Cher Waverly sat on the cold pavement, covering her face as tears streamed uncontrollably. Her sobs cut through the night, raw and unrelenting.
Allison Brooks stood still, her gaze fixed on the woman before her. Memories flashed in her mind, unbidden but vivid, of a simpler time—a time before betrayal had carved a chasm between them.
It had been the first week of high school. The PE teacher had insisted all students wear sneakers for class. Anyone without them had to stand on the field in humiliation. Amid the bustling locker room, Allie had noticed a girl standing alone, clutching her arms tightly as tears welled up in her eyes.
Allie had approached her without hesitation. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Cher had sniffled, looking up at Allie with red-rimmed eyes. “I don’t have sneakers. They’re
