The Love Built On Silent Lies

ector, my voice, my everything, shielding me from a w

inst me, I suddenly regained my hearing-only to discover the hor

ce a venomous whisper I could now hear perfectly. "He

My pain was their entertainment. The boy I trusted, the famil

victim he could control. He thought

as w

uicide" to expose their crimes. As the world erupted in chaos and h

pte

nor

ke a low growl, a sound I barely registered anymore, but the sharp flick of light caught my eye. Astrid Nolan, the new girl, st

how pierced the quiet I usually lived in. "Bryan Knox," she declared

s face a mask of surprise, then something colder. His gaze flickered to

of any warmth. The words hung in the air, heavy and

hard. She stepped closer to Bryan, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that still somehow made the hair on my arms stand up. "You'll regret that, Bryan K

ld. His hand went to his own chest, a familiar sign for "mine," then he jabbed a finger at Astrid, a clear warning. I

d received a day of in-school suspension for "disrupting lunch service and verbal aggression." It f

torment Bryan, and by extension, me. She'd trip him in the hall, "accidentally" spill wa

n class, publicly correct her grammar in front of everyone, or even once, in a fit of ra

of a girl with a gagged mouth, or pictures of flames. They were always hidden, always meant only for me. I'd fi

or slammed shut, plunging me into darkness. I could hear Astrid's voice, muffled but unmistakable, right outside. "Look at her, the little mute freak. Can't even scream for help."

ely seen. He grabbed Astrid by the arm, his fingers digging into her skin. "I told you to leave her alone!" he roared, his vo

r. "He protects you so well," she sneered, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Like a loyal dog. But tell me, El

s neck, a faint red mark, a hickey. It screamed of an intimacy, a betrayal, that punched the air right

ilence, suddenly roared with a cacophony of sound. The fluorescent lights hummed, the distant shouts of kids in the gym, the poundi

orce of a tidal wave: his gaze, once so devoted, now held a subtle shift, a flicker of something I couldn't quite name. It was like watch

l I could now hear. He was speaking to Astrid, but his words were me

ned senses, reached me. "Oh, Benny-boo," she purred, her tone sickeningly sw

, intimate kiss. And then, the unmistakable sound of their breathing, ragged and desperate, filled the

r voice laced with satisfaction. "Ne

. "Don't ruin the game." The words were a physica

was a cacophony of pain. My head throbbed. I closed my eyes, wishing for the familiar silence, the comforting void

iar gesture, his usual way of comforting me after one of Astrid's atta

iliar signs, once a lifeline, now felt like a cruel mockery. He tried again,

ow many times had he "comforted" me after orchestrating my pain? How many times had I melted into his em

is brow furrowed in concentration. He'd spent hours, days, weeks, just to speak to me, to be my link to t

ng into the inferno to save Bryan, their last act to protect him, to give him a future. A future he was now squandering, spittin

kiss was still there, a cruel brand. It was a silent testament, a physi

s. I want to report Astrid. To the principal. The police.

h a firm grip, stopping me. He shook

was plastered on his face, but it wasn't for me. It was for her. The realization hit me hard

just heard. Kids are just being kids. You're overreacting. His words were dismiss

aking this harder? Just forget it. Be good. His tone was sharp, an order,

could now hear for the manipulative lie it was. Tru

e scene, away from the truth. Let's go home. He was trying to contro

nt rebellion, a quiet roar. I wouldn' t be

ed, a puppet on his strings, but my mind was already plotting my e

n her face. She blew a kiss to Bryan, a blatant, provocative gesture meant

mind racing. A small, crumpled piece of paper landed on my desk. I picked it up. It wa

exam room. Everyone turned. My eyes met Bryan's across the room. His face was pale, his eyes