The Fallout

The next day, the grief had turned to a sickening disgust. Bri told Vera everything she saw.

"Why were you stalking her, Bri?" Vera asked, her voice tight. "Isn't that... a little creepy?"

Bri froze. "What? Did you even hear what I said? She replaced me!"

"All you ever notice is the bad stuff," Vera sighed.

"Why is that all you got out of what I told you?" Bri snapped.

"Because it's weird!" Vera shouted. "Your obsession with this girl is crazy, Bri. You need help."

Vera walked away, leaving Bri in the hallway. Bri started to cry again. The hate was gone, replaced by a desperate, aching need. I miss her. It hurts. I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be alone...

One Week Later

Bri hadn't been to school in seven days. At school, Vera looked at Bri's empty desk. I hope I wasn’t too harsh with her, she thought. It was just so weird. But I'm worried.

In her darkened bedroom, Bri was a ghost of herself. She was crawled into a ball under her covers. They all hate me. They want me to die. She hadn't eaten. Tissues were piled everywhere. Her eyes were so swollen she could barely see. Ugh, I hate it here.

The door creaked open. Her mom walked in, looking at the mess with a sigh of pity. "Brianna? Come on. Get up. You’re coming to the store with me."