I Was Teased Throughout School – At Our 10-Year Reunion, Nobody Recognized Me, so I Took Advantage of It

***

I made it to the restroom before my hands started shaking.

I called Mom from the sink.

“They don’t know it’s me,” I whispered.

“I need the bathroom before the show.”

Mom went quiet. “Well, that tells me they never really saw you.”

“Madison sent in a video. They were laughing about it.”

“Oh, Eva.”

“I want to leave.”

“Then leave.”

I swallowed. “Really?”

“You don’t owe them anything.”

“I want to leave.”

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing the red dress, my eyes were wet, and my mouth was shaking.

Then Mom said, “But you don’t have to run either.”

I pulled the cardigan from my bag.

Mom saw it and said, “Put it on if you want to. Just make sure it’s a choice, not armor.”

I held it for a second.

Then I folded it and left it on the counter.