The school gates loom in front of me, more imposing than they’ve ever been. It’s been a week since I walked through these halls, and even though I’m back, a part of me still feels like I’m miles away.
I take a deep breath, tightening my grip on the straps of my backpack. My mind is still swirling from the emotional rollercoaster of leaving Nanna and Pops’ house. The peace I found there feels so far removed from this place—the place where gossip, drama, and tension always seem to thrive. But I know I have to face it all. There’s no running away anymore.
As I walk through the entrance, the familiar buzz of student chatter fills the air, but it feels different now. The gossip I was once the subject of doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m not the same girl I was when I left.
Just as I make my way
