Forbidden Stranger

one vibrating like

alarm.

and without looking, hear

el

d as an emerg

ps me fu

ask, alread

kground on their end. A ch

oman says. "There's been

omach

nd of in

student is injured. We need

ff the bed. "I'm

first adult

urse

ppened?"

es. That's

boy wouldn't stop

se my

lready pulling on sweatpa

rting pape

call

l pressed to my ear, brain already calculating d

arm finall

3 a

ct," I

pen and step str

arguing. Screaming. One is crying so hard they're hiccuping. Some

TO

rough everything

fre

y moving, already annoyed at m

ke my c

rew my

stop touchi

hand. "I d

earns

t why the school just calle

le

swing to

. Defensive. Stubbo

d you do

tarte

oing

gs. "Ta

t him. "T

u're better than everyone. Said you'

w tig

ed violence wa

ved me

ll. I don'

d say, "Get dresse

doorway, already str

ay. "There's

ges immediate

abbing my hoodie. "You ha

her mout

ready

ime it's a calendar notificat

ENTATION

tilts s

at the

to

like

, guilt finally creep

sneakers. "I don't

rse," he s

s r

motion. Charger. Folder. Badge.

door, my phon

wn nu

without

el

comes through.

question. "You were supposed to c

st tig

say. "There's been

Measured.

be noted kin

derst

" he ask

p wal

"Because I'm

her

e'll see if that confi

call

hind me, consequences waitin

the doo

lams harder th

regret and refusing to swallow. His backpack is on the floor instead of his lap, st

he curb and immedi

cou

flips to 6:17 like i

steering wh

it," I ask,

sn't a

r your breathing," I

t shut up,"

"People talk. You don't

nk you're better

m. "Do you thi

itates

oes his opi

told him you got

harp twists

don't last in places lik

e it

fully. He's thirteen and already carrying too muc

ct me by throwing punches. You protect

"Easy for y

sy," I snap. Then I breat

accelerate too fast and t

es again in t

re are you

't an

building. Too many windows. Too many adults who are about t

parking lot an

re," I t

I have to

t," I reply, alr

my sleeve

pa

thing up for you," he says

ust a littl

toward the entrance, every st

tant and authority. The secretary lo

e y

say. "I

a door down the hall

rse th