Lily’s POV

The hallway had gone completely silent.

Not the usual school silence of people pretending not to listen. This was real. Heavy. Like every student had forgotten how to breathe.

I stood frozen, staring at the red mark blooming across Mia’s cheek. My mind kept replaying the sound the sharp, final bang of Mom’s hand meeting skin. I had never seen Mom hit Mia before. Not once. Not even when Mia had done far worse in private. The shock of it left a strange ringing in my ears.

Mia’s hand rose slowly to her face. Her fingers trembled as they brushed the place Mom had struck. Then the tears...