Ariana Cross
The summons came via email at 6:15 AM.
Following your conduct at the recent engineering symposium, a formal public apology is required. Mr. Lucien Vale has graciously accepted our invitation to return to campus this Friday. Your attendance and your apology is mandatory. Failure to comply will result in immediate academic suspension.
I stared at the screen until the words blurred. My hands shook. Not from fear from rage.
They were forcing me to apologize. To him. In public. Like telling the truth about his brake bias was a crime worse than his drug scandal.
And I had no choice.
If I refused, I was out. No degree. No future. No way to earn the money that could save Lena's life.
I deleted the email and threw my phone across the room. It bounced off the mattress and landed
