Chapter 40: "Misunderstood"
Later that night, after Jasmine had finally convinced her to eat half a sandwich, Zariah sat on her bed, phone trembling in her hands.
She had to text her teacher back.
She couldn't leave it hanging there.
Couldn't let them think she didn't care.
Her fingers hovered over the screen for what felt like forever before she finally typed:
"I'm sorry for missing the test. I've been going through a lot lately. I'll try to make it up soon."
She stared at the message for a long time before hitting send.
The reply came almost instantly.
"Life gets busy, but school is important too. Please be more responsible next time."
Zariah's heart dropped straight into her stomach.
She read the words again and again, her throat tightening painfully.
They didn't understand.
She wasn't busy.
She wasn't irresponsible.
She was fighting to stay alive.
She dropped the phone onto her bed like it burned her and pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to stop the sting of tears.
Why did it feel like every time she tried, she just got smaller?
More invisible?
Jasmine peeked into her room, instantly picking up on the shift in the air.
"What happened?" she asked quietly, stepping closer.
Zariah shook her head. "Nothing. It's fine."
Jasmine didn't believe her.
She didn't push either.
Instead, she sat beside her and pulled the blanket up around them both.
"You don't have to explain yourself to people who aren't willing to listen," Jasmine said softly. "You don't owe them every broken piece of you."
Zariah let herself lean against Jasmine, too tired to argue.
Maybe she would always be misunderstood by some people.
Maybe some people would never see past the grades, the smiles, the masks.
But Jasmine did.
And for tonight, that had to be enough.