Chapter 20

A blatant lie, but I wanted nothing else to stop hearing the worry in his voice.

"I'm just getting dressed. I'll be up there in a minute," I called out to him, breaking the silence that lingered like an unspoken barrier between us. Leonard must have heard my cries of agony and doubted my assurances, but it was all in the past now, and I wished to spare him any further feelings of distress.

Quickly locating my school uniform, which remained soiled and unkempt due to the lack of access to the washing machines during my designated week, I pondered the possibility of sneaking in a wash later in the afternoon upon my return home. With my attire secured and a newfound sense of eagerness that propelled me forward, I paused abruptly on the verge of ascending the stairs, my gaze drawn towards the basin.

Making a swift decision, mindful of the impending arrival of the school bus, I efficiently washed my hair with a bar of soap, rinsing it out within a matter of minutes. The