The weight of my secrets had been steadily crushing me, and today, it finally caught up with me. The whispers of my classmates and the laughter echoing through the halls were nothing more than background noise as I walked into my first-period class. I tried to keep my head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Every step felt like I was moving through thick fog.
Sliding into my seat, I opened my notebook, my hands trembling as I tried to focus on the teacher’s voice. Mrs. Carter, my literature teacher, was discussing Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Normally, I would immerse myself in the topic, finding peace in the layered complexity of literature. But today, the words blurred together, the weight of my thoughts pressing against my skull.
“Emily, would you care to share your thoughts on Lady Ma
