Mr. Brett was outside waiting for me. I was back in the restroom getting properly dressed. I was finding it very hard to suppress my subconscious which was trying to voice its disapproval.

‘I am ready,’ I kept chanting to myself. I didn’t want anything to make me think otherwise. I made my way out of the restroom and hurried out of the school building. Apart from the fact that I didn’t want to give myself time to change my mind, I didn’t want to meet Jason. I didn’t have an excuse for wanting to leave without him.

Mr. Brett was waiting for me a few blocks away from the...