Chapter 7
Tyler was suspended first.
Then transferred out of my lunch period.
Then required to attend a formal discipline hearing.
His father fought everything.
He called it an overreaction.
He said Tyler was being targeted for being popular.
He said my shove proved I was violent.
The school reviewed the cafeteria footage.
Not just Emma’s video.
Their own cameras.
That was when another truth came out.
They had footage from earlier weeks.
Tyler knocking my books down.
Tyler taking my seat.
Tyler putting a milk carton in my backpack.
Adults walking by.
Adults seeing.
Adults not stopping.
Mr. Harris called my mom personally.
I heard his voice through the phone.
“Ms. Rivera, I owe you and Eli an apology.”
My mom was quiet.
Then she said, “An apology is a start. What changes?”
That was my mom.
Tired.
May you like
Kind.
Never weak.
