Page 196 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Greta shrugged, not quite ready to speak and also not
knowing what to say. She cleared her throat and took another
drink. “Maybe just stick up for me if people talk about it.”
“Yes, yes. Done. But what else?”
Greta shrugged again. What else could there be—a torture
session in the foods lab? “That’s all.”
“Greta, Greta, Greta.” Priya chuckled low. “You really are
as kind as I suspected. You’d better leave the evil up to me.

Too bad I don’t have your brother at my disposal,” she mused.
“And when are you coming back to school?”
Greta gaped. After everything she’d just spilled, Priya
had asked her when she was going back there. “I’m not going
back. Not this term anyway.”
“And let them win?” Priya’s voice squeaked.
“It’s not a battle, and I’m not some social-justice warrior. ADVANCE READING COPY

I’m just a person…”
Priya raised her eyebrows, waiting for Greta to finish.
“I’m just a person who feels a little less human every time
I walk through those doors. Every minute of the day, I wonder
when I’m going to win the humiliation lottery.”
“But they’re wrong, and you’re right!”
“Yes, I know.” And she really felt it now, after talking
to Priya—it wasn’t just some theory floating out there
somewhere. “But the cost is too high for my…my soul, my

humanness.”
She expected Priya to make retching sounds after that
explanation, but it was the best she could do. Pieces taken
from her that she couldn’t get back or that she fought to

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