The girl I never chose to be

One afternoon, as Angelica walked through the empty school corridor, a voice called out to her.

"Hey, Angel."

She froze.

Nobody had called her that in weeks.

Slowly, she turned and saw Ravi, one of the boys who had left for another school after seventh grade.

He looked at her like he still recognized her. Like he still saw Angel.

Her stomach twisted.

"I heard what they did to you," Ravi said quietly. "Is it true?"

Angelica's throat went dry.

She wanted to say no, to pretend that she had chosen this, that everything was fine.

But her lips trembled.

She saw her own reflection in the window—the pinafore, the neat hair, the soft posture.

Ravi followed her gaze. "You don’t look happy."

Angelica looked away.

The Seed of Doubt

That night, she couldn’t sleep.

She tossed and turned, Ravi’s words repeating over and over in her mind.

You don’t look happy.

She sat up and stared at the mirror in the dim light.

Was he right?

Was she not happy?

No. She was fine. Everything was fine.

She had chosen this.

Right?

Her hands trembled as she reached for her uniform, gripping the fabric tightly.

And suddenly, she realized—

She hadn’t chosen anything.

The Escape Plan

Angelica’s heart pounded as she made up her mind.

She needed to get out.

She needed to leave the school.

She needed to be Angel again.

But how? Her parents would never allow it. The school would never accept it.

She had only one option—run away.

The Night of the Escape

That night, she packed a small bag—her old clothes, scissors to cut her hair again, and whatever money she could find.

She crept out of the house, heart hammering in her chest, every step feeling like a betrayal.

But just as she reached the front door—

The lights flicked on.

Her father stood there, arms crossed. "Where do you think you're going?"

Her mother’s voice came from behind her. "Angelica, sweetheart, what’s wrong?"

Her fingers tightened around the bag. "I… I need to leave."