unwanted and in the shadows

chapter 8: Manipulation

I stared at my reflection in the side mirror of my car, feeling the weight of the previous night’s dreams pressing down on me. My father's coldness and the subsequent fallout had left me emotionally drained. Today was a school day, and I couldn't afford to miss it since it was my heaven.

As I drove to school, the early morning sun barely warmed my skin through my windshield, offering a little comfort. The familiar sights of my neighborhood passed by in a blur, and I found myself looking forward to the day ahead.School had always been a refuge for me, a place where I could escape the turmoil at home, and to, it didn't feel like just another battlefield like my home had turned to.

When I arrived at school, Brookfield High, the usual buzz of chatter and laughter felt distant and hollow. I was always alone and didn't have any friends ever since Diana came in to our lives and I wanted to keep it that way I pulled up the hood over my face and walked into school with my face looking down making it hard for anyone to notice me or know me.

I moved through the hallways like a ghost, my mind preoccupied with the chaos I had left behind at home. No one paid attention to me and I occasionally bumped into people but at the moment I didn't care all I wanted was to get to first period already. I didn't like getting close to people like this and everytime anyone bumped to me or touched any part of my body I would flinch uncontrollably they all seemed mean to me life sure has a way to change one's perspective on things and their personalities as a whole.

First period was English, I got into class before everyone else to avoid attention and headed to the farthest corner with a window that brought in some fresh air beside it and I tried as hard as I could to lose myself in the discussion of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. When I say I tried hard to focus I mean it. The teacher’s voice droned on about ambition and betrayal, but the words seemed to echo my own life too closely. I couldn’t focus no matter my efforts, her thoughts drifting back to the strained faces of the people I left at home who were now my parents.

“Violet, are you with us?” Mr. Thompson’s voice cut through my reverie, drawing the attention of the entire class.

I quickly snapped back to reality, blushing as I realized everyone was staring at me. “Uh, yes, sorry. What was the question?”

Mr. Thompson gave me a concerned look but didn’t press further. “We were discussing Lady Macbeth’s role in her husband’s downfall. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

I hesitated, my mind scrambling to catch up lucky for me I was a nerd. “I think… Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth to do things he wouldn’t normally do. She manipulates him because she thinks it will make them both happy, but in the end, it destroys them.”

Mr. Thompson nodded, pleased with my answer. “Exactly. The dynamics of their relationship are central to the tragedy. Thank you, Lena.”