nerd!” Sandy sneered, standing over me. Her friends swarmed closer with grins sharp as knives. One was even snapping a photo on her phone. “What’d you do, beg him on your knees? That’s the only way someone like you could get his attention.”

Heat surged into my cheeks. I scrambled up, my body was shaking.

Then Maya’s voice cut through. “Leave her alone!” She shoved Sandy’s arm, standing in front of me.

She had come!, relief poured out of me in a long sigh.

Sandy rolled her eyes, but Lena stepped forward from God knows where, her lip curled in a cruel smirk. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it back as hard as she could.

“Look at this slut,” she jeered. “The invisible nerd girl finally opened her legs. Who knew you’d be this cheap, Aria? Thought you were smart, but turns out you’re just another whore.”

I winced, choking back a cry as the pain shot through my scalp. The laughter stung worse than the pulling.

“Come on, did Liam really fuck you?” Lena pressed, her voice rising. “Tell us! Did you spread like the desperate loser you are? Or did you just lay there like a corpse?”

Maya shoved her too. “Stop it, you guys! You’re disgusting—”

“Shut up, Maya,” Sandy snapped, pushing her back. “Don’t defend trash, she's NOBODY. You’ll stink just standing next to her.”

The words sliced through me. I wanted it all to stop, wanted to scream, but before I could—his voice filled the room.

“What the hell is going on here?”

The air stilled. Every head turned. Liam stood in the doorway, his presence felt heavy, as his eyes scanned the scene.

But then his gaze landed on me. And it hardened.

“Are you kidding me?” His voice rang, sharp and cruel. “You actually believe I’d touch her?”

The crowd tittered. But my stomach dropped.

He stepped forward, pointing directly at me, his voice dripping with disgust. “Hey—ugly. Don’t flatter yourself, I’m not that desperate. Stop spreading rumors we hooked up, alright? It’s gross.”

Laughter exploded like a wave in the hall.

“Oh my God!”

“Did you hear that?”

“Ugly! Perfect!”

I felt so less of myself. Tears burned in my eyes and then—I ran, my gown flying behind me, sobs ripping out of my throat, as my ears ranged with every cruel giggle, every whispered insult.

By the time the names were being called on stage, I was gone.

Not a graduate. Not a girl with a future. Just a ghost. All I wanted was to disappear.