I continued the rest of the week as normally as I could. It was easier considering the deep thoughts about my power.

  Ignoring the usual bullying was only becoming easier as time passed. But, they were already coming up with new methods.

  Spraying me with hoses, throwing wet rags among other objects, drawing curses on my desk, and even a dead rat in my desk.

  Would it be better to go to the police? But they would never get anything done, this was too big for that.

  Before the rumors started to spread they were all afraid of me. They would avoid me in the halls and fear my eye contact. But now that there were rumors of me being a murderer they weren’t afraid anymore? It made little sense until you consider the fact that they feel superior over their own innocence. It might also have to do with them thinking they have something over me with that information.

  It sounded really messed up from my point of view, but looking at it objectively it meant nothing.

  It was finally the weekend and the day of our meetup with the four girls. I arrived at the meetup point early. I had planned to talk with Kaede before our meeting.

  Waiting for me in our secretive alcove was Kaede and Abby.

  “What do you want?” I immediately asked Abby.

  “I… want to know your side of the story.” Her choice of words were slightly insulting. It felt very selfish. She didn’t want to know the truth, which meant she didn’t trust me. She didn’t consider what it would be like to be me if I really was telling the truth.

  I ignored Abby and talked to Kaede. I would tell her a secret that she had previously wanted to know.

  “The four girls I gathered today, they are all victims of sexual assault.” I said holding my own feelings back. It would be better to be impersonal.

  Kaede slowly realized the impact of my words. Her face changed into looking pained even slight tears in the corner of her eyes. She had a great amount of sympathy for other people.

  Kaede was still sitting in deep thought when all the other girls arrived. I introduced each of them to each other. In addition to the four girls, both of Haven’s parents attended.

  “I have called everyone here for a couple reasons.” I announced to the group.

  “First, I want all of you to know each other. You all share a horrible experience. Going through it together would be helpful.” I stated coldly.

  “Second, I would like to inform you of the rumors about me going around school.” Out of the four girls Jane was the only one who had heard about them. The other three looked at me with curious but slightly anxious faces.

  “What are the rumors?” Haven asked. My heart was afraid, but I had to tell them anyway.

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  “The rumors are that I am a murderer.” I said coldly. The three girls and Haven’s parents were shocked. However it did not look like they were scared of me. At least they weren’t yet.

  A silence was observed while everyone was waiting for my next words.

  Was this trust?

  However I couldn’t say any words, was I really Innocent?

  “They're wrong, right?” Haven said. I was still hesitating.

  “I didn’t kill anybody.” I said unconfidently.

  It seemed like Haven’s parents picked up on my self doubt. “Tell us what happened.” They said comforting me. Everybody else agreed as well.

  I told them about my mother, but I left out the part about my power.

  For the rest I wanted to tell the whole truth. Lying would be horrible, I would never be able to move forward if I did.

  After I finished my story nearly everyone around me had tears flying from their cheeks.

  Even Kaede, “It gets sadder hearing it the second time.”

  “That’s totally not your fault.” Katy said and then many others agreed with her.

  “Your Father is horrible, how could he do that?” Katy added on.

  “His Father was going through a lot too.” Mrs. Jolly said.

  “Even so.” Katy argued.

  “Excuse me,” I gathered their attention, “does this mean that you believe me?”

  “Of course.” They all said together. My heart felt a little better.

  “I’m sorry.” A voice came from my far right. It was Abby.

  “I believed everybody else without thought, when they were talking about you. I even turned a blind eye to all the bullying they did to you. I’m so sorry.” Abby had tears in her eye’s. Should I forgive her?

  “You were bullied? What did they do to you?” Haven asked with an angry expression. Was she offended on my account?

  “It is nothing, it doesn’t matter that much. Moreover we have a third reason for meeting.” I tried to change the topic, but I was caught too easily.

  “Don’t brush it off that easily.” Jane said, with a face that said she knew it all. “Bullying like that isn’t that easy to withstand.”

  “I'm fine, you exaggerate too much.” I responded by showing an unfazed face.

  “What did they do to you?” Rachael asked shyly but definitely upright.

  “It's really nothing.” I lied. But when I saw the look on Jane’s face I knew she wouldn’t let anything fly by.

  “They throw dirt and mud in his desk, steal all of his stuff, put tacks in his shoes, throw his clothes into the toilet, draw on his desk, they even put a dead rat in his desk. You call that nothing?” Jane said meaningfully.

  “How do you know all of that?” I asked in response.

  “I keep an eye and an ear out for you.” Jane said. “But that isn’t all.” Her words brought the attention of the already shocked girls around me.

  “You,” she said while pointing at me, “Do you have no trust in us?” Her words shocked everybody again.

  “Should I have done something else? This was the best option in any sense.” I replied in a conversation only the two of us knew.

  “What are you talking about?” Rachael asked in worry. Jane looked at me but I refused to tell.

  “Azure is too embarrassed to say it now, the secret behind this meeting.” Jane’s words only caused more curiosity.

  “Azure called us to this meeting, and told us about the rumors. He was worried that we would run away from him after we heard. That is why he gathered all of us, so at least we would be able to work together without him.” Jane revealed with stunning accuracy.

  “That is too frightening, no child thinks of self sacrifice.” Mrs. Jolly said. “Though considering what he has been through…”

  Everybody just stared at me with faces of pity.

  “Don’t pity me, all of this from beginning to end has been my own choice… Please don’t look at me like that.” I pleaded.