Chapter 18 - The People Who Turned Away
The apologies started the next morning.
Thousands of them.
Students deleted cruel posts.
Sports pages changed their headlines.
Commentators who had called Avery dangerous suddenly praised her courage.
The university president issued a statement.
He called Avery's treatment unacceptable.
He promised an independent investigation.
Avery read the statement once.
Then deleted it.
The people who hurt her most were harder to face.
Tasha came first.
She stood outside Avery's apartment holding the captain's ribbon.
“I should've believed you.”
Avery looked at the ribbon.
“You knew me for three years.”
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
Tasha began crying.
“I thought if I defended you, they'd come after my scholarship.”
Avery nodded.
“That was what they wanted.”
“Fear.”
Tasha held out the ribbon.
Avery did not take it.
“Keep it.”
Tasha looked stunned.
“I don't want to be captain anymore.”
Coach Mercer arrived later.
She had already resigned.
Criminal charges were possible.
Mercer did not ask for forgiveness.
She only said, “I failed you.”
Avery looked at the woman who once taught her how to lead.
“Yes.”
Mercer lowered her head.
“But you can still tell the truth.”
“I am.”
Lila's apology came last.
They met in the empty practice gym.
Lila's shoulder was healing.
Her guilt was not.
“I destroyed your life because I was afraid of losing mine.”
Avery looked at the spot where Lila had fallen.
“You almost destroyed both.”
“I know.”
Avery was silent for a long time.
Then Lila said, “Do you hate me?”
Avery thought carefully.
“No.”
Lila looked surprised.
“But I don't trust you.”
“That may take years.”
Lila nodded.
“I understand.”
Avery looked around the gym.
“Then spend those years becoming someone worth trusting.”
Lila began to cry.
Avery walked away.
May you like
Forgiveness, she realized, did not mean pretending nothing happened.
Sometimes forgiveness was simply refusing to let someone else's worst decision control the rest of your life.
