Not alone
333 Words
Chapter 13
Nathalie’s POV
My phone hadn’t stopped ringing since my lawyer’s statement.
Messages, missed calls, notifications.
Everything was happening at once.
I tossed my phone onto the bed and sat down.
I was exhausted.
I hadn’t even done anything wrong, yet somehow I was the villain.
Aunt Mina walked into my room carrying a glass of water.
“Drink this.”
I took it from her.
“Thank you.”
She sat beside me.
“Don’t let this get to you, sweetheart.”
“How can I not?” I asked bitterly. “Thousands of people are calling me a bully.”
“They don’t know the truth.”
I sighed.
“I just wanted to have a peaceful first day at the mall.”
Aunt Mina smiled sadly.
“And you will. This will pass.” She left me alone.
My phone continued buzzing nonstop.
My family and friends wouldn’t stop checking on me.
My mom called again, followed by my sisters, my brother, Daniella, Sharlene, and even my cousins.
Everyone kept telling me the same thing.
“Don’t listen to them.”
“We know you, Nathalie.”
“You would never do something like that.”
Then I opened social media.
My cousins had started posting pictures of me and defending me publicly.
“Nathalie would never bully anyone.”
“We’ve known her our whole lives. She isn’t that kind of person.”
My sisters joined them, responding to the hateful comments and standing up for me.
Daniella also made a post.
“If you don’t know Nathalie personally, stop judging her based on one edited video.”
Sharlene shared it immediately.
I stared at my phone, tears filling my eyes.
At least the people who truly knew me believed me.
I placed my hand over my stomach and took a deep breath.
The whole situation was still painful, but knowing I wasn’t alone made it a little easier.
I just hoped the truth would come out soon.
- Writer
