VIOLETTA Overthinking was going to be the end of me. Why, after asking for a break, was I still sitting here completely distracted when I had a test on a timer? Instead of focusing on the questions in front of me, my mind kept circling back to the same endless stream of what-ifs. What if what he had to tell me had nothing to do with pity? What if it was actually something important? And I had just asked him to stay at arms reach because of the thoughts I had in my head? Oh, f**k it. I was definitely going to fail this course if I continued like this. “Violetta.” I heard the lecturer call my name and I paused my thoughts to look up at her. Following her line of sight, my eyes landed on my still empty paper. “Are you okay?” The look of concern in her eyes made me consider telling

