I could feel the blood roaring in my ears, my thoughts filled with hatred for the girl who told the whole world I had dyslexia. She was the only person who ever knew! My feet started to propel forward, burning holes into the tiled floor behind me.

“Um, I don’t think you should tell Taylor that it came from me!” shouted the innocent receiver of the news, her words ringing off the hallway’s walls.

“Don’t worry.” I steam, “It’s going to be nothing but me and that excuse of a person."

I mean, it’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Everyone gets called petty nicknames and is pushed around. Although for some reason, this time felt completely different. She’d revealed the whole reason why I was failing most of my classes. I try to cover it up, I really do! No one even knows how I stay in my room, hour after hour, trying to make sense of the jumbled words. Now I was exposed to every other being within the school. No one would want to hang out with me, now knowing that I am bad at school because of dyslexia, the mysterious disability that creeped everyone out. It isn’t fair! Why did I have to trust the one person, now that I look at it, who could easily ruin everything? Still stewing in my own thoughts, I threw the doors that lead out out of the school open with hot tears of anger streaming down my face. Then I see her. Totally oblivious to what she did, laughing and babbling with other students on the spongy grass in front of the building. Uh oh, other people. Not now, not here! I tried to gather myself together as I moved towards Taylor, even though I could feel the makeup on my face sliding into messy clumps from wet tears. Every cell in my body screamed no with every step, but it was too late to turn around. I couldn’t just keep coming back day after day, pretending everything was great. No, I was finished.

I silently placed myself in front of Taylor and the few acquaintances surrounding her, then cleared my throat.
“Uh, I need to talk to Taylor.” Everyone stared at me, waiting for more. Someone even let out a giggle, probably at my wavering voice and bloodshot eyes. I took a deep breath, making sure that I would look and act superior, like someone important throughout this grueling task.
“Alone.” I commanded. “I need to talk to her alone.” They got the message, and scattered like mice. I settled myself next to her on the stone bench. It felt unusually cold for mid-May, was I just imagining the icy tingle? She seemed to tower over me, even though we were close in height. I just felt like hiding, knowing what was coming next from my side.

“So what happened to your face?” Taylor asked, the wind rustling her perfectly curled hair. “You should probably pull it together before we go shopping tonight at the mall. I don’t need to be seen with a teary eyed diva in public. Speaking of which there is a huge sale this week on…” She stopped, finally realizing why I was in this condition.

“Why did you tell everyone I had dyslexia?” I questioned. It seemed as if the world had stopped. Did I have to say it that way?

“I, uh, what are you talking about?” She managed to squeeze out, her cheeks slowly reddening.

“Oh, come on, you know exactly what I mean.”

“So what if I did? It’s not like it made you any dumber.”

“Any dumber?” I stood up, knowing that this would be my last chance to show her how I really felt. “Do you even know how much you hurt me, when you showed everyone something even I hate myself for?” She tried to reply, but I was on a roll, words flying out of my mouth. “How would you feel if I told everyone how you peed your pants in the 5th grade? Your reputation would probably be ruined, but I guess it doesn’t matter if you show how much of an idiot I am, since I've been picked on by you for my whole life. I thought you were my friend.” I felt fresh tears starting to well up. “ Friends are the ones who cherish and protect your greatest secrets, not expose them. They’re the ones you can trust with your life- and until you become that person, “ I choked out. “I don't want to be seen with your sorry face ever again.” She sat there open mouthed, her eyes starting to widen.

“So you hate me? Well, go ahead. Just don’t come crawling back to me when you feel bad for what you did.” I just blinked, not knowing how to feel about what I had done. Was I satisfied? Or was I terrified not knowing what to do? Then I realized something with a jolt. Why should I be scared? I. Was. Free. No one could tell me how to act or feel anymore.

It almost makes me feel thankful towards her. Almost. I thought. Just then, and unplanned giggle escaped my lips as I smiled and said, “Even if I won’t have a single person to back me up at the moment, I'll eventually find someone. People always do. So- goodbye Taylor.” Then I walked away, with my head in the clouds, and an unbreakable grin on my face.