🪢🐇 Briar Blackthorn 🐇🪢

My parents enrolled me in a religious-themed private school when I was 10 years old. The school's fanaticism wasn't particularly egregious, at least not initially. The extremism increased significantly over time, though that wasn't what ultimately put a target on my back. No, I painted that bitch there myself. The day after I enrolled, one of the girls in my class suffered a serious medical emergency and was forced to remain homebound for the rest of the year. At first, the teachers spoke glowingly of her, as her father had deep pockets and a generous nature. Then, one of the more mendacious provocateurs in my class spread a rumor that she'd seen the girl frolicking on a trampoline in her backyard. The fact that the girl’s yard had a privacy fence, which would have made such a discovery impossible, didn’t matter. The teachers were calumnious at heart and weren't going to let something as insignificant as logic or facts sway their judgments. Prayers for the girl’s recovery were quickly replaced by passive-aggressive comments. Outright insults shortly followed. Soon, the teachers were openly declaring that little liars like her were destined for Hell. On the last day of school, the girl arrived with her parents. The teachers practically tripped over themselves to fawn over them, their previous grievances against the girl forgotten in light of her father’s philanthropy. She was set to return to school the following year, and our class was dismissed for an early recess while the girl’s parents conferred with the teachers. It was during this time that the girl approached me. She was sweet… sincere. She'd simply wanted to meet me properly, since she hadn't been at school that year. I told her. Everything. There was another student sitting with me—one of only two I befriended at that school—and they confirmed it. My word alone wouldn't have convinced her of anything, as her parents had been attending the school's church since before she was born. However, the other person with me was known for being honest to a fault. To this day, I don't know whether I told her because I was genuinely outraged by the injustice of it all or if I was just instigating drama…but I will never forget the look in her eyes when she realized I was telling the truth. She had a light in her eyes—a purity of spirit. I took that from her, killing it as easily as squashing a bug underfoot. I didn't know that girl well, and that was the last time I ever saw or spoke with her, but to this day, I regret hurting her. I don't regret telling her, even after everything they did to me there. To say they were incensed about losing such a wealthy investor would be an understatement. 😈