Tormented

The Distance

Chapter 3

By the end of the week, Jane had stopped checking the school community chat.

Every time she opened it, there was another message.

Another accusation.

Another person claiming to know what had happened.

Nobody actually knew the truth, but that did not stop them from talking.

Some students said Jane had been jealous of Alex's family.

Others said she had wanted revenge because Alex's parents had treated her mother badly.

Someone even claimed that Jane had deliberately recorded the video.

None of it was true.

But once people decided what they wanted to believe, Jane discovered how difficult it was to change their minds.

She walked into the classroom on Monday morning and immediately noticed the silence.

Usually, students were talking before the teacher arrived.

That morning, several conversations stopped when she entered.

Jane lowered her head and walked to her seat.

Her best friend from the previous week, Mia, was already there.

Mia looked at her.

"Jane."

Jane sat down.

"Hi."

Mia hesitated.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

Jane forced a smile.

"I'm just tired."

Mia lowered her voice.

"People are still talking."

"I know."

"I don't believe them."

Jane looked at her.

"You don't?"

"No."

Jane swallowed.

"Thank you."

Mia reached across the desk and touched her hand.

"I know you wouldn't do something like that."

Jane almost cried.

It was the first time in days someone had said those words to her.

Before she could answer, the classroom door opened.

Alex walked in.

The room became quiet again.

He didn't look at Jane.

He walked straight to his seat.

Jane watched him.

He looked tired.

His eyes were darker than usual, and he barely spoke to anyone.

She wondered if things at home were getting worse.

She wanted to ask.

She wanted to tell him again that she had nothing to do with the video.

But every time she approached him, he walked away.

During lunch, Jane finally found the courage to stop him.

"Alex."

He continued walking.

"Alex, please."

He stopped.

Jane came closer.

"I know you're angry."

He turned around.

"Angry?"

She nodded.

"I understand."

"No, you don't."

"Then tell me."

He stared at her.

"My parents are separating."

Jane's face fell.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't."

"I didn't mean—"

"You've already done enough."

Jane's eyes filled with tears.

"I didn't do anything."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

Alex looked away.

For a second, Jane thought he might believe her.

Then he looked back at her.

"I don't want you near my family anymore."

Jane's voice became quiet.

"Alex, I never wanted to hurt your family."

He stepped closer.

"Then why did you do it?"

"I didn't."

He shook his head.

"I can't even look at you without thinking about what happened."

Jane stood still.

"You used to trust me."

"I did."

"Then trust me now."

Alex's expression hardened.

"I can't."

He walked away.

Jane watched him disappear around the corner.

That afternoon, Alex went home earlier than usual.

The Harrington mansion was unusually quiet.

He entered through the front door and immediately noticed several suitcases near the staircase.

His father stood in the living room.

Alex stopped.

"What's happening?"

His father didn't answer immediately.

"Your mother is leaving."

Alex's heart sank.

"What?"

"She's going to stay somewhere else for a while."

"Why?"

His father looked exhausted.

"Because this situation has become unbearable."

Alex looked toward the staircase.

"Where is Mom?"

"Upstairs."

Alex ran up.

He found his mother sitting on the edge of her bed.

She looked nothing like the woman he knew.

Her eyes were swollen from crying.

When she saw him, she tried to smile.

"Alex."

He walked toward her.

"Mom."

She opened her arms.

He hugged her.

For the first time since the video appeared, Alex allowed himself to cry.

His mother held him tightly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You don't have to apologize."

"I never wanted you to go through this."

"I know."

She pulled away.

"People can be cruel."

Alex wiped his face.

"Jane did this."

His mother looked at him.

"Jane?"

"Her account posted the video."

His mother was quiet.

"Are you sure?"

Alex frowned.

"Everyone saw it."

"That isn't what I asked."

He didn't answer.

His mother looked down.

"Sometimes things aren't what they seem."

Alex's expression changed.

"Mom, I saw the account."

"I know."

"Then why are you saying that?"

"Because you have known that girl for years."

Alex looked away.

"I knew her."

His mother reached for his hand.

"Don't let anger make you become someone you aren't."

He pulled his hand away.

"She destroyed our family."

His mother closed her eyes.

"Go home, Alex."

"This is my home."

"I mean go to your room."

He stared at her.

Then he walked out.

The next several weeks became difficult.

Alex's father and mother began living separately.

The family name appeared in newspapers and online reports.

The school continued talking.

And Jane became the easiest person to blame.

At school, students began avoiding her.

Someone wrote something cruel on her desk.

Another student knocked her books to the floor.

Jane stopped eating lunch in the cafeteria.

She started eating alone.

Mia remained beside her whenever she could.

One afternoon, Jane sat in an empty classroom after everyone had left.

She was staring at her phone.

There was a message from Alex.

For a moment, her heart jumped.

Then she opened it.

Don't come near me anymore.

Jane stared at the screen.

She typed a response.

Deleted it.

Typed another.

Deleted that too.

Finally, she placed the phone face down.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She wiped it away.

She didn't want to cry anymore.

She was tired of crying.

At home, things were not much better.

Her mother had become increasingly worried about the situation.

She had spent years working for the Harrington family.

Now she was terrified that she would lose her job.

One evening, Jane found her mother sitting quietly in the kitchen.

"Mom?"

Her mother looked up.

"Yes?"

"You've been quiet."

"I'm fine."

Jane sat beside her.

"Are you sure?"

Her mother smiled faintly.

"You're the one I should be asking that."

Jane looked down.

"I don't know what to do."

Her mother reached for her hand.

"Finish school."

Jane looked at her.

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"But Alex..."

"Your life cannot end because someone is angry with you."

Jane nodded slowly.

Her mother squeezed her hand.

"You still have a future."

Jane wanted to believe her.

She really did.

But she didn't know that the years ahead would become much harder than either of them imagined.

Because Alex's anger was not fading.

It was growing.

And with every passing day, the distance between the two childhood friends became wider.