By the time some false rumors reached everyone,

  People stopped sitting near me. When I walked into class, conversations lowered. Some kids stared. Others laughed when they thought I wasn't listening.

  I kept telling myself it will pass.

  It didn't.

  In the hallway, someone bumped my shoulder on purpose.

  "Watch it," a voice said, even though I hadn't done anything.

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  During lunch, a group of boys whispered and pointed at me. One of them laughed and said my name like it was a joke.

  I left early.

  After school, I tried to take a different way home, hoping to avoid everyone.

  I didn't.

  John and two other boys followed me. I could hear their footsteps behind mine.

  "Hey," John called out. "Why you running?"

  "I'm not," I said, even though my heart was pounding.

  They surrounded me near the field. No teachers. No other students close enough.

  "So you think you can just do stuff and walk away?" one of them said.

  "I didn't do anything," I replied.

  They laughed.

  Before I could react, someone shoved me. I stumbled backward and lost my balance. Cold water hit my legs as I fell into the shallow ditch near the field.

  They stood there laughing while I struggled back up.

  "Stay away from girls," John said. "Creep.

  Then they left.

  I sat there for a moment, soaked and shaking, staring at the ground.

  When I finally got up, I walked home slowly, water dripping from my clothes.

  At home, my mom asked what happened.

  "I tripped," I said.

  She nodded, believing me.

  In my room, I changed and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

  I know that nothing not going to feel the same anymore