Monday morning felt like the start of something new. I walked into school with Kallum by my side, our hands intertwined, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was walking into a place where I belonged. Not just with Kallum, but with all the girls—Valencia, Noor, Zenaida, Sarai, and Paisley. Together, we had made it through the storm, and now, we were standing stronger on the other side.
The school hallways, which had once seemed so intimidating, felt different now. They didn’t hold the same weight of fear or judgment. We were no longer the outsiders, the ones who had to fight for every inch. We’d claimed our place, and we’d done it together.
I glanced over at Kallum, his hand warm in mine, and my chest tightened in a way that was almost overwhelming. He’d become more than
