one hears me curse. The word feels dirty passing through my lips. I bend down the best I can on one leg to pick up the books. Violet, where are you when I need you? Another set of hands gathers the books and papers I can’t quite reach. “Are you okay?” a deep voice asks, startling me. Everybody in the hallway stops what they’re doing. The noise level is eerily silent. Loudly silent, if that’s even a thing. They stare at me, even more so than before. Once my brain registers who’s in front of me, I realize they aren’t looking at me. Curious eyes watch him, waiting to see what he plans to do. “I’m
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